Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

[benjy_b]

Hey Guys,

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience swapping from a n/a engine to a turbo?

Is there much diffrence in engine loom and ecu?

Regards,

Ben

[maggi112]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

If you want a turbo, it would be soo much easier to just sell up and buy one?

[benjy_b]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

Yeah, I thought about that, however you get all the faff (air con, electric windows, power steering, heated seats) when you buy a pulse or passion, I like the basic pure.

[maggi112]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

You can't be bothered with the faff of such things but can with an engine swap?

[benjy_b]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

Buy a car with all that fitted means I have to pay the initial premium to then remove what I don't want. Working from basic up, I can choose what I want. I won the car, I didn't have a choice on what model, they kindly gave me the 61bhp pure.

[Ferrina]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

There is a kit from Smartmadness in the states to turbo a 71bhp engine. But, it doesn't mention lowering the compression ration by means of different pistons or a thicker head gasket. The 71bhp engine has a comp ratio of 11.5:1 which is very high. It needs to be around 8.5 - 9:1, otherwise it will just detonate and probably blow the bottom end out. Also is the map for the engine.

Personally, I'd not bother and swap cars for a stock 84bhp and get it mapped by Big to 125bhp. Plenty of grunt for such a little city car.

My car is non-MHD and doesn't have aircon, so a perfect donor for turboing, but my car feels much better with the basic mods I've carried out and I'm happy with that. I'm currently designing my own exhaust system to finish off my mods.

[maggi112]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

Can't wait to see that neil!

Personally, I can't stand turbo cars to drive. So I went for a 71 also. I've set myself a target of 130bhp. I'm going to get as much as I can out of it whilst remaining n/a which i think nearer 90bhp is achievable with some serious work and after that I'm going supercharged. Already got savings going for that one! So if it's what you wanna do, I say go for it. But it would be much easier to find a turbo car

[Ferrina]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

I'd be happy with 75bhp, just a tad more torque and a decent sound. If I wanted a quick turbo car, I'd have bought a Focus or TT or something. The 451 suits my needs. I've got my Forfour cdi and that's fun.

[MrPoo]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

Yeah, I thought about that, however you get all the faff (air con, electric windows, power steering, heated seats) when you buy a pulse or passion, I like the basic pure.

But you don't..........you only get electric windows and aircon as standard, power steering is a rarely selected option. The pure has been discontinued now.

[Evilution]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

then remove what I don't want.

Why would you bother removing what you don't use?
Stop being so dramatic. If you want the turbo version, PX the one you got for free and get a turbo one.

There is a kit from Smartmadness in the states to turbo a 71bhp engine. But, it doesn't mention lowering the compression ration by means of different pistons or a thicker head gasket.

No no no no!
for a start the Yank N/A engine has the same compression ratio as our turbo engine, secondly the exhaust system is WAY different to ours, thirdly even when they throw thousands of bucks at a turbo system it rarely get close to a Euro stock turbo 451.

[problemchild1976]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

Buy a car with all that fitted means I have to pay the initial premium to then remove what I don't want. Working from basic up, I can choose what I want. I won the car, I didn't have a choice on what model, they kindly gave me the 61bhp pure.

I'm confused! Can you clarify??

Are you building a lightweight race version??

Just wondering why you don't want/need aircon etc

Also, the "premium" is probably not much (£500) but t would cost you a few thousand to swap out the engine (in purchasing a new engine, parts, time and trouble)

JJ

[benjy_b]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

Let's stick to the actual question people.

I raised the initial question to see if it would be more feasable to upgrade my engine or get a new car.

[benjy_b]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

I don't want air con or electric windows as 1, they are another thing to go wrong. 2, air con has to be regulary maintained/gassed.

[Ferrina]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

No no no no!
for a start the Yank N/A engine has the same compression ratio as our turbo engine, secondly the exhaust system is WAY different to ours, thirdly even when they throw thousands of bucks at a turbo system it rarely get close to a Euro stock turbo 451.

I stand corrected, thanks. I thought the yank gearbox was the only change because they have to have park position?

So all those Doug Thornley headers, etc are useless on Euro spec cars?

[lalli_d1]

Re: Engine Swap... N/A to Turbo

benjy, youd be better off buying a turbo.
youd have to buy a new engine, new wiring harness, driveshafts, gearbox (if there is a diffrence between the N/A and turbo modles), new ECU and then have some one fit it all and program the new ECU will add up to thousands! and then letting the DVLA know of the new engine and the insurance premiums going up as its a modification as the car is no longer standard even though it has another 'Smart' engine
trust me buying a passion as the pulse doesnt have the turbo option (corect me if im wrong) will be cheaper. to be honest i dont know why your worrying about PXing it after all you did get your 451 for nawt.
A/C i think is standard on the passion (again correct me if im wrong) and so are electric windows but its like any car, things will go wrong.
i want more umpff from my little 1.1 forfour, which i know is going to be difficult as there arnt may mod for the 1.1 engine that are reasonably priced, and have been suggested by Mr BIG to swap the engine for a 1.5 engine, and it really did work out cheaper buying a new car altogether!