Mainly i know that i could simply just get everything that's different from my stock 3.1. But i know there has to be more to it then just that. So am also looking for what i would need as far as computer and internal parts wise. Because i want this to work right and i dont want to dramatically-- or at all really-- want to decrease the life of my engine. So what parts can i upgrade in order to successfully increase or maintain engine life and make this conversion simple.
ThanX alot.
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There have been many posts about this topic. A search should give you all the details. Welcome to the board.
i was gonna say the same thing, lol, but i thought it might be rude
:roll: im more then sure there are plenty of posts that can get rid of the basic questions that i have, but as far as advice and going with the best possible option and considering horsepower time and money, i would still like your option about the whole rebuilding idea based against just selling my extra 3.1 and getting a SC 3800 series II. Im just attempting to be different then just getting the norm. Because i know this engine is capable of alot more then GM released it with already just with the short time i have been researching this specific engine.
thanx i'll also look around while you post your opinion.
i'd appreciate all of your help. :wink:
i have a spare 1991-1992 Lumina engine, that's mainly why i am asking about just what parts to get while i have it out and availble to take apart and put in the high performance internals. Because im not looking for a pure track car or a car that'll just be sh!t out in like 15-30k miles. I just want the most reilable engine i can build with great power and an engine that i can run with out feeling guilty.
Just let me know.
BTW the search option sucks what am i searching for? Conversion from basic 3.1? TGP swap or what?
yea, search sucks on this board, u type somthing, and u get NOTHING close to what ur looking for most of the time
Just in general what do you think of what i am trying to do with my spare 3.1? Does it sound possible to rebuild the engine strong enough to withstand me running it daily and still remain reliable?
Inspect..rering the engine, new bearings, HV oil pump, port and polish heads, fresh stock cam and lifters or aftermarket blower/turbo friendly cam.
Grab S10 passenger side exhaust manafold from a 2.8 and modify the bolt holes to fit the aluminum head.
Get some stainless steel pipe from a pipe supplier or muffler shop and have them make a x-over pipe (search for x-over or crossover pipe for pics or ideas).
Electrical wise...mount IAT sensor anywhere behind the TB, buy 2bar map sensor off a TGP, Turbo Grand am/sunbird or syclone/typhoon. Buy jeffs chips or buy a memcal from the dealer for a 90 TGP.
Email me at TurboGTU@gmail.com for pics or more qs if you have anymore.
That's exactly what i needed, but as far as reliabillity and total cost should i carry out with this project if i dont want to spend to much over $500? Remember i already have the 3.1.
You are going to be really pressed to do this for $500 or less, Turbo, crossover pipe and downpipe alone will run you that if not more.
You might get lucky and find a complete engine at a JY or something. That would be the easiest. But yeah, buying the individual parts alone is expensive.
well considering that i want to take advantage of the fact that i have an extra engine to take apart and do right. SO guess the little extra money will be worth it in the long run in the reliablillity department. Im looking for around 260hp. with what i want so would the original 3.1 be able to provide me with these numbers and handle my reliabillity expectations by just putting in the 3.1T internal parts? Or would i have to completely rebuilt like im thinking i would?
260 at the crank is good. At whees it so so reliablility with a untouched engine with such high mileage. Its an insurance and reliablility to freshen up a used, old engine.
If your lucky..and find a complate TGP turbo setup for cheap ..a 500 budget cap will do. BUt I highly doubt it. Your going to have to piece this seup up together for a while. Buy turbo..then wait for funds from work..thens buy pipes and get x-over made...wait...then funds again..then intercooler...wait..ect. This is how my brother and I get our cars together. If you had the money...you'd just get it done by next week.
Give me $800 and you can take my turbo lumina? The body has seen better days, but it's runs good. I the inspection just recently ran out as I was expecting to part the car as the engine is the only thing worth anything in the car. It has a TGP engine/trans, so it's not a regular 3.1 with a turbo.
Quote from: TurboGTU260 at the crank is good. At whees it so so reliablility with a untouched engine with such high mileage. Its an insurance and reliablility to freshen up a used, old engine.
If your lucky..and find a complate TGP turbo setup for cheap ..a 500 budget cap will do. BUt I highly doubt it. Your going to have to piece this seup up together for a while. Buy turbo..then wait for funds from work..thens buy pipes and get x-over made...wait...then funds again..then intercooler...wait..ect. This is how my brother and I get our cars together. If you had the money...you'd just get it done by next week.
YEa that's the method i would go, but i would at least want to build one part of the engine (internals) and then put the engine in the car. then the rest would be a day at a time never taking my car off the road for more then a day at a time. But i say i want to replace the crank and pistons anyway because i know i dont want to feel guilty for taking off running in the 4000s. Because i konw the extra power will be more torque on the crank. I want to over build to guarantee the dependabillity, but if you dont think it's important. I'd get a cam. Are the rockers, lifter and all that fine?
Just tryin to make sure to go the right route.
well, IMO i think the only difference internally between the NA 3.1 and the Turbo 3.1 are the pistons and the oil pump. the heads (combustion chambers) are a little different however some '89 NA 3.1s got those same heads. the camshaft is the same as the NA 3.1. the connecting rods are the same. some people say the crank & block are stronger but there is no proof to back that up (at least i haven't seen any).
i bought a complete Turbo 3.1 for $350 from a local salvage yard. the engine came from a white TSTE. i pulled the heads and found a melted piston :( soo....i decided that i would just turbocharge the existing NA 3.1 in my 227,000 mile Cutlass! it runs great, so why not just throw all of the turbo parts on it while i get the 'real' TGP shortblock rebuilt?
i took the TGP heads to a machine shop for a valve job and new valve seals, cleaned the heck out of the engine, i'm installing a new Melling 95HV oil pump along with new gaskets and seals everywhere. then i'm bolting all of the external TGP parts onto it like the rear manfold, crossover (which was also rebuilt), turbo etc. i've already put the TGP radiator & intercooler in the Cutlass. i'm using a TGP engine wiring harness and have a modified TGP/5-speed chip coming from Jay so that takes care of electronics. i'm using a manual boost controller (grainger valve) and i won't run over 8psi with it. i think it will last until my TGP shortblock gets rebuilt. and if it doesn't, oh well i still have my other car i can drive :)
i agree with the others here about buying TGP parts seperately....i spent ALOT of money buying the TGP parts individually and then i found the complete TSTE engine in the local salvage yard for about half the cost. i ended up with enough parts to turbocharge two 3.1s!! (most of those extra parts are now sold however). definately buy a complete TGP engine if you can....better yet buy Skalor's Lumina! $800 is a helluva deal IMO.
good luck
As far as cash just dropping the money for the engine up front sounds alot easier, but then i might as well rebuild that one. The main thing im going for is more power. either way im going to replace the cam and all seals (all parts that i could see failing or shortening engine life because of the turbo) of what ever engine i get. I'm def thinking of a top end swap from a 3X00 because the swap seems pretty cheap so far. (maybe around $100-250total) and they seem like they will benefit highly from the turbo (engine will breathe MUCH better).