difference between 2.2 carb'ed bottom end and 2.2 turbo bottom end

[DC Turismo]

whats the difference? i would like to upgrade to a turbo bottom end when it comes time to install the supercharger, but i'd like to know the difference between my stock bottom end in the car currently and the turbo blocks.

thanks for any input!

[89acclaim]

Well if you have the orignal 85 rods they should be the strong rods. You shouldn't have to worry about the crank. You could check out http://www.thedodgegarage.com/turbo_shortblock.html Good luck I am looking forward to hearing about your supercharded turismo.

Daniel Merrill

[MachineHead]

The carbed cars had weaker rods and different pistons with higher compression. The crank is the same casting, but the turbo motors got the ones closest to spec. The ones that were farther from spec, but still usable went into the NA motors.

-Kyle

[jammerz63]

another thing that most turbo motors had is forgered pistons. your best bet would be to find a common block,get t2 and up rods,pistons(forged) and crank(forged also).
the 85 rods will work but i don't think cast pistons are a good idea with a supercharger.
another thing, a turbo head would also be a good idea because of the better exhaust
valves and better cooling with a cross drilled block and head.

[MachineHead]

I hate to be an @$$ but almost everything in that lost post is wrong. The only turbo that ever came from Mopar with forged pistons was the TIII. Cast are fine for a mild setup and that is what is in 99% of the turbos that rolled of the assembly line.

You will be fine without the forged crank, since no one can seem to break the cast ones. The turbo rods are a good idea and the lower compression of the turbo spec pistons would help a lot.

The valves are indeed better in the turbo heads, but the supercharger will not be as hard on them as a turbo is. Since plenty of people use non cross drilled heads without any problem I wouldn't worry about that either.

-Kyle

[Mike M]

My vote is keep the stock pistons (or get good quality aftermarket stock spec ones). I'm guessing you won't be pushing more than 10psi? I'm not sure what the blowers on 2.2s run but I've never seen a high-boost setup. If your only doing it to be a "quick" car and something unique, I'd leave the higher compression and run premium... otherwise its like throwing power out the window unless you have a tiny pulley for your blower.

I'm sure someone else will chime in who has some experience, but that's what I think anyway.