turbo swap vs. re-built N/A
 

Hello all, did a search for this and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so I figured I would give it to the experts to get some advice.
I have a 1986 GXL that has about 130,000 miles, it is burning about a quart of oil every tankfuls of gas(270 miles or so) I know this is near where Mazda says to replace the motor so I am trying to come up with a plan so I am ready for it when the time comes. I would like to get some more power out of the car, somewhere around the 200horsepower range would make me pretty happy as long as it was reliable and streetable. I know this would be very hard to accomplish with a N/A motor, even with higher compression rotors and an aggresive streetport. The local rotary shop in my town quoted me 5600$ for a re-built motor with said port and higher comp. with installation. This seems a bit high to me but wgat do you guys think? The other option I have heard about but don't really know that much about would be to swap in a JDM turbo motor from a cosmo I think. I know I would be much happier with the amount of power this motor would produce, but how much reliabilty would I lose with this set-up and what all is required to do it(e.c.u., wiring harness, different transmission, etc)? Would this be the better way to go or should I fork over the cash for the N/A motor? My mechanical abilities are not good enough to swap engines so I am going to have to pay someone fot it so what do you guys think?

your best bet is to get an 87-88 TII motor in your GXL because it is plug-and-play as opposed to the work you have to do for a 13B-RE(cosmo motor IIRC)...you can and will hit 200 HP with a TII motor.....if you want slightly more power go with an S5 motor but you have to do a lil wiring cuz the harnesses are diff....

i was in your same situation. XACTLY i even had a GXL. i wanted a turbo car even though a rebuild would be cheaper. i was quoted 3,000 for a rebuild tho. i even started to collect parts for the swap. Untill i foud this car i have now. My advice is, rebuild your engine and do some mods, but for the whole turbo idea, it would be better of buying a turbo than swaping. it take a great deal of time to swap unless you got the parts, $$$, and tools/equipment. good luck and have fun either way.


mike

turbo is fast PERIOD!!!

turbo is fast PERIOD!!!

Is turbo fast?

Period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i see the turbo is reconmend but do you guys with turbo have a reliability problem? i kind of have the same dilemna. to get a rebuilt ported or swap in a turbo

$5600 my ass. You can find a very nice TII for that kind of money. I take it you are in Denver, heard about one shop there that was high. Don't remember which one it was.

If you want 200 hp, find a TII, a ported NA may not pass emmisions in the Denver metro area.

You can find a good rebuilt NA for half the price they want, just do the install yourself.