Ice_Wolf

Alright, so I've got a 87 GXL and want to turbo it. I've been reading on these boards lots of info for over a year now, and I've got a few questions. First, if I remember reading right, you can only swap S4 parts into an S4 car, and the same goes for S5's. The donor car I wanted to use is a 88 T2. Basically, you need the entire drivetrain - engine, tranny, driveshaft, rear-end, rear axles, wiring harness, etc. I would like to use the S5 engine because I know it's got a bit more power. Is there any way you can use S5 parts? Sometimes I wonder if I should just go buy a turbo car and swap my good GXL parts onto it...

Almost forgot to post a few pictures...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Wolf_RX7/RX-7/

rotorforce

You just answered your own post! Do yourself a favor and consider that your best option. Has the conversion been done? Yes many times, but i still think it's just worth getting a TurboII

HAILERS

You could buy the S5 engine and transmission, IF YOU MUST, and install just those items along with a hybrid driveshaft to mate the turbo transmission with the rear end.

But you'd have to remove the front cover and put your S4 n/a front cover and oil metering pump on it.

You could use your n/a emissions harness but you'd NEED a S4 TURBO ECU and Boost Sensor plus afm. An emissions harness is the one with the fuel injector plugs, sensor etc. I personally favor using the n/a emissions harness over swapping in a Turbo emissions harness. Too many pin changes in the turbo emissions harness.

It's possible to install a S5 engine and parts and the S5 ECU but the wiring changes would be extensive and seeing as how you wrote this thread it shows your not ready for Prime Time just yet.

The last time I looked you'd also have to get a turbo transmission mount also. It's different.

Your talking a touch of dough/money/loot/beans/green plus time and eeeek! work.

Ice_Wolf

Well, I'm debating now fixing my Probe to drive for my daily driver and selling my RX-7 and then buying a turbo one. The problem is, mine is in such excellent shape, and the money I'd be spending on a turbo car in the same condition would be at least 4 grand. For the money I'd be spending to buy a turbo car, I could probably buy all the parts needed to convert my car over to a turbo. Thoughts?

Ice_Wolf

What do you guys think? Would it be best to keep my car because of it's condition and turbo it, or try to find a TII and work from there? I know most will say start with turbo car, but for what I'd pay for one in good shape, it'd almost be best to just build mine up it seems.

jeff_man

i have a gxl with a TII swap and dude... sell your n/a and buy a tII and say your self some money, time and getting pissed at your self

but if your someone with a lot of extra money laying around then go for it. if not....

lupin

iTrader: (3)

I say go NA ALL THE WAY!
I am doing that. I just got done painting the engine bay(needs one more coat though)

I have a 87 gxl

Ice_Wolf

Is it really that big of a pain to do the swap?

rotorforce

Not really so much a pain as it is costly. If you factor the cost of everything you need + labor + the many "help" threads you are going to post it is greater than selling and buying TII. That's just my opinion, but who am I.

Ice_Wolf

I understand that it's a pain, but I don't see how it's as costly. I paid 2500 for my GXL, now let's figure this. A good turbo car costs about 4500 bucks if it were in the condition mine's in. That's 2000 I could spend on parts and build a pretty nice engine. It's also very hard to find a good condition turbo car for a good price too, that's another problem.

Ice_Wolf

I'm debating selling the car again, and wondering how many of you have done the NA - TII conversion and how hard it really is. I understand there's alot of work involved, and that most people would rather just start with a TII and build from there. What are the advantages of swapping a TII drivetrain into a GXL body? I know that you start off with the 5 lug conversion already done, but wasn't sure if there was anything else.

iceblue

If you don’t have the tools garage and time and cash DONT DO IT.

Simple

Oh yea a proper swap will run you atleast 3 grand.

Ice_Wolf

I have all that stuff, that's not the problem. I just keep wondering if it would be better to just start off with a turbo car, rather than try to turbo mine. But it seems like it would just just as hard to find a turbo car in good condition.

rotorforce

There are so many good turbo FC's for sale. I saw several on autotrader yesterday. Granted some were in the 5500-6500 price range but those are super low mileage and showroom condition. Other than that there are plenty to be had.

blackfcTII

If you have all the stuff you could do one of two things, sell the stuff to someone who would rather swap and sell your car, BAM, you got the money for a TII; or you could just swap it out. I'm almost done with mine and it really isn't that hard. Blood sweat and tears though but if you do it right it's all worth it. Being where I live it is hard to find a actual TII let alone a RX. So I swaped. You do the job right I don't see what the difference is except for the time you spent and honestly I'm proud of my car and what I've gone through and I can also say I know my car inside and out.

Ice_Wolf

I think that I've come to the conclusion to just buy a TII and build from there, rather than to try and source all the parts for a swap. It would be just as expensive for me to pick up all the parts for a swap because of where I live, rather than to just go a buy a TII. Guess it's time to start looking again. I know for a fact my car will be easy to sell in the area I'm in because there's almost 0 of them around. I've only seen a few, all of which were in horrible shape. If I can find a good deal on a TII parts car, or a really good deal on a drivetrain, then I'll just decide from there.

MidnightOwl

Im about $3000 deep in mine, after the rebuild. I have a convertible, and I like it. I want the Turbo conversion, but I also have a really nice shop to work in and have been saving money. Like someone said earlier, if you dont have the tools, garage or money, just buy a turbo. Although it might be a little tough to find a decent Turbo II, it might be worth it to you in the long run.

Phantomkid

midnightowl did you keep the vert ecu or go to a turbo ecu? Im also doing the turbo swap but thats because its a vert that i got for dirt cheap and it was the only motor i could get my hands on. So far im about 900 deep that including price of car, motor, throttle cable, luckly my engine came with complete turbo harness with knock box and everything, down side motor has stuck seals but its been sitting for a year so hopefully i can get them free.

Ice_Wolf

So I've been looking it over, and decided that I'm just going to purchase a TII and sell my GXL. I realize it's going to be just as hard to source all the parts to where I live, rather than just starting with a TII. I've been finding some nice TII's for 4000 dollars that are in the same condition as my GXL. Sourcing all the parts to my house will cost me at least 1000 just go get all the parts here, and I believe that 1000 would be better going towards a car that's already got all the parts in it.