So I'm doing a 13b bridgeport turbo swap into my GSL-SE.
Is it cheaper to buy a short block and buy the remaining part to complete the motor or do I buy a complete 13b turbo and go from there???
The whole drivetrain in the GSL-SE is coming out (if you need anything hit me up ) so none of that can be used for this build. That in mind alot of parts for a bridgeport build need to handle the power so alot of the parts on a doner engine would be useless anyway.
DONER ENGINE: cost alot more, alot of it would be useless ie trans, turbos, ecu and turbo manifold or the build but it would come with all the little things that I would need to buy on a short block ie wiring plug, hoses and little fasteners that would be a pain to find.
SHORT BLOCK: cheaper, would have to buy alot of stuff to complete the motor even though a bunch of the big things ie turbo, turbo manifold, fuel rails, upper and lower intakes, injectors and coils would have to be purchased in either situation.

Any advice on your experience is appreciated.

 

The first thing is what is the car going to be used for? I do not have a racetrack near me and drivability was important. I chose to streetport (pineapple) a GSLSE motor and will be running a turbo HT-18 off of a second gen. (S5). Seems a bridge ported turbo would be a terror on the track, but could be unpleasant on the road.

 

I know a few of the guys here have pulled complete TII motors and trans from FCs for swaps into FBs and that's probably the easiest route.

Where are you located for recycling your -SE parts?

 

Yeah I think it sounds like starting with a full motor is the most cost effective route.
I'm in Calgary.