I came across a turbo for sale for eighty dollars, it is the stock turbo from a 2nd gen Mitsubishi Eclipse. I probably will not buy it because I cannot afford all the other modifications required to turbo my car, but was wondering if the turbo is small enough for the 12a to spool. If it is, it may not be a bad idea to buy the turbo and hang onto it for a while. Also, I know the kid took good care of his car and he replaced this turbo with a bigger one, but i have no way of knowing what kind of shape this thing is in other than by looking at it.

 

It will spool and run out of breath way too soon.

 

That turbo is about half the size of whats needed for a rotary. I've been told that even the stock S4 turbo is a cross between a T3 and T4 with an A/R of somewhere around 1 I think. The Eclipse turbo is mabey a .6 A/R I think and the compressor is way too small. Your best bet is to find a good used S4 or S5 turbo and manifold. Thats good to at least 275hp on a 12A. Another good option would be a turbo from an early 80's regal T-Type or similar turbocharged 3.8 V6 from buick. The rebuild kit is actually the same thing for the 2nd gen turbos and the 3.8 V6 turbos. Here is the rebuild kit.

http://www.turbocity.com/product_inf...roducts_id=169

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I picked up a great S4 turbo AND manifold that has very little shaft end play for $30. I'm rebuilding it anyway, but its going on my S4 NA engine next winter.

 

Thanks for the advice, good think I did not buy it at the first chance I got. Why does the rotary engine require a turbo much bigger than that of the Eclipse which technically has more displacement? I would think the turbo for a 3.8 V6 is relatively large even for stock, but I bet those turbos out of the Buick are hard to find.

 

It is harder to find those 3.8 turbos. But its an excellent turbo either way. The reason a rotary needs such a large turbo is the amount of air it breaths in and exhales. The exhaust flow is huge hence the reason a larger exhaust side is great on a rotary. Then the intake takes a lot of CFM to fill in. A 13B will take a 500cfm carb in stock form, a 2.2L eclipse 4 banger mabey 300. Just an example to show the difference in flow.