Full aftermarket turbo kit?

[millsan1]

This is my first post to the forums. I have been looking around, researching a turbo conversion for my 78 Black Pearl.

It seems the majority of people go with an 83 ZX turbo, from a parts car, for their conversion. But then, if you want real power, items start to get replaced, such as the turbo itself, then the ECU, etc.

I anticipate that I will end up with an aftermarket turbo, and programmable ECU (I forget the popular one), does it make more sense just to buy an exhaust manifold, and the standard sensors, etc, then buy the aftermarket turbo and ECU?

I just think it is more logical, rather than buying a whole donor car, and using 5 to 10 pieces of it.

As a side question, does anyone know of an aftermarket turbo kit that you bolt on to an exisitng engine?

Thank you

[hls30.com]

Millsan1,

First welcome to the club!

Second, While not having a carcas and extra parts sounds like a good idea, the troubleshooting value of a complete donor car should not be overlooked. I am in the process of a serious power turbo upgrade, and if I didn't have the ability to test individual pieces before leaving the beaten path, I would already be deep in the frustration Zone with an inoperative motor. If you have no way to verify individual pieces let alone subassemblies, you have seriously added to your learning curve, and the troubleshooting issues you may have in using parts that were not specificly designed for each other with integrated support documentation.

Will

[Zedrally]

Hi millsan1,

You may find those questions are better asked at hybridz, not that we don't mind you asking here, it's just that there aren't many members with turbo and after market experiance here.

Now watch & wait for all those sleepers to start replying........

[millsan1]

I have spoken with Steve at Top End Performance, and he is working a solution for me. Turns out that I was pretty much correct. You can start with a Turbo Z block, and everythign else can be aftermarket. It is pricey (~$10K), but should be fun. We shall see.

[hls30.com]

I misunderstood your question. Of course you can pay someone else to take care of all the details and set it up for you. I thought your question was could you do it yourself with the four or five parts and a not a complete running assembly. I am 100% certian if you could get Steve to about what it would take for you to do it essentially by yourself, his advice would be to get a complete running car, and not to buy the individual parts-ask him!

Will