Engine work due to turbo?

alright, im going to put a turbokit in my 02, the 2.2 ecotec, but i was wondering if i should do some engine work first like forged pistons so on.i have have searched endlessly online and i have only seen like one cavalier with some actual engine work done to it. to install this turbo kit can i just install the kit with a stock engine?

You can run on the stock engine...i am, but then again, its a Honda, not a Chevy so its not really the same...

If you keep it conservative and get a good tune, there is no reason you cant make a good amount of power on the stock engine

thanks i'm just hoping to get some replys from anyone that has done it to an eco. because if it is worth it ill put some cash into my bottom end but, im no millionair.... i think it'll be safe if i run any where from 8 to 10 psi of boost. so if no one comments back bad news im going to put the kit on.

See, this is a trick question. Of course you want to beef-up the strength of the motor if you're going to be boosting it. That's true for any motor, especially one not built for boost.

With that said, an ecotec will handle around 8psi just fine. Its obviously going to shorten the life of the motor, and the performance gains won't be as good as they would with a various engine enhancements, but it'll run just fine.

But, if you're goal is to have a reliable car, then you should the quality of what's in the car, that's a given.

we boosted our stock 2200 OHV sunfire, ran great till the oil pump failed.

Over, should have the engine back from the machine shop june 1st after being blueprinted and balanced and cleaned up. Everything going into her is forged bottom end, and all aftermarket top end.

Stock eco will handle 10psi tops any higher then that and your taking your engine into your hands.

If you have the time and cash then yeah, redo everything forged and ready for race aps such as high levels of boost and spray. In the long run you are going to be much happier as boost is addictive and no one wants to hit the end of your boost point before the thing is even installed. Its much better to do the engine right, start off at a lower boost level and then you have the frredom to play with it as much as you like.

thanks you guys have been a great help. i now know i have to do some bottom end work and put some lute into it. but another question... can i put the kit on then through out a span of time put forged extras in..?

yea....u could. if it were me i would proly do the opposite, or at the same time if u have the money. but i would do all the internal work first, then put the kit on after. i cant really think of a reason why...

Can we stop for a second please!?!?!

You can't measure anything in terms of PSI...that term has no relevance by itself so saying that engine A can handle x psi is a bogus statement.

To put it in context, think of this, take a stock turbo from an Eclipse GSX and a GT4202. You can run 10psi on both of them. The GSX turbo will make 180whp and the GT4202 will make 400whp....how do you compare the two without knowing the flow ratings??

In order to know how much boost an engine can handle, you need to first know the turbo. Asking the vague question "how much boost can i run" is a dead give-away that you dont know what you're talking about....that goes the same for anyone who answers with a PSI number rather than a horsepower number....

From now on, keep this in mind when you're helping people. Pressure is not a means of comparison...instead use a horsepower number...

Well factoring the average and almost standard of turbos for cavis being a t3/t4 turbo is where I base my answers to questions like these so I spose if you want to be all anal :lol: Ill rephrase my answer...if you use a t3/t4 turbo the eco can safely handle 10psi any higher then that and your boned. That better? :lol:

The framing size of the T3/T4 even doesn't cut it...there are a bazillion different versions from the 50 trim T3/T04B in a .48ar (which is small) to a T3/67 in a .82 ar (which is really large)

The best way to describe it is to get the turbo size....even if its very general. Most people run something in the 50-60 trim range in a 60ar compressor housing w/ either a .48 or .63 ar turbine housing....

I just dont like letting people spread misinformation and ignorance...because later, i just have to deal with it again

I just dont like letting people spread misinformation and ignorance...because later, i just have to deal with it again

Umm what is it you have to deal with...:screwy:

Umm what is it you have to deal with...:screwy:

What i have to deal with are these people who ask questions like the original one in this thread. After asking a vague question, they are then given misinformation which they in turn spread on to others...if we can give REAL information, we dont have to deal with more stupid questions in the future...

with regards to the turbo he's buying a kit. if that's the case i would hope it would be hahn to ensure quailty and that has a 16G mitsu unit. what then

also he could run 5psi without the proper tuning or running 87 octane and get some serious detonation and blow some rods through the pan. there are so many factors. the easy answer being if you plan on turbo'ing and you are looking for good numbers building the motor is a good idea. The ecotec has a compression ratio of 10:1 in l61 format which is high if you're going to throw boost at it. some people have been very lucky some not so much i know a guy ran 7psi with the hahn kit went through 3 motors none were built

dont let the static compression level fool you though...my GSR has a 10.2:1 compression ratio and you know the power i'm making on it....also, the Ecotec has the advantage of being a larger engine as well....i dont know how the engines flow so i can't say whether or not the Mitsu 16g will be a good fit, but it will make some power and be fun regardless...

the 16g is said to be a good snail. i was referring to the compression ration merely to point out the need for proper tuning as the risk of detonation will rise. beside the stock rods in your motor would most liekly be of better quality than a ecotec, the 2.2 ecotec wasn't really built for performance hence the motor that goes in the ss s/c and the soltice gxps and the saab 9-3 turbo's etc etc etc is a destroked 2.2 with forged internals. people always ask why wouldn't gm boost the 2.2 without realising why essentially the same motor with the same bore has 200cc less. i would definitely build an ecotec for boost, even my motor with only 40,000 miles on it

wait wait wait! i know you guy are fighting weather its safe or not, but all threds ive looked at and everyone ive talked to have said that a kit on a stock 2.2 is safe.( the kit is a hahn racecraft) im not pushing this kit for crazy perfomance untill i get the bottom end up to speed and mostly forged so. from what im seeing recently im buy and installing the kit. (i talked to the guys at hahn and they say ill be fine) and im working on the engine after so i see none of my rods going any where.

wait wait wait! i know you guy are fighting weather its safe or not, but all threds ive looked at and everyone ive talked to have said that a kit on a stock 2.2 is safe.( the kit is a hahn racecraft) im not pushing this kit for crazy perfomance untill i get the bottom end up to speed and mostly forged so. from what im seeing recently im buy and installing the kit. (i talked to the guys at hahn and they say ill be fine) and im working on the engine after so i see none of my rods going any where.

yeah you may be fine.

as mentioned i know a guy who had the hahn stage 2 and he sold the car on it's 3rd motor. too many issues despite hahn's excellent service

So is hahn the best turbo kit for a j-Body? How much is it and how much horsepower will you get?

Yes...alot....and alot. :lol:

Can you type out some numbers?

with a hahn stage 2 for a 2.2l(2200) will get about an added 70 whp gain for the eco u might get a 100 whp gain at the 8psi range, but like schister66 said u relly cant base a psi ratio to a car hes right about that u have to with the trim size to determine a safe boost for a stock car or any car for that matter ya just dont wanna go and jump into things to quickle do a little reserch on your car and boosting before hand. Better safe than sorry