[arieskcar]

Had this 88 Reliant 2.2 a year now and finally got to doing a Turbo swap.

Problem is the Turbo pistons I was going to use are hyper-cracks I just found out and the other set are C size. This motor is B size so smaller bore.

So I threw a Head intake Garrett Turbo setup on the Tbi block as is with the flat top pistons.

Question is once it's running (on 86 T1 electronics) whats going to break first
Pistons
Tbi trans
Nothing it's gonna be fine.

Also going to back off ign timing and it has a new knock sensor so it might hold up at 5-6psi?

Already have a 2.5T1 and a few Turbo trannies to choose from down the road for a more permanent build.

This is just to get the electronics,exhaust etc sorted and driving so it's not sitting for months in pieces like most people's projects.

I want it in a condition where I can drop the motor/trans swap it out same day have it driving.

I see many of these cars in pieces no Head etc getting junked because people just gave up so going to do the no no quick build just to get it running....

 

[arieskcar]

It's running. No codes so looks promising. I'll do minor updates on the main build thread. I'll post on here how it turns out in a month it should be fully sorted.

 

[d_snook6]

I think your problem is going to be only running 5-6psi boost……we always want more it’s addictive

 

[motomick76]

Just curious, what is a 'No, no"?

Is it using the flat top pistons with the turbo resulting in too much compression?

Is the biggest concern detonation? So you would want to be conservative on the timing and boost?

If detonation is main issue, would not running E85 work with this kind of combo to alleviate the detonation?

 

[arieskcar]

Just curious, what is a 'No, no"?

Is it using the flat top pistons with the turbo resulting in too much compression?

Is the biggest concern detonation? So you would want to be conservative on the timing and boost?

If detonation is main issue, would not running E85 work with this kind of combo to alleviate the detonation?

Yeah the 2.2 TBI is the highest compression of all these engines 9.5 to 1. (Maybe the 84 Shelby 2.2 was over 10:1 but dunno)

Most of the Turbo cars are 8.1-8.5:1 on the high end and the 2.5 T1 is 7.8:1

My 2.5 G head combo is probably 7.5:1

Tons of stories of exploding/melted Tbi pistons from doing what I'm doing but I'm gonna take it slow and see where it leads.


Found this old thread so it might be possible.

Any bets?

I recently put a turbo setup on my carb car! Yes it can be done and it is quite a bit of work. Now for the fun part. Predictions on how long the 9.5:1 carb motor will last with right now about 10psi (until I have a muffler I can't hear if its pinging heh) Right now I'm at 1100 miles, the...

www.turbododge.com

 

[Fox]

had a non turbo tbi 2.2 blow a hole in a piston so im gonna say broken piston

 

[panzer]

I daily drove an '89 Shelby for a few years with that exact setup. Never had any problems, but I never pushed it too hard either.

 

[bikerdude]

Consider water-alcohol injection to avoid detonation. Used to have head gasket failures with my turbo caravan. fixed it by installing receiver grooves and copper wire O-rings on block deck and ARP head studs