Yet another n/a to turbo question..
(Yes i tried searching I found n/a & turbo war stories)
I'm going to be stripping a 87 T2 turbo, manifold, and injectors from a 87 at a junk yard. what else should i take? For a intercooler i'm going to look at the turbo saab's and turbo volvo's for a small front mount one. I am not going to rush into putting this on untill i have all the required parts. I did research and found that i can use a Safc to control the fuel curve using a T2 boost sensor. Lastly I'm only looking for a max of 8lbs boost (I would perfer 6lbs to be safe). Mainly looking to break my 200hp limit
I'm going to be stripping a 87 T2 turbo, manifold, and injectors from a 87 at a junk yard. what else should i take? For a intercooler i'm going to look at the turbo saab's and turbo volvo's for a small front mount one. I am not going to rush into putting this on untill i have all the required parts. I did research and found that i can use a Safc to control the fuel curve using a T2 boost sensor. Lastly I'm only looking for a max of 8lbs boost (I would perfer 6lbs to be safe). Mainly looking to break my 200hp limit
Ya.. You ONLY want to break 200hp.... that'll last about a day, then you'll want 250... trust me.
Anyways... as intercoolers go.... there isn't a small volvo one... it's HUGE, as in, lasrger than the stock radiator!!!
Now- I don't have first hand expereince with them, but I'd say on a mild turbo setup, with the stock turbo, you'd have way too much turbo lag.
Also- you have to do some crazy customizing to get it to fit- moving the radiator back, etc.
I am welding 2 TII corse together- it's easy and cheap.
What's even better is welding 2 1st gen talon/eclipse intercoolers. They have smaller cores, but are 4" thick!! They are usually pretty cheap too, but I could only find one...
Any machine shop will weld them together for you for very cheap.
Don't skimp out on intercooling- that's key to keeping safe boost on the N/A's high comp rotors.
There are 2 sizes of Saab intercoolers- 900 and 9000. The 900 is a side mount, it's a little smaller than the stock TII one. The 9000, again is massive- like the Volvo-probably hurt performance.
Get the fuel pump as well.
Don't forget the oil lines, and coolant lines- it makes it easier to fab the rest when you have most of the lines already.
If it's an 87 TII make sure the injector impedence matches your car- they changed 1/2way through 87.
If your car is low, and the turbo is high, then get the resistor block too- it's under/behind the passenger headlight area.
If your car is low, and they are high- then your car will have a resistor block- just bypass it to run high imp. injectors.
You won't be able to keep boost down that low if you have an exhaust/intake. You will probably need to port the wastegate to be safe with boost creep....
With a decent intercooler, and you arent leaning out with fuel , you can run 10psi without a worry!
You are aware you need to make a spacer plate too, for the turbo to clear the intake manifold- some fender thumping might be required too.
Don't forget about ding intercooler piping, and also, you need a new front exhaust... there's lots of little things.
Good luck! I'm knee deep in the same thing right now!
Hey- and where did you hear about the S-AFC hooked to the TII boost sensor??? I just thought of that today!!
Anyways... as intercoolers go.... there isn't a small volvo one... it's HUGE, as in, lasrger than the stock radiator!!!
Now- I don't have first hand expereince with them, but I'd say on a mild turbo setup, with the stock turbo, you'd have way too much turbo lag.
Also- you have to do some crazy customizing to get it to fit- moving the radiator back, etc.
I am welding 2 TII corse together- it's easy and cheap.
What's even better is welding 2 1st gen talon/eclipse intercoolers. They have smaller cores, but are 4" thick!! They are usually pretty cheap too, but I could only find one...
Any machine shop will weld them together for you for very cheap.
Don't skimp out on intercooling- that's key to keeping safe boost on the N/A's high comp rotors.
There are 2 sizes of Saab intercoolers- 900 and 9000. The 900 is a side mount, it's a little smaller than the stock TII one. The 9000, again is massive- like the Volvo-probably hurt performance.
Get the fuel pump as well.
Don't forget the oil lines, and coolant lines- it makes it easier to fab the rest when you have most of the lines already.
If it's an 87 TII make sure the injector impedence matches your car- they changed 1/2way through 87.
If your car is low, and the turbo is high, then get the resistor block too- it's under/behind the passenger headlight area.
If your car is low, and they are high- then your car will have a resistor block- just bypass it to run high imp. injectors.
You won't be able to keep boost down that low if you have an exhaust/intake. You will probably need to port the wastegate to be safe with boost creep....
With a decent intercooler, and you arent leaning out with fuel , you can run 10psi without a worry!
You are aware you need to make a spacer plate too, for the turbo to clear the intake manifold- some fender thumping might be required too.
Don't forget about ding intercooler piping, and also, you need a new front exhaust... there's lots of little things.
Good luck! I'm knee deep in the same thing right now!
Hey- and where did you hear about the S-AFC hooked to the TII boost sensor??? I just thought of that today!!
Three spinning triangles
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Been all around this world and still call Texas home (Ft Worth)
GET THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN !!!!!
the NA drive train wont hold up to the inevitable upgrade to 250 or 300 HP. so do it right the first time and swap it all.
And really from having helped RX7_ragtop (brad one of the forum admins) swap out the NA tranny and rear end into his vert I have to agree unless its a conversion to a vert just get a T2. Unless you have lots of time and just wanna do it.
the NA drive train wont hold up to the inevitable upgrade to 250 or 300 HP. so do it right the first time and swap it all.
And really from having helped RX7_ragtop (brad one of the forum admins) swap out the NA tranny and rear end into his vert I have to agree unless its a conversion to a vert just get a T2. Unless you have lots of time and just wanna do it.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
The NA drivetrain WILL hold up to the power of the turbo.
The BOV is not integral to the turbo, it is a seperate part...Either use the stock TII BOV (air bypass valve) or get an aftermarket unit.
You will certainly have to modify the inner fender...This will involve cutting a chunk out of the frame rail...I hope you can run a welder.
The stock TII intercooler can be front mounted with a few changes in the pipe...But a better intercooler should be easy to find (check eBay).
Any questions? I'm halfway through installing a TII turbo on my '86NA right now...
The BOV is not integral to the turbo, it is a seperate part...Either use the stock TII BOV (air bypass valve) or get an aftermarket unit.
You will certainly have to modify the inner fender...This will involve cutting a chunk out of the frame rail...I hope you can run a welder.
The stock TII intercooler can be front mounted with a few changes in the pipe...But a better intercooler should be easy to find (check eBay).
Any questions? I'm halfway through installing a TII turbo on my '86NA right now...
Trending Topics
o.k. so:
(from T2 in salvage yard)
Turbo unit (will get it rebuilt to factory spec)
Manifold
Intercooler
Fuel pump
Injectors
oil lines
pressure sensor
(new)
BOV
SAFC
Tubing for air ducts
My uncle (who will be doing most of the work) is a master welder (35+ years exp). He has combined meny crushed cars to make rather nice, drivable cars.
For cooling lines can i use the line that i took off of my thrmo wax? I don't know how much pressure that gives.
(from T2 in salvage yard)
Turbo unit (will get it rebuilt to factory spec)
Manifold
Intercooler
Fuel pump
Injectors
oil lines
pressure sensor
(new)
BOV
SAFC
Tubing for air ducts
My uncle (who will be doing most of the work) is a master welder (35+ years exp). He has combined meny crushed cars to make rather nice, drivable cars.

For cooling lines can i use the line that i took off of my thrmo wax? I don't know how much pressure that gives.
next question. Should I get a wide-band O2 sensor and a a/f meter? If so how much and where can i find a wide o2 sensor? I think i can get a autometer a/f meter @ pep boyz for like $40.
Originally posted by SonicRaT
Grab the front cover while you're at it, then you won't have to drill holes in your NA cover for the oil lines.
Grab the front cover while you're at it, then you won't have to drill holes in your NA cover for the oil lines.
Dont waste your money on that A/F gauge, they are garbage, get an exhaust temp gauge, they are more precise and will definitely give you more info on how lean your motor is running.
BTW The N/A drivetrain will hold up as long as you dont drop the clutch over 6,000 rpms all the time
Oh and heres a pic of a S4 turbo on a GXL http://www.geocities.com/alx954/turbopic1.jpg
I think your going to have to copy and paste this one.
Ogh and you do not nee to cut the frame at all, you just need to "massage" it a little with a big hammer, so that the stock wastegate will fit.
BTW The N/A drivetrain will hold up as long as you dont drop the clutch over 6,000 rpms all the time
Oh and heres a pic of a S4 turbo on a GXL http://www.geocities.com/alx954/turbopic1.jpg
I think your going to have to copy and paste this one.
Ogh and you do not nee to cut the frame at all, you just need to "massage" it a little with a big hammer, so that the stock wastegate will fit.
Last edited by VtekEater; Apr 22, 2002 at 07:09 PM.
Originally posted by VtekEater
Dont waste your money on that A/F gauge, the are garbage, get an exhaust temp gauge, they are more precise and will definitely give you more info on how lean your motor is running.
Dont waste your money on that A/F gauge, the are garbage, get an exhaust temp gauge, they are more precise and will definitely give you more info on how lean your motor is running.

BTW The N/A drivetrain will hold up as long as you dont drop the clutch over 6,000 rpms all the time
Originally posted by VtekEater
LOL
My friend shifts like a crack head in his GT-S all the time it funny
LOL
My friend shifts like a crack head in his GT-S all the time it funny
can I just get an oil feed from the oil cooler? or just the oil cooler lines?
exhaust gas temp? How much would that be? sounds more expensive already.
I was on ebay and was looking at intercoolers i seen 2 that looked good. The easier one to install looked like the 4-banger ford probe intercooler. I seen another one that was something like 30"x3"x2.5" with an inlet/outlet on each end, but it looked like a lot of tubing to get it working.
Isnt the idea to have the least ammount of tube (well just the shortest distance from filter all the way through to the manifold)?
exhaust gas temp? How much would that be? sounds more expensive already.

I was on ebay and was looking at intercoolers i seen 2 that looked good. The easier one to install looked like the 4-banger ford probe intercooler. I seen another one that was something like 30"x3"x2.5" with an inlet/outlet on each end, but it looked like a lot of tubing to get it working.
Isnt the idea to have the least ammount of tube (well just the shortest distance from filter all the way through to the manifold)?
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
Originally posted by gold87na
oil lines
oil lines
For cooling lines can i use the line that i took off of my thrmo wax? I don't know how much pressure that gives.
VtekEater: I had to cut the frame of my car to make the wastegate fit as it interfered quite a bit. Also, there was no room to swing a big hammer.
can I just get an oil feed from the oil cooler? or just the oil cooler lines?
exhaust gas temp? How much would that be? sounds more expensive already.
Isnt the idea to have the least ammount of tube (well just the shortest distance from filter all the way through to the manifold)?
Take my advice though. If you need to ask these questions, you don't have the necessary knowledge to do this project.
why dont you just get the motor and driveterrain off the TII in the J yard, or hell, buy the whole car, rebuild the motor (depending on the shape its in) and then swaping it in your car as a whole, that way you dont have to cut your frame or buy all these extra expensive parts, just be stock TII for right now, then later on really mod that peice. Just my two... ah **** it. keep us posted
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
Originally posted by Roy James
why dont you just get the motor and driveterrain off the TII in the J yard, or hell, buy the whole car, rebuild the motor (depending on the shape its in) and then swaping it in your car as a whole, that way you dont have to cut your frame or buy all these extra expensive parts, just be stock TII for right now, then later on really mod that peice. Just my two... ah **** it. keep us posted
why dont you just get the motor and driveterrain off the TII in the J yard, or hell, buy the whole car, rebuild the motor (depending on the shape its in) and then swaping it in your car as a whole, that way you dont have to cut your frame or buy all these extra expensive parts, just be stock TII for right now, then later on really mod that peice. Just my two... ah **** it. keep us posted
Originally posted by Aaron Cake
Well, the reason I am doing this is because TIIs are super rare around here, I don't want to buy a TII, and I wanted something different (that "can't be done").
Well, the reason I am doing this is because TIIs are super rare around here, I don't want to buy a TII, and I wanted something different (that "can't be done").
Well it's a rather long storie.. Has to do with my parents. I live at home and my parents are sooo into the 'save your money' and if they know or find out that I am putting money into my car (in there eyes something "only" to get you where you need to go) I will be forced out and I can't pay for a apartment right now and i refuse to get another room-mate (and get ripped off again) so if my car looks the same and it doesn't take any nights away from home then they will never know.. (there not to mechanically inclined). Also I am only looking to get no more then 200rwhp and I don't drive like a maniac so I think the drivetrain would hold up. I never plan on going to a track or dyno (well I might have it dyno'd with a/f ratio after the turbo but mainly just to get it running with a stable a/f curve to be safe)
Question: I saw a Ford (F*cker Only Rolls Downhill) probe intercooler on e-bay has anyone ever tried fitting one in the nose? I think I can get it to fit with little moding but just wanted to see if anyone has tried one.
Question: I saw a Ford (F*cker Only Rolls Downhill) probe intercooler on e-bay has anyone ever tried fitting one in the nose? I think I can get it to fit with little moding but just wanted to see if anyone has tried one.
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