Chimeron

Hey guys, I'm about to get a TII to do a conversion on my GXL (both cars same year) and I was wonder what kind of problems those of you who have done this have run into. I am going to rebuild the engine most likely but I'm just curious what experiences you have had.

I already read the faq so don't just say that. Experiences please.

HAILERS

Getting the driveshaft.

Figuring out the wires for the over the top switch and reverse.

Splicing longer wires for the tps.

Splicing the wiring for the Turbo's switching actuator/solenoid. The wires from the pin 2K are for the split air solenoid plug on a n/a but are for the twin scroll solenoid on a turbo. So you have to splice longer wires from that plug on the right side of the engine to the left (well not really, but I did. Could put the solenoid on the right fender or nearby).

Finding a Knock Control Unit and stringing a wire from it to the knock sensor on the engine plus the other three wires.

Buying a transmission crossmember. N/a crossmembe does not fit a turbo transmission.

Getting a Turbo pressure sensor.

Running the wires for the air bypass solenoid. Different locations on a turbo/differnet methods of actuating it.

Figuring out where to buy a turbo hood for the intercooler.

Figureing how to deal with the exaust AND emissions once a year.

Figuring out where to get a ACV that does not have a crispy fried switching solenoid diaphram in it. Made a workaround using a diaphram out of a 82 RX and a rotary file (thank you SixRotors).

Figuring out if I needed a Fuel Pump Resistor Relay (heck no).

Figuring out if I needed a larger fuel pump (yes, got one out of a turbo car.)

Figuring out if I needed bigger injectors and larger pump with the Racing Beat 2 and 1/2 downpipe, presilencer/ catback (HELL NO is the answer).

Figureing out if I needed an extra?? check valve in the brake booster line. Again heck no, one if there on every car already.

Figuring out if I needed the Turbo cruise(electrical unit) for cruise instead of the vacuum operated one on the n/a. HEll No. Works just fine with the vac one.

Figuring out how to connect the brake booster line to the turbo's outlet (I never said these were big problems) A long hose does just fine.

Figuring out a better way to connect the water hose coming out of the rear housing to the throttle body.

Figuring out if I should remove the Air Supply Valve of the rear of the throttle body. Yes. Plug hole (small).

Figureing out if I needed the double throttle water thermo device. Nah. Or the cam and dashpot that operater the double throttle. Nah. Let the things spring to wide open 24hrs a day (my version of the throttle body mod).

Figuring out why my 82 with a header/presilencer was always faster than a stock 87na (heavy 87).

Figuring out if I had the smarts not to pop the clutch numerous times and break the n/a rear end (I''ve got a stock TurboII to do that thank you).

Chimeron

So basically most of those are nullified by the fact that I'm getting a (mechanically) full car. Correct?

Well, except for that 82 fast than 87 comment could be the reason I wanna turbo eh?

HAILERS

Sounds like plug and play if you swapping the turbo part from that car sitting over there to this car over here and they are the same series.

Yes. I sometimes think if I'd just 'a spent all that money that I spent on Racing Beat headers, downpipes etc on the n/a, and put it into an turbo engine and transmission......I'd 'a been better off. Expept for the experiences I had with the n/a. Experieces with the n/a transfered into knowledge when converting to the turbo engine/tansmission etc.

Chimeron

Cool, thank you hailers, I don't suppose you would have any suggestions on rebuilding the engine and such?

Chimeron

another question if anyone wants to answer:

since I have a GXL I have almost all the same features that the TII has. Other than the drive train and engine/electricals what should I look at swaping over to my car and how long do you think it will take to do the full swap?

ultradef

What year are the vehicles that you are swapping? An S5 (89-91) swap seems a lot easier than an S4 (86-88). I just finished my TII swap into my 91 convertible, it was pretty much a straight bolt in. Considering you have an entire car to swap parts from (as I did), you should be fine. Just make sure you have a Factory Service Manual, I couldn't have done the swap without it.

Here are some links you may find helpful:

http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/turboconversion.htm

http://www.kcnet.com/~sriley/

That last link is specifically for a TII vert conversion, but it should serve as a decent guide for a coupe as well. Good luck!

HAILERS

I'd rebuild the engine for piece of mind. Once rebuilt you know what is there. If you don't, you have no idea how worn the apex seals are. Rebuild and replace them even if they are within limits of the fsm. When and if you decide to up the boost on the engine in the future you will have a better chance of success with the new apex seals than some old, on the edge of being worn out apex seals.