So I recently picked up a s5 turbo motor and trans, now I can't decide what I want to drop it in. I have two clean rx's my 84 gsl-se and my 90 gxl. Which ever I turbo I plan to build the engine completly, a nice high horsepower engine with a fairly flat torque curve. Which ever I don't turbo I wanna make it into a daily n/a with a nice suspension and a intake/exhaust.

Just wanted to get peoples input. I've never driven a turbo 1st or 2nd gen before.

 

Well the GXL will be alot easier, but Turbo FBs are pure win. I'd do the FB. Plus the FC would make a better DD anyway.

 

Don't ruin the GSL-SE. Turbocharge the GXL and you can add the stronger TII drivetrain that will handle the power better than the GSL-SE.

 

Yea another plus is the weight of the fb compared to the fc.

 

Agree with Evil Aviator 100%. Clean, unmolested GSL-SEs are getting rarer and will always be more valuable than a '90 GXL. Even if you do a fantastic job with the turbo installation, it will reduce the value of the GSL-SE to a collector because of the loss of originality.

 

do you care about re-sale value? if so, go with the FC. If you plan on keeping both cars until the wheels fall off, go with the FB - first gens with turbos are freaking ridiculous.

 

Both cars are close to stock form, the se does have suspension work done to it, besides that bone stock with 238k on the ticker. Gsl has exhaust and a filter with 168k on her. Both cars are extremly solid. No rust on either, I plan on keeping both because I can't part with any Mazda I've own.

 

Go with the SE. 1st gens should have been this way from the factory. + normal people don't expect it.

 

if u do the FB, please upgrade your suspension and cosmetic looks lol.. nothing is as bad as a stock looking car with mad hp and stock suspension. Everything should be balanced out.

But to me, whichever car could benefit more from a fresh engine...

 

You're kidding, right? That's the very definition of a "sleeper," and nothing could be cooler. It's not like the stock GSL-SE is exactly ugly. Besides, he said he's already done the suspension anyway...

 

You would have to decide what you and other people would think is more rare a stock Gsl-Se or a turbocharged Gsl-SE.

 

Keep the fb original, piece of history there.

 

ok.. sleepers are only cool to people in the east and midwest.. where only straight lines exist while car meets/shows and curves arent in the cars future. Its just nice to see guys who pay attention to other aspects of the car. Women wont like a guy who spends all his time in the engine bay, but wont be seen riding in a car that looks like poo or wonder why hes fixing up this jalopy lol

 

^looks like poo, fixing up the jalopy.

Got a good chuckle outta that

 

do the fb. it will be way cooler and the gxl will make for a much better dd. that is, unless you wanna keep the fb as a collector type-stockish car. but i dont think you'd have this thread if you wannted that

 

FB for sure!

 

go with the FB

 

Why compromise? Do both.

 

turbo fc is cheaper, turbo fb is cooler. since you are building it fully to make power then either way will not be cheap. Big turbo little car!

 

So today I drove both cars and I think I'm leaning towards turbocharging the fb. Maybe not a high horsepower 13b. I think a nice 300 maybe 320 hp with a close to matching torque curve. Maybe go with a bnr turbo. I have a nice t4 greddy manifold but I doubt I could find a fast spooling t4.

 

go with a bb turbo and it will spool pretty damn quick

 

Boost the gxl. Clean 5-letters are hard to come by.

...unless of course you only want to go fast in a straight line, in which case the light weight would be an advantage and the inferior steering/suspension setup wouldn't matter as much. Plus it'll be easier.

 

300 at the wheels is enough, it's monster on the freeway when your car looks stock

 

I'm leaning toward using a t4, because either way I'm going to have to use custom hard pipes and a front mount.

 

I use s5 tii engine, stock ports w/factory manifold and a bnr stage II. 303whp. That is what your aiming for ?