Turbo engine into an NA engine?
 

Anyone know, what would it take to turn a low compression turbo engine into an NA engine, I have a turbo block with head? I may be able to use it in my '87 NA if i can change it over. Pistons? connecting rods? cam? anything? thx

I think if you swap the pistons it ought to be OK

ok, good so far, I know the block is the same, i'm a little concerned about the cam because that might mean different engine management parameters, it's a very low mileage unit that's why i'd like to do it.

The 951 uses the same cam as the early n/a. So they are interchangeable.

You will need to plug the upper balance shaft covers oil fitting. Pretty sure all you would need are the 8v pistons, intake manifold and the exhaust manifold.

Easy to do, as has been described.

Personally I'd swap to an n/a head too since you can port it and do more fun things with it versus the 951 head with the ceramic liners on the exhaust ports.

The sodium filled valves on the 951 head are overkill for the n/a temps, but won't hurt anything.

How about this? Why don't you sell the turbo engine, buy a n/a engine, and keep the extra money you get on top of labor you save? I think that makes the most amount of sense. When you take the head off, the gasket set will cost you $140 and labor to install. You also have to check the tolerance grouping of the pistons between the 2 blocks you are exchanging pistons. The turbo rods are different so when you swap rods, you are looking at $60 of rod bearings and a bunch of gaskets in the bottom end including the pan gasket.

Hmmm, thanks for the technical info guys, Lego, i hadn't thought of that but it might work for me, it's mainly that the turbo engine only had 40k mis. on it. so i thought it would be a nice fresh engine, but i don't really want to spend a lot on it.

It really doesn't matter how many miles in the engine if the pistons are from different tolerance groups as they will be mismatched piston/cylinder size. Any 951 engine regardless of miles are about or over 20 years old so a reseal is a must in my opinion for any engine going into a car. At least the ones that are impossible to get to when the engine is in like the rear main, balance shaft rears, pan gasket, and all the front seals since the timing belt and crank pulley is easy to access. 951 engines are more rare so you will get a good amount more money than the n/a engine. I have seen these blocks go over 350k miles so maintenance/neglict is what I look for in an engine block rather than mileage.

Why not just turbo your n/a.... :).

Dont forget to tension the socks correctly either. you dont want them falling out after you turbo your n/a. :)

Thanks!
Techno, i have heard that it was a real headache to convert, is that wrong? All I have is the block w/ the head, no air intake fuel rail etc. i think i might need alot of other parts to convert, no tranny...?

Yes your going to need more then that to convert.

if you were closer I would offer you my spare engine pretty cheap.

i Thought so, and thx, maybe i will just sell it.