So yeah I’ve been doing some research from time to time and so far all I ever seen or heard of. Is that if you want to turbo your NA just convert everything into a T2. Yeah I’ve seen Aaron’s guide to turboing a NA and all but I just wanted to know if the “just T2 swap it” is still the go to answer for turboing your NA rotary in 2021 or is their any turbo kits out there?

 

I think the biggest change from a couple of years ago is pricing. T2 engine and transmission prices are stupid high now. So I do think that is going to influence you to use your N/A keg.

I used to buy blown s5 t2 motors for $250. I used 3 blown engines to build one good one. But now I’ve seen Jdm importers ask $5k for a t2 swap...... Shoot, I even bought an entire blown engine s4 t2 car for $250...

Especially with today’s option of running e85, id think to use a N/A keg and gain the benefit of higher compression. I think the current pricing is pretty ridiculous but how much you want to spend is all up to you.


to my knowledge, there are no “turbo kits” to just bolt onto your N/A keg. I think you still have to use t2 manifolds, get the LiM modified to mate to the 6 port irons. Then use whatever turbo you want. Stock t2 turbo up to the moon for options.

And I didn’t even get into fuel pumps, fuel injectors, intercooler and ecu options, differential, driveshaft, axles. Good luck.

 

Step 1: Log In to Bank Account

Step 2: Check Balance, Does it have at least 4 Zeroes? If yes, proceed to step 3, if no, repeat from step 1

Step 3: Build a TII swap.

 

for that kind of money you can buy a new engine... and in this area we've gone to FD engine swaps because you can find FD parts, and it can be emissions legal and make more power. its not all upsides, some fab work required, and the wiring is a thing.

oh and since you're changing everything, it doesn't matter if you start with an NA or not

 

At this point...keep an NA car NA. find yourself a blown T2 or T2 car and do something with that. You'll always spend more trying to do a swap unless you have ties with a shop/friends to get stuff on the low low

 

I could see it being cheaper to make an NA-T if you already have a healthy NA, then buy a complete blown T2 long-block for a good price. Then all you need is a standalone and fuel pump, plus intake port matching. You could swap everything onto your existing NA motor and go. Though you still end up with the weaker transmission and rear-end.

But generally neither option is cheap anymore. I think it depends on how crazy the prices are near you, but a running mileage-unknown NA short-block near me is usually $1000. I don't even know what a running T2 engine costs because I can't find any, but someone not too long ago quoted me $1k just for a set of good T2 irons.

Clean T2s meanwhile are $10k at least.

On the other hand you could do what I do and slowly aggregate turbo parts when you find them cheaply. This will save you money but cost you time. To put this in perspective, it's been four years or so of slowly acquiring T2 parts and I would still need:

- Intercooler
- Fuel injectors
- Standalone
- Downpipe
- Fuel pump
- Differential (if you want to be sure you won't break the NA rear-end), drive shaft, axles.

- and more. So if you want to spend way too long hunting down every part then you could do that, but you'll have to be very patient. And certain costs like the standalone are always going to be expensive, even used.

So basically unless you like doing things just for the hell of it, I highly recommend just saving up and getting a T2.