turbo intrepid?

[caravan3.3]

i've been toying with the idea of turbocharging my 93 intrepid. it has a 3.5 which is already a bit of fun when tuned up, but i've been tempted with the idea of putting a downstream turbocharger like the ones STS has started marketing. if anything, it would be very mild boost, like 4 or 5 pounds max, nothing major. should still make a kick. is it worth while?
chris.

[ToastedTires]

We see about 3 to 4 of those cars in the shop every week where I work. That engine has a hard time keeping up with normal street driving. If you really do want to put a STS style remote mount kit on the Intrepid then beware I've seen those types of kits at the drag strip on camaro's and even they have a huge amount of lag. Also since they don't make a kit for your car you would have to use the Universal Kit that they offer and find a place under your car to hang the turbo and oil pump for the turbo. I saw a universal kit on a ?1996? Thunderbird V8 and it was a mess. The guy had to route part of the piping from the compressor side diagonally accross his car,then between the drivers side control arm and the body underneath the front bumper and then back up to the throttle body. It looked like a ****in mess. They aren't bad once you get the car moving but they are a dog outta the hole. It's a great idea though...it just needs to be refined more. I hope this helps at least a little bit.

[layapatch]

there's a guy in Minnesota that put a 396 chevy in his intrepid and then twin turbo'd it. It was at Car Craft this summer.

[RPMurph]

converted to RWD?

[jdawg]

the early 3.5 had forged internals. I talked to an engineer that said by doing headwork porting the intake and exh manifolds and bigger exh he had one putting down close to 300 horse on the dyno

[layapatch]

yep he converted that Intrepid to rear wheel drive. He says it's his daily driver!

[Aries_Turbo]

The trans is a bigger issue than the engine strength. go to www.dodgeintrepid.net and look around. there are a few turbo cars over there.

Brian

[drew6214]

I've been looking everywhere and I just can't find it. I have a 2000 Intrepid R/T, you know the 3.5 HO, and I was wondering if you can turbo that at all?????? plz help

[EvilcowRoland]

You can turbo any engine. Is it a good idea? Well, that's another issue all together. I thought the 3.5s had high compression? Probably not a great idea to turbo it. I've driven a few 3.5 equipped cars. The trans is definately holding it back. The engine feels strong and could really benefit from some higher RPMs in my opinion. I'd think getting it to take in more air NA and increasing the rev potential would probably better suit it than a turbo. But that being said, you can turbo anything with some fabrication work.

RWD probably isn't that bad on the Intrepid either. The engine is already turned the right way. You'd just need to make some kind of adapter for a RWD trans like a 904 or something and a custom driveshaft. Then drop in a rear end and go. That's the theory anyways. Maybe you could even use stock Mopar parts from the new generation 3.5 LX cars. Hm...

[Reaper1]

The 3.5 is a strong engine. I'd say that using forged psitons with a lower compression ratio would be a good idea.

I look at it this way: there are supercharger kits available for the Powler. Same engine. Same tranny(albeit the tranny is in the rear of the car)...they seem to do fine. I'd say that planning to have the tranny rebuilt propperly to handle the additional power(and for piece of mind) would be a good idea.

In all I think it's completely possible.

BTW, while the STS systems have gotten a bad name I have now seen one in operation on a Lexus LS400. He's got something like a T70 mounted under the car. It works fine. Yes, ultimatly there are flaws with how it works and there are other options that could net more power, however it DOES make more power than stock. THAT can't be argued.

YMMV.

[Phatfoto]

First 2 or 3 years used a lower compression piston than later years. I believe the 96 and up got the higher compression. I had a 94 Concorde with the 3.5 and only had 2 problems relating to drivetrain. Stupid design for the sparkplugs down in the head. The plugwire insulators breakdown and before long the motor is skipping and losing power. To change the wires, you have to pull the upper plenum off. I still like that dual 52mm throttle body setup... The other issue as mentioned, is the trans. MY issues with it were the trans lines to the cooler rotting, and the front pump seal leaked. As long as you kept the right fluid in it, though, in my opinion it was never an issue.

But where to place turbos? I just don't see room to do it under the hood. Maybe small turbos in place of the first cats? And under the body the only place I could see to do it would be all the way back where the exhaust exits the rear. The muffler under the seat is too flat to safely hide a STS remote turbo.

[Reaper1]

If they can shove turbos in Vipers, Corvettes, 4th gen F-bodies, SHO's, ect...I'm willing to bet it can be done on an LH car. You might just have to move some stuff and remove toehr stuff to do it, but hey, boost is SO worth it!

[phantomrt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToastedTires We see about 3 to 4 of those cars in the shop every week where I work. That engine has a hard time keeping up with normal street driving.

Say what? There is no way I would consider these cars to be doggy with the 3.5L.

[caravan3.3]

wow, this thread is still alive? i dont even have that car anymore. it was stolen last february, replacement is my 01 R/T. but even that is my winter car. summer car is my 07 charger R/T. the 3.5 is a VERY stout engine, gen 1's have 2 bolt main caps, but forged cranks, rods, etc. Gen 2 and 3's have 6 bolt main caps, and forged cranks, powdered metal rods with cracked cap design. cams are currently available from inertia motorsports, heads are being developed. just an FYI.

[Reaper1]

No matter the gen, I'm fairly sure that all 3.5L had crossbolted mains, so it really shouldn't matter how many bottom bolts there are, it is already a superior design even to the regular 4-bolt mains....

I REALLY like the 3.5L...did I mention that? LOL