Engine build plans

[tweakers]

i had a 91 escort that i converted over to a gt 1.8l dohc manual 5 spd car. the shell is the lx style but its basically now a gt model. ive rebuilt the trans, and the bp motor is the short nose crank style. now thats outta the way, here my questions-

my goal with the car is 300 whp, boosted. while streetable. i want to plant a GTR motor in it from a 323 but as time passes on as i save up money for the turbo build/swap im coming to realize i might not be able to get a gtr motor. sooo.... whats my best options either build my bp05 up to a gtr or get a gtr by luck? ( i already know for 300whp the gtr would need to be build a lil more and my fuel system moded and correct me if im wrong but the gtr computer will need to be upgraded to a standalone system ?right?) suggestions on the best overall fuel setup as in injectors, rail, pumps are appreciated.

i just need advice &/or suggestions as to what it would cost me if i build my stock motor and the best overall choices i have for stuff like cams, pistons, rods, manifolds, etc. [at the most to get the motor to either as good as the gtr spec or a lil better, but to reliably handle 300whp]. this would be my first turbo motor build, so im kinda lost on the whole thing. i know i want to run a vj-23 turbo with a aftermarket turbo mani[if available]. the only plus i can think of if i go this route is that i dont have to redo a harness swap, and i dont have to worry about if i find a gtr motor.

but am i just spazzing about the availabilty of a gtr motor? i know that at some online stores that motor would run me $3000-$5000. with everything i would need too. it seems like the cheaper route to me even if i build the bottom end up more and throw me rings, gaskets and bearings at it.

i dont want to spend more than $9000 on the build. nor to i want to sit on my butt for a year waiting on a motor either. one thing i know ill want to change is the gearing on my trans. as far as i know is that the only gear i can swap is 5th making is longer outta the awd trans.

any replys are much, much appreicated.

[Turpro]

Jon aka therieldeal runs:

Stock gtr motor/turbo/manifolds, 2000-3000
I believe 550cc injectors 100-150
Megasquirt 750
Custom downpipe with external wastegate 700
3"(?) exaust 500
Fmic with 2.25 ic piping 250
21psi

Made 325(?)whp and runs 12.1 in the 1/4.

Those prices are rough guesses but gives you an idea of what price range you're looking at.

[Lex]

If you shop around you can get away with much less. If you can assemble your own motor, you don't need to go to a GTR. Machine your block and head, get some Wiseco pistons and upgraded rods, new bearings, seals, etc ... and you will have a motor that is stronger than a GTR and is fresh.

[jay]

+1 you can get there with a set of hbeams, CP's/Wisecos 8.2:1, GT28R or disco potato if you don't mind a bit more lag, and a decent exhaust manny. The one thing you prolly oughtta have from the GTR is the intake manifold since it does such a good job of equalizing flow to all cylinders, but you can (last I checked) buy that item new from Corksport for less than 2 bills. You'll still be missing the sodium exhaust valves the GTR has but I bet you won't need them for anything other than full on roadrace. This is pretty much exactly the build that is going into my rallycar at the moment, with a few other frills like a 1mm overbore and uprated oilpump gears and such.

Cuz, yeah... you're spazzing about the availability of the gtr motor. It's been slowly mutating, and turning into unobtanium.

[yunvmyegt]

you actually just missed 2 gtr motors i could have gotten.....

[worldhazard]

you actually just missed 2 gtr motors i could have gotten.....

goTohell


I think the idea of an actual build is much better in the long run. as Jay said. it'll be FRESH in the long run. so much better, and you can build it to be better as well instead of forking out a butt load just to start with, when you could have done this with a bp.

[therieldeal]

if your goal is no more than low 300's a gtr motor is a great deal IF you can find one in good shape for a good price like I did. If you're paying like $3k for a worn out motor with a leaky turbo and no trans... its not worth it at all.

I paid $2200 delivered, and then sold a bunch of stuff I didn’t need. I sold the trans for ~$500, injectors for ~$200, etc. I didn’t get an ECU or harness with mine, but I didn’t care because all of that had to be replaced/modified anyway as you noted in your first post.

If I were to build the car again from scratch I'd probably rebuild a motor with h-beams and weisco's, and run a big garrett GT series turbo. Then again... I'm not sure I'd ever spend this much money on an escort again lol.

[worldhazard]

Then again... I'm not sure I'd ever spend this much money on an escort again lol.

dude... so not the spirit

[therieldeal]

hey i did it once, and it's a lot of fun... but i dont think i'd ever build another BG. i'd prefer to broaden my horizons...

[jay]

I am *so* thinking about this mostly already-prepped Starlet, has a cage and all, for 3400 bucks... and finish prepping it for gp5. Yard the (bone stock) drivetrain out, and stick that 4liter lexus v8 in it mated to the supra trans/driveline/rear end. OMFG what a fun rallycar that'd be.
But I gotta get my car going again and can't afford 2 rallycars dammit.

[therieldeal]

i cant even imagine a starlet with a torquey v8 on gravel.... talk about a deathwish... the wheelbase is WAY too short. i see those things at the dragway all the time with hopped up rotary engines. they cant even keep them going straight on a prepped track with slicks! at least half the dragway accidents i've seen have been starlet + wall.

[jay]

It'd be great, man. I like short wheelbase on dirt. Yeah it might be um a tad twitchy but at least you can get it to transition whenever you want.
Here's the math:
Clueless n00b+Starlet+straight line race=crash
Not-so-clueless rally driver+overpowered starlet+rally roads=giggle and shriek like a schoolgirl


But realistically a Corolla is a better chassis for this sort of thing. Not very much aftermarket rally support for Starlets.

And I'm sticking with the Protege, it just seems to be how I roll...

[pikespeakgtx]

Where is the starlet?

I have a 4.0L 1uzfe sitting in my garage with 27K on it.

Is the car logbooked?

[jay]

heh.. near you, man.

http://www.specialstage.com/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/1275/cat/13

[pikespeakgtx]

That ain't no starlet mang! That's a terkel.

That thing is wrong wheel drive. Some people have too much money and no brains. If it was a starlet it would already be long gone for that money. I've been watchin and waiting for something like that for years.

edit: and just cuz it sez California don't make it close. Yur closer to me than that thang is. summa bitch is 16 hours drive away! lol!