Introduction
After owning my EP91 Starlet for about 1 1/2 months I was getting very sick of the cars lack of power (and having to downshift nearly everytime to go up a slight incline in a hill) so I decided to do the conversion that I had planned to do further down the track earlier.
The plan was to buy a EP82 GT Turbo Starlet halfcut and put the engine/gearbox into my EP91 starlet. It all went well and I believe this conversion to be one of the most simple and best bang for your buck conversion available for most cars. This article wont really help anyone in physically doing the conversion (how to take engine out etc.) but will give you an idea of what was needed to be done for this conversion. The conversion took 8 days to complete not counting weekends.
Day One
I bought the halfcut from STZ Automotives in Brisbane for $1400 with around 120,000kms on it and had it brought up to my hole of a town on the back of a towtruck to be put at the mechanics shed where the conversion is being done. Day Two
Went down to workshop and mechanic has removed the whole engine/box/wiring from the cut. There are no visible leaks at all, just a few minor dents on the oil sump that are no problem (probably just from transportation).
Problems that are being encountered so far are:
Top mount intercooler- I am getting this frount mounted but the outlet is facing the wrong way so it has to be turned to the right way for the piping (aluminium welding needed), although I have found out someone that should be able to do this cheaply.
Wiring- Looks very complex and hoping to get some wiring diagrams of EP82 and EP91 starlets.
Gear levers- no gear levers in cut, just have fingers crossed for it all to match to mine Day Three
Well I went to ProFab today about the intercooler outlet and the guy said he can turn it around for $30 cash so no complaints there, my mechanic thought it would be round the $100 mark!
Brent (thanks) is currently getting his hands on some starlet wiring diagrams so it seems everything is back to smooth sailing now.
So excited bout getting this whole thing finished, Im even making whoosh sounds between gears as I drive the car now - how sad... Day Four
I got the intercooler piping done now at Profab, ended up costing $45 because it needed a little extension so the the outlet came out horizontal to the intercooler fins.
The car is now at the mechanics and having the engine taken out as I type this, he said he has got an auto electrician coming in this wednesday morning to wire everything and that he will have all his part done (engine in car and exhaust/fuel/intercooler) by then. So it looks like a possiblity of driving away in two more days! :) Day Five
Was going to go see the car today in late afternoon but got called into work so I rang up the mechanic and it all sounds good.
He said that my engine is out and the halfcuts engine is in the car, bolted in and the gear linkages from my car were a perfect match (insert ahhh here) and that all the wiring is through the firewall and the auto electrician starts his stuff wednesday morning (hopes for little time done). All that is left is to connect fuel lines, mount frount intercooler alond with its piping, and do the exhaust pipe and turn the key :) oh and some fluid bottle has to be moved to fit intercooler piping.
Its all sounding good, btw, Im getting insured through Just Car Insurance, only third party property but I guess $459 for no rating 19 year old with turbo/modded car aint too bad... Day Six
A good and sort of bad day for me.
I went to check on the car and the intercooler piping is just almost done now (looks good) he is just about to spray it all silver for me and is putting the BOV onto it as well. Theres just the exhaust left to do by him now and then its off to the auto electrician.
The auto electrician is the bad news, I found someone local that will do it for $400 he guesses, the wiring is a big job unfortnatly although I think I may have worked out a good way with the money there (website work). So the car is to be tilttrayed to the electricians workshop friday morning and he hopes for monday early finish and wednesday at latest... It really sucks without a car, girlfriend driving me everywhere possbile, except had to take bus today, and damn those old people freak me asking how my day has been :( Day Seven
Car has been tilt-trayed to auto-electrician. He says this is one very big and custom job that he will have to do but it should still stay at $400 and should be done by two days. Day Eight
Called auto-electrician and car will be ready in an hour.
Went down just as he was plugging in computer. Turn the key and started first go :) Summary
Overall this conversion was very cost effective in my opinion and definatly very good bang for your buck! I would highly recommend this conversion to all Australia delivered (EP91) Starlet owners as the potentional of this conversion is insane and is such a simple engine conversion to perform. |
