Build Or Part

[jdlc]

Couldn't resist and acquired a '94 855 NA with a blown engine - very good body and interior condition for it's age, no rust, no dent, still shiny paint.

Is it possible to drop in a turbo motor into it?

If so, what would be needed besides below obvious parts?

1) turbo engine of course, preferrebly 94/95 no more than 120k

2) turbo, 15G but 16T preferred - might as well go straight flange, right?

3) IC and piping

4) turbo wiring harness?

5) T5 axles (specially if going manual - should be T5M in fact, right?)

6) ECU (covered as I have one for 94/95 - ST 17psi) - work well w/ my 16T conical, issues with straight flange?

I don't intend to mess with internals, $2500 DIY will cover it with 3" downpipe already?

Goal is stock engine, MBC, 230+hp on 15g/16T 17psi w/ full 3" exhaust al the way to the back.

Would be nice to do manual tranny conversion while engine's out

I'm familiar very well with the P1 cars, but never done engine before - most I've done was PCV, t-belt, suspension works, brakes, and the likes. Yeah, this is going to be a DIY project, and I do have a help.

Worthwhile project?

I inspected it closely yesterday, and the car was well maintained, newer oem a-arms, axle boots intact, newer oem NA radiator, newer front O2 sensor, the wheels have very little curvs, tan seats are in fine shape. I'm yet to see but I'm hoping the fuel pump have been replaced already, and I will get it for sure. Suspension looks stock and never been replaced.

Thoughts?

[troyhyde]

Do it, it's not that tough if the engine is coming out anyway. Things to be mindful of - will need to replace wiring harness for front engine - not tough to do with engine out. You will also need to replace the "new" radiator since I don't think you'll have an oil cooler on an NA. Shroud and top plastic trim is also different and of course you'll be adding the intercooler. You'll also have to replace the gauge cluster for boost gauge. I think you'll already have a vac. line in the car for the cruise control.

I've found it pretty easy to find clean T5's here with bad head gaskets around the $1k area. Much easier to pop a head off and replace than the whole engine, harness, radiator, etc.... Something to think about if you want a car up and running pretty quickly and for low cost.

[Keaton85]

Do it, it's not that tough if the engine is coming out anyway. Things to be mindful of - will need to replace wiring harness for front engine - not tough to do with engine out. You will also need to replace the "new" radiator since I don't think you'll have an oil cooler on an NA. Shroud and top plastic trim is also different and of course you'll be adding the intercooler. You'll also have to replace the gauge cluster for boost gauge. I think you'll already have a vac. line in the car for the cruise control.

I've found it pretty easy to find clean T5's here with bad head gaskets around the $1k area. Much easier to pop a head off and replace than the whole engine, harness, radiator, etc.... Something to think about if you want a car up and running pretty quickly and for low cost.

You can add on oil cooler so that you wont have to replace the rad. Or you can source a 99+ oil cooler that mounts to the oil pan. You would need an oil pan, cooler, hoses and the rear coolent tube that runs along the back of the engine.

You also dont need a boost gauge in the car, just run the N/A cluster and if you want a boost gauge go aftermarket as the stock on is pointless. You also dont need to go with different axles, the ones you have are fine unless the boots are ripped. Any axle will work on this set-up so dont worry about them.

Your best bet is to find a crashed or in need of repair turbo 850 or x70 then do the swap to either car....