How much does a complete engine and factory wiring normally run?
I have been searching c-list and can't find one of these cars for sale.
Well, it would probably be more expensive to try and piece a setup together than it would be to buy a donor car and then recycle everything you dont use. Depending on how high scrap is, you can almost break even doing that. During the summer scrap got up to $12.5/ 100 lbs, so a turbo k-car minus engine and electrics would sell for ~$250, plus the cat would be around $40-50, and if it had aluminum wheels another $40-50 there.
Scrap's going down now but i still recommend a donor car.
Unfortunately it is hard to search for them because there were SO MANY turbo dodge models. I think they sold 28 nameplates on the basic k-car chassis and at least half of them could be had turbo'd.
So the easiest thing to do, and what i do, is just search Dodge, chrysler, and plymouth in craigslist (3 searches..) and then sift through the results. If you are looking for a parts car you should probably limit the max price to $700 (which can usuallly be talked down to 500) and you shouldnt have TOO many results to sift through.
Any turbo motor from 84-92 will do what you need. However, if you want to run the factory electronics i'd limit your search to 86-89 cars. Those are the most supported. The other years CAN be modified but take more work.
Also, 2.5 turbos only existed from 89-92. turbo 2.2s existed in various forms from 84-93.