Is it worth supercharge/turbocharge an really old engine?!?!

[chuckwood]

Hey all, currently I have an old 1978 celica. (2L inline6 fuel injected). Just wondering is it worth turbochargin it. All I wanted is some acceleration and I don't want to spend too much $$ on it, ie (replacing a late model or a supra engine n etc).

If is worth it, where can I get the parts from? and what sort of things I have to watch out for....

Cheers

[Lanius]

Answer depends on what you call "cheap". If you mean for less than $1000, then no, its not worth it. If you're prepared to put more than a couple grand into the engine, then you could probably get some decent results, but in the long run, if acceleration is what you're after, you're better off getting a newer engine and putting it in the car (provided you want to stick with the model you have at the moment).

[dazzag]

yeah as he said depends what you call cheap.. if you know how to do it yourself it will be cheapier .Anyway you do it, it wont be cheap cos its not as easy as just bolting on the turbo and away you go. also being a old engine you will come across other stuff that will need replacing and will probably need to strengthin the internals

[chuckwood]

icic, I was thinking around $2000 as my budget.

[Zero_Cool]

i know a guy who did it on a civic for $600 but he is a absolute nub! and well lets say it didnt' turn out to well!

[Lanius]

icic, I was thinking around $2000 as my budget.

For that amount, you'd be able to get it done, but it wouldn't last long at all. Before turbo'ing a standard engine, you'd need to rebuild it (especially if its an older engine). If you try to turbo a standard old NA, it will take about 4 or 5 psi, and would last a few months depending on the condition of the engine when you started.

Rebuilding an engine properly costs in the region of $2000 to $2500 unless you do it yourself. My advice (if you want to do it properly) is to hang in there and save save save until you have enough money to "do it once, do it right"

Until then, you can start with the basics to prepare for when the turbo powerhouse eventually arrives ... get your intake and exhaust done, get your suspension and brakes upgraded. Do your I.C.E and interior etc. Plenty of options while you're saving for the power upgrade.

[TygerTung]

Since the current engine is a M-EU, for that budget you could easily bung in a 5M-GEU which goes really well.