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Opti
Opti HalfDork
10/25/16 9:44 p.m.

Im almost done with the house and accompanying shop, so Im planning on a new project.

I' thinking about a few things but I've always wanted a turbo car.

Criteria:

Cheap car already turbo or cheap kit or easy diy (i will not make a manifold) is required.

Rwd

Preferrably manual, like really strongly preferred, but I wont necessarily rule out an auto.

2 door.

Uses:

Street car, may see some drag racing, might autox it, been wanting to do that. Not really anything competitive. Would like it to be pretty quick, no point in having a slow turbo car.

Front runners:

Sn95 5.0 with on3 kit. Turbo V8 noises!!!!!!! I have a 5.0 for when I inevitably blow this one up, and access to plenty of cheap t5s and other mustangs parts.

NA Miata. Really been wanting to own a miata, and a turbo one would be two things to check off the bucketlist. Plus its the easy button.

Turbo ls1 fbody. No.

Thats as far as I got, well besides thinking about sticking my 5.0 in a miata, but that looks hard or expensive.

So what'd I miss?

ssswitch
ssswitch Dork
10/25/16 9:46 p.m.

Aren't S13 SR20DET swaps 'easy' as far as engine swaps go? Even if you don't swap there are tons of KA-T manifolds on eBay.

The hard part is sourcing the car.

Run_Away
Run_Away GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/25/16 9:48 p.m.

Budget?

How cheap are Genesis coupes now...probably too much, especially since they're not quick either. 2nd gen MR2?

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
10/25/16 9:48 p.m.

Theres a 3.1 turbo swapped beretta indy for sale here, and it comes with a 5 speed swap for $2500. My wife was trying to talk me into it.

pres589
pres589 UberDork
10/25/16 10:02 p.m.

MX-6 or 626.

codrus
codrus GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/26/16 2:46 a.m.
pres589 wrote: MX-6 or 626.

Those are FWD.

SW20? next-to-last-gen Toyota Supra? FC Turbo?

akylekoz
akylekoz Reader
10/26/16 5:24 a.m.

You just need to purse your lips like you are going to whistle but then make a loud "S" noise. I have no idea why you are all talking about engines after reading the title.

HappyAndy
HappyAndy PowerDork
10/26/16 5:43 a.m.

Lots of turbo Volvo's from the nineties are RWD. They work well with MT or AT.

Cooper_Tired
Cooper_Tired HalfDork
10/26/16 5:52 a.m.

What about a 300zx TT? The last gen.

STM317
STM317 HalfDork
10/26/16 6:23 a.m.

Are trucks permissable?

Ranger with 2.3T swap?

v8 silverado + hairdryer?

Toyota with 22re + turbo kit?

mikeatrpi
mikeatrpi HalfDork
10/26/16 6:36 a.m.

Datsun Z-car

gearheadE30
gearheadE30 HalfDork
10/26/16 6:41 a.m.

I love my turbo E30. Been done tons of times on the 6 cylinder cars, and even my 318is is plenty quick (for me) with a turbo.

STM317
STM317 HalfDork
10/26/16 6:48 a.m.

Thunderbird Turbocoupe?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ SuperDork
10/26/16 6:49 a.m.

Turbo RX7?

Tyler H
Tyler H GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
10/26/16 7:15 a.m.

SW20 with a Gen3 or Gen4 swap is a fun car that is comfortable and practical for daily use (if you can get by with a 2-seater.)

There's a kid near me with a janky turbo Miata that looks gawdawful. It is FAST and he drives balls out all the time. I figured it would blow up pretty quick, but I have seen it at least weekly for months. If that guy can make a turbo Miata, you can do it.

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/26/16 7:55 a.m.
penultimeta
penultimeta Reader
10/26/16 10:05 a.m.

I do think turbo Miata is the answer here. For an even easier answer, try Volvo 740/940 turbo though that ignores your 2 door requirement. Also turbo p71. Turbo sn95 fox would be awesome, but I think the consumables would wear on you after a while (get it? ha ha, wear??).

You mentioned f-body. Now, the Ls1 might be cramped a bit but the 3.8 l67 takes boost like a champ. Cheap buy in, ignore the "muscle car must be v8" stigma, and get after it.

1st gen s10 with a turbo 4.3. Kind of a Typhoon/Syclone knock-off, but you know the support is there.

S13/14 (if you can find a clean one) with KA+T. I feel like this is often overlooked, but a buddy of mine in high school had one and holy god was it fun.

350z/g35 with salvage title. VQ loves boost, though if I remember correctly, they take supercharging a bit better than turbo.

Ok, this is just turning into a thread of "take car add turbo". Too much coffee this morning.

Dr Ribs Revere
Dr Ribs Revere Reader
10/26/16 10:17 a.m.

STS remote twin turbo kit on your corvette?

Opti
Opti HalfDork
10/26/16 11:09 a.m.

It was meant as a "take car add turbo" question, but also included "buy car has turbo."

I like the idead of a turbo e30, I really like the e30s.

And small trucks are okay, ideal truck would be a f2t b2200 that swankforceone always talks about, but I cant find any of those bongo heads to get the intake/distributor right.

TBI full size chevy with a 5 speed, would be cool, lower it, put a tpi intake on it and boost it.

Not a fan of a turbo rotary.

Hadnt thought about s13s

G35s are a little pricey buy in for a side project since im keeping the corvette.

And no boost for the vette.

Also ive tried making the turbo noises myself, while I drive its just not the same.

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/26/16 11:25 a.m.

SC300 and 2JZ-GTE swap? Plenty of cheap ones on craiglist if you can look past stance and welded diffs

pres589
pres589 UberDork
10/26/16 12:28 p.m.

For the F2t, I would skip the distributor and go megasquirt / edis. Helps get rid of the maf as well. Flip the upper intake half to face forward, get a single butterfly throttle body, and a custom length cable from Lokar. Or a bicycle.

RossD
RossD UltimaDork
10/26/16 12:47 p.m.

I have a TD05h-14B turbo of unknown condition, with a manifold and down pipe for a 1.6 Miata that I'd like to get rid of. Challenge price friendly.

turtl631
turtl631 Reader
10/26/16 12:48 p.m.

240SX is a good option. Lots out there already with swapped motors (SR20, 1JZ, 2JZ, RB25/26) or turbo KA. Reasonable weight and size, parts galore. SR20 with a GT2871 turbo and supporting parts (injectors, MAF, intercooler, exhaust, ECU flash) gets you 320whp or so on stock engine. With cams you can get closer to 400.

edizzle89
edizzle89 Dork
10/26/16 1:24 p.m.

i vote for the sn95 with the on3 turbo kit, would make a fun all around street car with loads of potential for down the road

pres589
pres589 UberDork
10/26/16 1:45 p.m.

In reply to turtl631:

What about turbocharging the KA24 that is already in the 240SX, what kind of hp and torque numbers are relatively easy there?

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