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Turbo on non-turbo 16V keeping LH and EZK?

7083 Views 28 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  ninehundredt
Some of you know that I've contemplated converting one of my 8V n/a cars to a turbo car by adding the spare rebuilt turbo left over from when I had my 83 turbo car running.

Anyway, I was wondering about adding it to the engine of my 16V n/a car instead. That particular car is an 89 build-year car with LH 2.4 fuel injection and EZK for ignition timing control.

How feasible is it to simply replace the exhaust manifold, etc. to adapt with the turbo, add the required oil feed and drain hoses, and replace the stock distributor with the version used on turbo 16V engines?

I can see one issue straight away which is that the engine has the ignition sensor on the crankshaft rather that in the distributor.

Has anyone done this sort of mod WITHOUT replacing any of the Bosch electronics for fuel or ignition control? Will the stock LH 2.4 system be ok when a turbo is added? I'm sure the EZK will handle is since it does automagic knock detection, and should (theoretically) compensate for what the turbo does (within limits).

I don't expect that I'd get a lot from the turbo (perhaps 5 to maybe 10 psi at the most), but I'm sure plenty of you can offer advice on what will/won't need changing besides the obvious things on the intake/exhaust sides of the engine related to piping, etc. It would also give me the opportunity to install an intercooler at the same time.

So tell me if you think this is something that's doable, and what complications could you forsee happening as a result?

Craig.

PS. I suppose that eventually I could look to go the Megasquirt route but I don't want to jump through too many hoops at once. :cool:
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the stock turbo oil Feed line will bolt up fine... and the Return line just needs the plug in the bottom of the block Punched out, but be sure to keep it from falling into the Crank case. its really simple when you get into it. i was scared when i did mine but 8 hours later my car was a real beast (in reference to how slow it was before the turbo)
JP
the oneway valve idea i dont think will work because it might hold pressure in the Vaccum line and keep your timing retarded off boost? i guess you will have to mod the dist capsule:(

Dont forget to move your CPS wires to the distributor or the timing will stay the same as it was without the turbo. I never did this to mine but im sure there is extra power/tunability there. I just never got to it.
JP
the oneway valve idea i dont think will work because it might hold pressure in the Vaccum line and keep your timing retarded off boost? i guess you will have to mod the dist capsule:(

Dont forget to move your CPS wires to the distributor or the timing will stay the same as it was without the turbo. I never did this to mine but im sure there is extra power/tunability there. I just never got to it.
JP
I've located and read some info on the web on how to modify the vacuum capsule on a stock 16V turbo distributor so it can work with an EZK-equipped 16V n/a engine.

As for the CPS, I realised that would need re-arranging too. No biggy - Eagle Day amongst other places sell the special connectors that Saab used all around the 16V engine for harness connections. The harness connector to the block-mounted CPS is under the front end of the intake manifold so it's easy to access.

Ah I think I found the plug - hiding behind the top part of the main coolant hose there is a plug located just to the right of the knock sensor mouting. If my memory of the layout of the 8V turbo engine in my 81 turbo is right, that's where the oil feed pipe connects. Correct? Since I already have a spare oil feed pipe that's a bonus if it's the right location. Do the oil feed pipes for 16v engines route differently?

Craig.
Any new information on this?
just do it! its so simple...
JP
Have you done this? Speaking from experience?
yes i have done this infact!!! just sold the car a month or so ago, a real bummer, it drove better then my SPG
the high comp pistons w/ the turbo must have made it a really peppy little car
the high comp pistons w/ the turbo must have made it a really peppy little car
I hope that's the case. I'm fairly certain I'm going to gather up components for T5 and turbo conversion for my 2.1L c900 over this summer. Just a matter of time. Still interested to see how effective this method is, since it seems like an easier low-tech solution.
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