Remain true to original or upgrade?
 

1. Replace rear rotor parts?
2. Upgrade NA engine & rebuild?
3. Upgrade to Turbo?

As in all losses, first comes denial, then rage, then acceptance, followed by resolution. The rear rotor and housing on my '89 NA vert are history. I can't decide whether I should just replace parts or upgrade to turbo as I see so many have done.

The pros are obvious. The cons:

Emissions regs in New Jersey - would I pass inspection?

Finances - any ballparks out there?

NA upgrades for a middle ground - any suggestions?

I think I know the answer I'm going to get in advance, but figured a poll was the only way to go. I'm guessing I'm at a differant stage - 3 college age kids has a way of killing the finances, but please help me decide which way to go...better yet, can someone teach me how to set up a poll? (:) :grouphug:

If you really want to stay within a tight budget stay NA. You can get ~170hp in an NA and that's not too slow. If you join Mazdaspeed you can get a discount on rebuild kits. cheapest way is to join NASA autosports ($45) and then send your info to Mazda to set up your account.

I don't know how much it costs for the kit though....

What's your ultimate goal? handling? power? balanced? Been driving a vert for a couple of days and I am loving it...I will one day have a TII vert.

If you're questioning this already, I would dump the car.
A true enthusiasts would have already answered this question from day one without asking others what they think.

I would not recommend a turbo conversion.
Parts are hard to come by, and projects like this tend to suck up a lot of money that was never budgeted in the first place.
Basically, if money is tight, you're asking for trouble.


-Ted

fix and port it then enjoy.

Small port
Full RB exhaust system
Intake
new shifter bushings and short throw shifter
RB suspension package
Rtek ECU upgrade

Do it!

dj has the plan, which is what I would do if and when my motor finally lets go. But it sure would be nice to have a turbovert!

i agree with ReTED since all the options require a degree of interdependence to complete. If it were me though, i would go turbo. Having owned a turbo II and a vert (at the same time...) I would say that combining the two would be great.

See that's my problem, I have both. The concept of a turbovert just makes me grin. I don't need to grin.

consolidate!

Stay n/a... but with an extra rotor :suspect:

Seriously, a budget rebuild is going to cost you somewhere around $400.00 if you do all the work yourself and get a decent rotor and a decent rotor housing off eBay. You can put inserts in the 6 PI sleeves, smooth the ports up, clean the lower and upper intake manifold up (as high as you can reach) and get 170-180 WHp out of that engine (I don't know if the stock ECU can make that, but I have heard of a 176 WHP S4 NA with nothing but exhaust and a FPR).

I would rebuild what you have. Turbo engines and drivetrain cost a lot (I think I have almost $2000 in mine if I include the clutch, transmission, engine, differential, axles shafts, driveshaft and turbo).

If your on a tight budget, i would rebuild what you have. If you can get the TII motor(running),tranny, wiring harness, tranny, ecu cheap ($500-$1000) then go for it, if not rebuild with a streetport would be nice.

I had a 84gslse whos heart died and went the TII route, $1700.00 budget now $2400 and climbing. if you can do it yourself it would help a lot and having your space to work would be even better;).

Just get the motor rebuild, if you can do it yourself thats even better. i'd stick with stock until my funds become more solid. But make plans futher down the road. Also be sure to set money aside as a rainy day fund for the 7.

go lsx!

Makes for an awesome car, but not cheap. I would have done this too except I had half the parts I needed for a turbo swap already, it was far cheaper and I am only 75 Hp down from a stock ls1 and I haven't even strapped the GT37 on yet.

An ls1 swap is going to cost him at least $4,000 (if he gets a t56, connects the speedometer and make appropriate drivetrain upgrades).