turbo conversion question

[Hottmonkey]

i just got a 94 3000GT SL and my crank pulley broke while i was driving and my valves got bent so i need a new engine. i can probably get one in my area for around $1200 but id prefer to get a VR4. If i buy a vr4 engine, can it be mated to the tranny i have? what will i need to covert, if i do get a complete vr4 engine?


i know the answer to this question is someone in this forum, but i cant find it
thanks

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by Hottmonkey

i just got a 94 3000GT SL and my crank pulley broke while i was driving and my valves got bent so i need a new engine. i can probably get one in my area for around $1200 but id prefer to get a VR4. If i buy a vr4 engine, can it be mated to the tranny i have? what will i need to covert, if i do get a complete vr4 engine?

ur crank pulley broke? did the metal part actually break off? or did the rubber damper inside separate and come apart? just curious, really. i've never heard of the pulley actually breaking, but the damper has separated on rare occasions.

however, just b/c you bent some valve does NOT mean that you need a new motor. who told you this? slap them! do you actually KNOW you have bent valves, or has someone (a mechanic?) just told you this? only way to tell for sure is by inspection, and that means pulling the head(s). there's a bit of labor involved for pulling the heads, so that is what leads me to believe someone just told you that you need a new motor, since its easier to drop a new motor in than it is to pull the heads and replace the bent valves.

the solution is actually that simple: replace the bent valves. now some people get paranoid in these situations and replace ALL valves, intake an exhaust, front and rear, but really all you need to do is replace the bent valves. if you want, you can check the head(s) to make sure they're not warped, and it would be a good idea to check the rest of the valvetrain (springs, rockers, camshafts).

Originally Posted by Hottmonkey

i know the answer to this question is someone in this forum, but i cant find it. thanks

yes, i am your answer. haha.
well at least you've acknowledged the fact that you know you COULD search for the answer. and that's what you should do.



however, if you WERE to get a VR4 engine (and you probably don't need a new motor), you would need a VR4 ECU and wiring harness from the same year. there are other little things you need as well, but that's what the search button is for! if you don't have much luck after searching, we'll be glad to help you out even more.

welcome to AF!

[Hottmonkey]

well im not much of an engine head but i do know and saw that the timing belt markers were off, and there isnt compression in 3 cylinders i think, which makes sense, and i had 2 different techs look at it at, at 2 different places.

i did search and i got frustrated because on EVERY forum ive come across, people say you cant do the conversion and some people say you can

valve job will cost me almost a grand. a motor will cost me 1200 plus 500 to drop it in. a twin turbo motor will cost me 2300 plus 500. so i really just wanted to know, what else do i need beside harness, and transmission
if its just that and the ECU i dont mind.....i want to do it......but ifs axles, new clutch assmebly and all this other crap then forget about it.

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by Hottmonkey

well im not much of an engine head but i do know and saw that the timing belt markers were off, and there isnt compression in 3 cylinders i think, which makes sense, and i had 2 different techs look at it at, at 2 different places.

that's seems good. i'd like to think they know what they are talking about...but you never know. best advice i can give you, since you're not a gearhead, is to find a local 3000GT/Stealth owner who works on his own car, then he could help you diagnose/assess the damage correctly (w/o someone thinking its FUBARed by looking at timing marks/compression).

basically, the 2 mechanics are giving you the worst-case scenario based on their knowledge. i don't blame them. but a little labor (if you know what you're doing) could save you a LOT of money. if you could remove the valve covers, then heads to inspect the valves and valvetrain, the you could see for sure what exactly is wrong, and what you would need to replace. i would prefer this approach rather than "thinking" its FUBARed and just dumping a bunch of money into it.

call me weird, but i like to SEE the problem rather than taking someones advice, however informed they may be. however, in your situation, further diagnosis to "see" the problem = labor = time & money.

where do you live? i might be able to get you contact info of a local 3S gear head.

Originally Posted by Hottmonkey

i did search and i got frustrated because on EVERY forum ive come across, people say you cant do the conversion and some people say you can

curious...what other forums did you try? if it wasn't a dedicated subforum to the 3000gt/Stealth, then i can see how you would get mixed answers. and anything can be done with enough money.

but i guess you want boost?

short answer is, YES, it can be done and has been done. there are currently about 93 cars that have done this TT conversion, and about another 30 who are in the process (here's the thread http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....page=64&pp=10).

there are 2 options:

1) fix your car, do the "TT Conversion". (tt conversion is simply swapping the stock turbo setup from a 3000GT VR4/Stealth TT onto your car. its all bolt-on. a few little things need to be fabricated, but its all well documented and relatively easy.) search these forums for posts by user "Zeiss". he recently complete the TT conversion and was quite happy.

2)get a VR4 engine, swap it into your car. you'll need the wiring harness from that engine AND its ECU.

Originally Posted by Hottmonkey

valve job will cost me almost a grand. a motor will cost me 1200 plus 500 to drop it in. a twin turbo motor will cost me 2300 plus 500. so i really just wanted to know, what else do i need beside harness, and transmission? if its just that and the ECU i dont mind.....i want to do it......but ifs axles, new clutch assmebly and all this other crap then forget about it.

i believe a FWD transmission will bolt up directly to block of a VR4 engine. actually, i'm 99% sure it will. so you can reuse your current transmission, which will allow you to use your current axles, and other parts.

however, you'll want to upgrade your clutch since you'll have 2 turbos. you need to be able to put that power to the ground. the stock FWD transmission clutch will yeild/glaze/burn under those power levels.

you'll also need a TT downpipe, which will bolt up to your stock exhaust. you'll need the stock Intercoolers and piping from a VR4. a blow off valve.

an aftermarket boost gauge is a must. a datalogger would be wise for future tuning and turning up the boost, but not absolutely necessary at first.

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so basically, a VR4 engine (hoping turbos are included), downpipe, intercoolers + piping. and some little things here and there like boost gauge, blow off valve, and i'm sure other little trinkets i'm leaving out.

keep in mind, if you get a VR4 engine, you WILL need the turbos b/c the pistons have a 8.5:1 compression. your current Naturally Aspirated engine has a 10:1 compression. w/o the turbos on a VR4 engine, you will have zero acceleration. technically, you could swap in some 10:1 pistons into the VR4 motor, but i wouldn't recommend it w/o a rebuild, cylinder hone, etc.

i'll find you more hard data on the TT conversion.

[Linebckr49]

well documented TT conversion

TT conversion parts check list

oh, and of course you'll need some sort of boost control. a simple manual boost control can be had (or made from pipe fittings) for around 30 bucks.