here is the deal, I may be getting a 88 convertable and already have a tII. I was wondering what would be an easier job. swapping the turbo engine into the convertable or making the n/a a turbo (ie. what aaron cake did). I would love to turbo the n/a because of the higher compression rotors and since I already have everything else, tranny differential etc.. I could just swap those as well. What would you guys do? Here is the problem, I'm no mechanic so probably what I would do would be to get kevin to do this for me at rotary resurection so it would probably be cheaper if he did the engine swap instead right? ANyways just trying to get a few ideas on what you guys would do. ps. I would probably have to get another engine wiring harness because the one in my tII is shot so that would be an added expense.

 

Engine swap.

 

&&&&&Here is the problem, I'm no mechanic &&&&&&&&&&&=========engine swap.

 

IMO, making the NA turbo would be funner. Thats what I'm doing. It seems like it would be cheaper to do as well (if you didnt already have a turbo car). Maybe it Just seems like that to me because I already had an SAFC and other things needed before I actually started doing my na/turbo project...
In making an N/A turbo, there is much more custom work involved. The direct swap is all bolt on as I come to understand it.
I chose to make the NA turbo because it was cheaper for me at the time, and I really like fabricating things.

 

Well...... my question is that if the engine is good in the TII why would you want to pull it out of a functioning car and put it in a vert.... then you are going to have a TII shell sitting around....

I'd buy a TII engine and get a standalone ECU if you must turbo the vert!!

BUT... turboing the N/A is dooable, but, again, you are best off to use a standalone because of the higher compression rotors, you are going to want to really have good control of your fuel and timing.

 

thanks for yall's replies! Aaron cake, I read your write up from start to finnish and man I would love to do that, THe only thing that looked to hard for me would be the spacer from the engine to the turbo and then the piping for the intercooler. I have everything on the tII including safc all after market gauges etc... I think I'm just fighting a loosing battle with my tII because of all the electrical problems from so many prior owners. I would love to be able to take my cars to aaron cake and have him do the n/a turbo setup by switching over parts and making the spacer and piping and what not. I'll give you 1000 bucks to do it what do you say Oh damn never mind I just saw where you live, dohh. Another problem I'm faced with is time. I have my own small business and the time It would take me to do either of these would be almost nothing so I will have to take it somewhere and do this. Do you think kevin would turbo my n/a if I brought both cars to him? Chime in any time you want kevin lol. I dont' know just sick of having an rx7 that doesn't work, I want one done right that will work damnit!

 

It's much easier just to put the TII engine into the NA...especially if you already have the TII drivetrain in there.

 

how is the torque on the n/a though? the torque on my tII absolutley sucks! Maybe I should just deal with it and use the tII motor. If I did that though I would just have kevin rebuild it with a big street port.

 

The torque and turbo response is much better....But you asked which is easier, not "better". And that definition of better depends on who you ask.

 

Hey man If I descide to turbo my n/a would you make the spacer for me and I'll pay you? I think I can probably get someone to make the ic piping but the spacer is total fab work. Thanks.

 

Nope, sorry. I don't have that kind of time. Also, it would cost too much.

In order to carry out a successful turbo-NA setup, you need to do all the fabrication. Start contracting it out, and it begins to cost more and more. Also, it really just isn't as simple as making the adapter...All the time consuming little stuff (that's where I spent most of my time...just figuring out the details). And if you don't have the experience with tuning, then someone else has to do it...more money...

 

I have a 91 N/A turbo and I would have to agree that a swap would be easier and less time consuming. I went this way because it is pretty hard and expensive to find a T2 motor. Since you already have the motor your down time and expense should be less. The harness you should be able to find for less than $100. Swapping might result in a more reliable car for you, specialy since you are not mechanicly incline. Yes, the N/A turbo will be faster than a stock T2 but, more prone to breakdown if not done right.

 

Ill make you a spacer for $50 plus parts and shipping.

 

I had my spacer made for me, cost 50 bucks, they did an EXCELLENT job on it, I wasnt gonna post pics unless people want em,, but its a good one.