MY questions about a N/A to turbo swap
05-24-2006, 09:58 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 29
im going to do a Base to Turbo swap, with a few questions from anyone who has done this before.
besides obvious driveline things like the rear end, drive shaft and axles.
i have a microtech LT8 i got a good deal on im going to use instead of the stock ecu. what else will i need to modify to have a running car? the engine is supposed to come with a wiring harness i can use for the standalone, but if not i can get one from another friend of mine. i know ill need to build a custom downpipe being careful to keep it reasonbly sized to avoid creep (plan on porting the wastegate anyway). ill need upgraded brakes (already 5 lug swapped, but single piston fronts for now, got the vented rear though!). i plan on front mounting the top mount to avoid hunting out a hood, and to make the intercooler upgrade easier later on. i have manual steering so i wont need the powersteering pump or any of the associated electronics. i know ill need the clutch slave cylinder, but the engine/trans combo hopefully will have one i can just rebuild. i already have a turbo fuel pump from my roommates 87 TII (GT35R set up for 400whp).
are there any details im overlooking?
besides obvious driveline things like the rear end, drive shaft and axles.
i have a microtech LT8 i got a good deal on im going to use instead of the stock ecu. what else will i need to modify to have a running car? the engine is supposed to come with a wiring harness i can use for the standalone, but if not i can get one from another friend of mine. i know ill need to build a custom downpipe being careful to keep it reasonbly sized to avoid creep (plan on porting the wastegate anyway). ill need upgraded brakes (already 5 lug swapped, but single piston fronts for now, got the vented rear though!). i plan on front mounting the top mount to avoid hunting out a hood, and to make the intercooler upgrade easier later on. i have manual steering so i wont need the powersteering pump or any of the associated electronics. i know ill need the clutch slave cylinder, but the engine/trans combo hopefully will have one i can just rebuild. i already have a turbo fuel pump from my roommates 87 TII (GT35R set up for 400whp).
are there any details im overlooking?
05-25-2006, 08:18 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 244
jdm12a, it sounds like he is doing a turbo engine swap, not turboing a NA.
If you are going to a standalone, if you want your gauges working on your dash, you will need to rewire them to your sensors on your engine. I just run after market gauges, so I didn't care about those (except for the tach, which is a yellow with blue stipe wire on the trailing coil I think, its been a while). Since you have the LT8, you have to use your stock ignition so you dont have to remove that stuff, just have to figure out what wires connect to where.
I am not sure aout the exhaust. All the setups I have seen/done have replcaed the entire system.
I think that you have thought about everything. A t2 drivetrain will benefit you the most with a good clutch while your down there. You should be able to get it running no problem.
If you are going to a standalone, if you want your gauges working on your dash, you will need to rewire them to your sensors on your engine. I just run after market gauges, so I didn't care about those (except for the tach, which is a yellow with blue stipe wire on the trailing coil I think, its been a while). Since you have the LT8, you have to use your stock ignition so you dont have to remove that stuff, just have to figure out what wires connect to where.
I am not sure aout the exhaust. All the setups I have seen/done have replcaed the entire system.
I think that you have thought about everything. A t2 drivetrain will benefit you the most with a good clutch while your down there. You should be able to get it running no problem.
05-25-2006, 10:54 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: columbus ohio
Posts: 285
Originally Posted by jefraney' post='821036' date='May 25 2006, 06:18 AM
jdm12a, it sounds like he is doing a turbo engine swap, not turboing a NA.
If you are going to a standalone, if you want your gauges working on your dash, you will need to rewire them to your sensors on your engine. I just run after market gauges, so I didn't care about those (except for the tach, which is a yellow with blue stipe wire on the trailing coil I think, its been a while). Since you have the LT8, you have to use your stock ignition so you dont have to remove that stuff, just have to figure out what wires connect to where.
I am not sure aout the exhaust. All the setups I have seen/done have replcaed the entire system.
I think that you have thought about everything. A t2 drivetrain will benefit you the most with a good clutch while your down there. You should be able to get it running no problem.
wow your right, im retarded, it was way to late when i posted that, i needed sleep
05-25-2006, 10:55 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 959
jefraney has a '91 na swapped to T2 running the LT8...so he will have the most relevant info on the swap regarding the LT8. I have done the SE (base basically) to '91 Turbo swap ..but i did it the long expensive way of actually swapping in the stock harness, ecu, dash harness, gauge cluster, etc. If you plan to use the standalone, you will avoid most of the hardships of the swap. If you don't currently have a harness for the LT8, you can fab up one relatively easily w/ the stock connectors for the sensors/injectors and the ECU itself uses a normal plug you can pick up at a computer hardware shop...
05-25-2006, 10:56 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 959
BTW, the swap itself is one of those deals where you won't know exactly EVERYTHING you need until your doing it... each conversion i've done/seen has been different in one way or another...
OH, AND BAH for you for swapping out to the 5 lug, lol... I'm representing the 4 lug turbo!
OH, AND BAH for you for swapping out to the 5 lug, lol... I'm representing the 4 lug turbo!
05-25-2006, 10:20 PM
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 29
well, i dont know, odds are better for an S4, but the importer kind of lumps them together. if he gives me a choice... probably an S4, more pros than an S5.
why? something i should know ?
ill probably (carefully) run premix instead of oil injection anyway (if that was the point..) i dont think the octane change will make a big difference until i get higher into boost anyway.
why? something i should know ?
ill probably (carefully) run premix instead of oil injection anyway (if that was the point..) i dont think the octane change will make a big difference until i get higher into boost anyway.
05-25-2006, 10:58 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Freeport FL
Posts: 381
What kind of pump is it? You may need a FPR or want to run one. The FMIC is going to be a bitch for you unless you are very diverse or buy a kit. If you run the TII tranny with it and NA rear you will need a custom drive shaft and the slave for the tranny.
The hassle part is it is generally easier to just buy a TII.
The biggest problem I had on my first one was I took a non running car and unknown Jspec motor and tried to make it run and FMIC off the bat. I also received a lue of 4 or 5 dead ECU’s so that adds to some head scratching.
The hassle part is it is generally easier to just buy a TII.
The biggest problem I had on my first one was I took a non running car and unknown Jspec motor and tried to make it run and FMIC off the bat. I also received a lue of 4 or 5 dead ECU’s so that adds to some head scratching.