Anyone have a good idea...

I know that some of the guys here have some NICE looking CAVYs, but I'm on the way to building up my 96, crate and everything, so I need to know how much HP/ compression the stock block can handle AND any good kits to go in the 2.2L long to handle MASSIVE gains?


Thanks - Eric

Stock can handle up to 6-7psi with fuel mods if your looking to boost the car. Only massive gains will be made with turbo chargin the biotch. Other wise with every bolt on your lookin at maybe 15-20, and 20 on the very high end.

Import Performance sells a kit that has everything, intercooler,blah blah, would need injectors for more power, but says at 8 psi it gives 250+whp. Only $2595, so.. sounds good to me. Only thing is... I don't trust a new turbo kit to break in a new 2200, you know, if there is something else I should do I might as well do it now while the engine is still in the crate. So you got any ideas? Thanks

Well issue #1 your going to have is injectors. If you want to boost that engine, your going to have to do a top-feed conversion to fit any other injector into your car. There is no kit for that and is all one off designs. Its do able, but your gona need a machine shop. So your not left with some other options. Top feed conversion to turbo the car, Build it for N/A and run a large shot of nitrous, or an engine swap.

Secondly don't buy a crate engine. You can find a spare in great condition and drop 2k in to internals/rebuild and have that thing be able to handle 15-20psi of boost and basically if you rebuild the engine, its pretty much a fountain of youth for your engine.

Thirdly, there is no kit for a 2.2L Gm engine to have it hit 250hp on an OHV engine with only 8psi. Not gonna happen, i call their bluff. You'd need a fully built engine, with massive head work, fuel mods, extremly good tune, and boosting around 12psi ( est ). Highest Hp 2.2L ohv engine is Adler of JBO and has his at 260whp.

fourthly.. You should never break in an engine under boost nor run synthetic motor oil. You have to let the rings seat properly and bearings to break in. Which usually is within 800 miles or so and you would be good to go. Once you hit 6,000 miles on the new engine crate or rebuilt then you can switch to full synthetic. Some may say you can do it after the first one. But i like a safe piece of mind. There are sooo many different opinions on engine break ins. Some say beat the piss outta them like how you plan on driving them, others will say take it easy. I preffer taking it easy.

fithly...uggghh... I'm hitten the sheets.

Thanks for the info, that'll save me some cash, but about the kits that can handle 15 - 20, do you have one in mind or do you just know of them, because if you know of a good kit I would get it (in a few months) and have the block rebuilt with that kit, otherwise you know how hard it is to find specific car parts on the net (preferred way of ordering) or can you tell me a good catalog to order? Thanks for the help - Eric

I can't really say which would be the best way to do this. I have way to get discounts on turbo parts since i work at a performance shop on the side. However, Jbodytuners, or Hahn RaceCraft are probably the 2 leading companies that supply turbo kits to our cars if your looking for a kit. I personally would put together my own setup.