88 SE

Just wanted some opinions on if what im doing is crazy.

It all started with a 1988 SE I bought for $500.

So far its got a new engine, most new accessories. Interior has been fixed up, nice stereo put in, all kinds of fun stuff

Now that I have a decent paying job I find myself wanting to get a rebuilt turbo motor for it, do some mods, repaint it, and make it the damn nicest 2nd gen out there.

I must be wierd

Oh yea, and when I do this, how much do you suppose I can sell the current drivetrain for? It's a recent rebuild engine (non turbo) with hurley 2pc seals, fd corner springs, teflon encapsulated combustin rings, all new oil seals, thermo bypass pellet etc etc. Engine has maybe 3000 miles on it.

It also has a new clutch, pressure plate, slave cylinder, pilot bearing, and a damn good tranny.

How much could I sell all that stuff for? It's all working, but I have a Saturn to be slow in. I need something fast now lol

Maybe I should see if I can find a vert to do all this to?

How often do you see cheap blown engine verts around?

HeffBoost

I personally think the NA to turbo conversion is more work than it's worth. Since you're in Phoenix though, a turbo vert would be sweet. I don't see them w/o engines too often, but they do pop up.

88 SE

Yea im thinking I might just doa turbo vert. Im gonna see if i can find one and if i dont, ill just have to offer a finders fee to someone who can find me one lol.

I just dont wanna pay $3000 for a vert only to rip out the engine when i see ones around with blown engines for $1500. I guess if a good enough deal came along I might pay for shipping charges from nearby states

SonicRaT

iTrader: (6)

There's nothing difficult about a TII swap, and the more work than it's worth is insane. It can be done in 3 days or less, a lot of people can do it all in a day!

l33trx7

88SE lol im planning on the same thing, I rode in someones S5 TII and I was hooked ever since, is it true i can use the N/A drivetrain, tranny, and rear end so long as I don't mod the boost and push hard. All I really want is a turbo.

SonicRaT

iTrader: (6)

You could, nobody has really provided any hard evidence about the NA drivetrain grenading with a stock TII engine bolted to it.

l33trx7

well i plan to put in a TII drivetrain and tranny, i just don't have the money yet, and was wondering if the HP is so overwhelming as to rip the whole assempbly out from under the car (sorry chanelling bad car movies)

SoRRoW

I didnt even bothered reading the rest after I saw he wanted to convert a SE with a Turbo,I would of kept the car clean and sold it and started with at lease a GXL, brakes/LSD/5lug set up is already there..

Or just buy a TII..

l33trx7

everyone keeps saying buy a TII buy a TII. Well there is one problem. I can't find a damn TII lol. I've been looking for months and nothing zilch, trust me if i found one I'd be on that thing like **** on stink. So if you guys know where i can get my hands on one, I'd greatly apprechiate it.

also i think an SE turbo swap would be more of a race car style. No bells and whistles, just all go. Kind of like the GTUs

Mark'sMazda

I did the swap, and it's NOT HARD. Really, it's not much harder than replacing a blown NA engine with an other NA one. The driveline is a PITA, but it only takes a couple of hours.

88 SE

Whats wrong with the SE? Remember, its alot less flabby than its GXL/ Turbo 2 counterparts.

skyypilot

Yes.

marcus219

'86 GXL here....2nd week I had her the motor popped..bought another 13B and put it in. Runs damns good now..but I'm done with this n/a stuff...I want boost. I'm gonna buy a pickup for under $1,000 for a everyday driver and for hauling parts..gonna do the TII swap this summer after I save up some more money. I dont think it will be to hard...putting the motor in will be just about the same as what I did before...trans and rear end not sure of the difficulty of that..but I'm hoping it will go smoothly. Hypntyz had a whole TII swap for sale...engine (wither intercooler and all), trans, driveline, diff, halfshafts, ecu, harness, even the TII hood. If only I had the money now....

Anybody have links to good write ups people have done with pics, etc. of a TII swap into a n/a. Thanks.

-Marc