cheap 3.2 turbo conversion

[david.avery]

Hey guys

Did more research on this, and spoke with Paul at protosport. Paul's a great guy, took a half hour with me on the phone, and was quite honest about some of the DIY angles.

Here's the scoop: 5400 gets the Stage 1 kit, $6500 installed. This is not the "on the side" kit, which sounds like a nightmare (lots of relocating parts, re-fabbing mufflers, cutting chassis, removing blower, etc.)

The $6500 price includes all tuning and installation, and has a one year 12K mile warranty. He said everything from adjusting exhaust tips perfectly to making sure the car is making proper HP and making sure you're not lean according to AFM and chassis dyno tests. $1400 for install sounds like a bargain for this, I think.

We discussed the DIY route, and he says the only way to get everything draining right is to fab a spacer to get the turbo up another inch to an inch and a half, shouldn't be too hard, as it's just a steel plate, could prob. be machined for $100 at a machine shop from billet.

Also, stage 1 gets to keep AC and heat blower... So, still the tough decision... (a) spend $3000 on parts and invest 100 hours labor, (b) spend $5400 in parts and invest 30-40 hours labor, or (c) spend $6500 and enjoy

B and C are a sure thing, the car will have 350hp when it's done. A is a bit of a gamble Decisions, decisions.

[cowtown]

How are they getting 350hp out of a high-compression 3.2? The 930 3.3 was 7:1 comp and only made 300 at 0.8bar. EFI will help, maybe boost is a bit more than 0.8, but 350hp sounds like a stretch for a bolt-on, pump-gas system to me. Just wondering.

[RickM]

Dave,

Does this rear mount system come with an intercooler?

Colin, Perhaps between the EFI and better intake this is possible.

[david.avery]

Nope, stage 1 was no intercooler, .5 bar, but as you know, it can be added ala-carte

[RickM]

That's what I thought.

I met Paul last year and he was nice enough. He quoted $4500 for a Stage 1 but I believe it was a J Pipe design.

[charlesbahn]

Hi-
Doesn't sound exactly like the Stage 1 I installed. Can't keep the heater blower because the air filter gets moved there. The AC is not a problem unless you intercool, then the rear condenser is in the way. Are they including the Proto fabricated headers for this price? Can't see how they could use the Proto headers and keep the original heat. If so, sounds like less than I paid. Even if not, it is probably a pretty good deal since it sounds like they know what they are doing.

I know I'm rambling a bit here, but I'm guessing that this differs from mine in the headers. The Proto headers give a little more HP but require changing to the oil cooler heat exchanger. I'd be happy to look at a hardware list and tell you how it might be different from mine.

[RickM]

After following the Proto 3.2 turbo for a while it seems that there are many variations of the "Stage 1" configuration.

[dickster]

sounds like this one to me:

"$5401.42 for parts.
We core exchange the lower valve cover and fuel pressure
regulator.

Todd Knighton
Protomotive Inc.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Nelson [mailto:richardnelson@breckmanandcompany.co.uk]
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 9:16 AM
> To: knighton@net-quest.com
> Subject: 1986 3.2 911
>
>
> dear sir
>
> i understand that you have a very simple turbo kit that bolts
> on the side in place of the cat.? what is the current price of this?
>
> thanks in advance.
>
> regards
>
> richard nelson"

david,

need more info on what you are getting for $5400? it certainly sounds like the one taht goes in place of the cat.

why would you need to go cutting chasis, etc??

doesnt sound right to me.

merv, you have this system?

[WydRyd]

The Proto Stage 1 & Stage 1 Upgrade system is all the same in that they both are bolt-on systems requiring no internal engine mods (0.5bar non-intercooled and 0.7bar intercooled). HOW you do it is up to you. You can use a full-on header system if you have the $$$$ or you can go with the cheaper on-the-side J pipe setup. from memory tho, I think their turbo headers are like $2k or so

Yeh, I have the "on-the-side" system and it does require the tow-hook area to be cleared to accommodate the compressor housing, since the turbo sits right beside Cylinder #1 & #2.

If I had more money back then, I would have gone with their proper header system. Probably would have made a bit of difference to the spool-up and top end HP too, but oh well, I'm happy with the setup for now. My next plan is either some TT headers or 930-like headers from GoingSuperFast so I can run one larger single. Haven't decided which path I want to take as yet, but definately the cheaper route is the 930-type headers with the one larger Turbonetics Turbo. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

However, at 1.25bar on their Stage3 CHIP, I should see at least 550HP (maybe a bit more since I have the GT2-EVO CAMs). When I go pressure sensing, I'll be able to run 1.5-1.6bar on 98 Octane

[RickM]

Originally posted by dickster
We core exchange the lower valve cover.....
Todd Knighton
Protomotive Inc.

Wasn't I catching flack for suggesting the lower valve cover as gravity drain location? Am I missing something here?

[WydRyd]

RickM, the ONLY place to gravity drain with an "on-the-side" J-Pipe system is the lower valve cover. Who was giving you flack?

I'm going to rip out my factory headers + J-Pipe and sell them, so I can get my shiney new headers

[david.avery]

I spoke with Todd yesterday, and there is indeed a lower end solution, good for 320 hp. There is apparently an on-the-side version which he said would take them 7 hours to install, and me likely a weekend. It also keeps AC and heat.

I'll let you all know when I hear back... sounds like a cool solution for me.

-DMA

[WydRyd]

Yeh, that would be the on-the-side solution that runs 0.5bar non-intercooled. That's the one that Juan started off with and now look at him

[dickster]

it does require the tow-hook area to be cleared

merv,

please expand - what does that mean? body mods?

[WydRyd]

When mounted on the side, the compressor housing touches the frame, so about 1/2"H x 2"W of the frame needs to be machined away to fit the compressor in place. If you use a smaller turbo, like the T04B.48 that comes with the kit, you shouldn't have to do that, but because I opted for the larger K27-7200, I had to machine away a bit of the frame. No big deal really. I'll try to find some pics and post.

[dickster]

thanks merv, that would be great.

[JMar]

Originally posted by WydRyd
When mounted on the side, the compressor housing touches the frame, so about 1/2"H x 2"W of the frame needs to be machined away to fit the compressor in place. If you use a smaller turbo, like the T04B.48 that comes with the kit, you shouldn't have to do that, but because I opted for the larger K27-7200, I had to machine away a bit of the frame. No big deal really. I'll try to find some pics and post.

When you machine the frame can you see the machining from the top or engine compartment?

[WydRyd]

Nope, you can only see if it you look very closely in the wheel arch at where the compressor is situated.

[david.avery]

More info...

Just spoke with Todd at proto, and sadly, the stage one on the side for $4999 installed (or $4500 parts) is NLA for that price.

He mentioned that all prices are taking a 1K jump up, meaning that he was able to put a partial on the side kit, at a jobber rate for $48-4900, with me needing to source some hoses and fasteners.

So, now I think the $5400 kit price is going up to $6500 also.

This is making the DIY kit even more appealing, I must admit.

Rick/Raceman, how's it coming? Any pics yet for us on the fence?

[dickster]

Nnoooooo!

this is very bad news.

i have emailed todd for confirmation.