Tuning Turbo a NA model

Currently reading:
Tuning Turbo a NA model

Tim4tom1c

New member
Joined
Sep 25, 2020
Messages
27
Points
7
So a potential long term project car has popped up on autotrader for me; a 1998 fiat coupe 2.0 20V, but its a naturally aspirated model. I would like to turbocharge it to get around 500whp, i was wondering if it is better to swap in the turbo model engine or could i still keep the NA motor in there and slap a turbo on there without it exploding?
 

Attachments

  • 6b60789866e4482598c934ca82549ec1.jpg
    6b60789866e4482598c934ca82549ec1.jpg
    92.3 KB · Views: 67
You are better off purchasing the turbo whole car, far cheaper a far less hassle.

Nah cant do that unfortunately, but im taking this as the turbo engine would be better for that sorta power
 
Turbo version produces 220BHP and for a bit of fettling you can achieve 300 mark easily.

And I think bearing that in mind you’d be hard pressed to get 500whp out of a stock turbo engine and definitely not an NA engine without massive amounts of expensive engine work. Also 500whp on a front wheel drive car will never end well
 
And I think bearing that in mind you’d be hard pressed to get 500whp out of a stock turbo engine and definitely not an NA engine without massive amounts of expensive engine work. Also 500whp on a front wheel drive car will never end well

There are or was some serious horse power Coupes, up to 1000 HP four wheel drive. Obviously ridiculous money and totally crap to drive in the real world. Anything much more than 300HP needs to go forged. Personally I’ve went down the line like others have, tweaked suspension, brace and a few upgrades brakes wise, refurbed turbo etc. Believe it or not, this is a car possible of a true 155MPH even now, not that I’ve done anything like that. :D
 
I know from the people who tune Golf R that you can in essence buy a bolt on. 500hp for a car that’s already 300hp but that comes with a big turbo new engine ecu and a whole host of other parts including bigger brakes and wheels to fit those bigger brakes. Also the engine is already strong enough to take that sort of power and the cars are 4wd.

I remember from years ago and owning Saab’s that the more power you put on the front wheels that more of a mess it becomes.

Most FWD cars made my manufacturers stop at around the 300hp mark.
 
And I think bearing that in mind you’d be hard pressed to get 500whp out of a stock turbo engine and definitely not an NA engine without massive amounts of expensive engine work. Also 500whp on a front wheel drive car will never end well
Ive heard that the stock turbo engine can handle big amounts of power with little upgrades, were these just lies?
 
I know from the people who tune Golf R that you can in essence buy a bolt on. 500hp for a car that’s already 300hp but that comes with a big turbo new engine ecu and a whole host of other parts including bigger brakes and wheels to fit those bigger brakes. Also the engine is already strong enough to take that sort of power and the cars are 4wd.

I remember from years ago and owning Saab’s that the more power you put on the front wheels that more of a mess it becomes.

Most FWD cars made my manufacturers stop at around the 300hp mark.

Guessing that converting to awd would be quite a pain ?
 
Ive heard that the stock turbo engine can handle big amounts of power with little upgrades, were these just lies?

I’m afraid car forums are awash of.....I’ve heard this and that...;) it is true that the turbo engine can handle quite high power IF you’re not pushing it to the limits most of the time, but to get to what you want AINT cheap. Large front intercooler, bigger injectors, and of course that upgraded turbo, cams, upgraded suspension, the list goes on, and of course remap set up, and yet again someone to do the work for you. You do the maths.

A well set up Coupe is a joy to drive, and people in the know, is nice place to be. Best of luck in what you do, it’s going to cost though if you go down big power route. I recently had my Coupe refurbished, bodywork, extensive underneath welding, new metal, brakes, suspension, new paint, a big list, this cost me five figures :eek No use going big power with a knackered rusty car. It’s the hidden places that need checking like the towers in the corners. So many things to check. Good luck.
 
I’m afraid car forums are awash of.....I’ve heard this and that...;) it is true that the turbo engine can handle quite high power IF you’re not pushing it to the limits most of the time, but to get to what you want AINT cheap. Large front intercooler, bigger injectors, and of course that upgraded turbo, cams, upgraded suspension, the list goes on, and of course remap set up, and yet again someone to do the work for you. You do the maths.

A well set up Coupe is a joy to drive, and people in the know, is nice place to be. Best of luck in what you do, it’s going to cost though if you go down big power route. I recently had my Coupe refurbished, bodywork, extensive underneath welding, new metal, brakes, suspension, new paint, a big list, this cost me five figures :eek No use going big power with a knackered rusty car. It’s the hidden places that need checking like the towers in the corners. So many things to check. Good luck.

Well this is a long term project so the money i earn off my apprenticeship that i should start soon will be great help ;) as for labour i am willing to do most of it by myself and with friends, im sure the mechanics workshop ill be doing the apprenticeship with will be more than happy to help if i am stuck. The tuning shouldn't be too hard as ive heard there are quite a few places in the west mids that tune these cars
 
Ive heard that the stock turbo engine can handle big amounts of power with little upgrades, were these just lies?

There is a big difference in what power an engine block can take and what power the standard internal components can take. What i would say is you don’t just take a non turbo car and bolt a turbo on. Nor would you take a turbo car and tweak the boost up to 500hp

You’re never going to achieve anything like 500hp at the wheels with a standard engine, you’ll be needing to strip that down to the block and start from the bottom up with many highly engineered components. You may even need to modify the engine block with structural reinforcement, I’m sure that fiat never designed that engine to take anything like that sort of power.

To put that in perspective the Bugatti EB110 with 3.5L V12 and 4 turbo chargers, only just saw that sort of power, with the same sort of technology of that era.

Also anything with 500hp FWD is basically going to be undrivable.

You’d be better off setting your sights a lot lower and working up from there, maybe starting with getting a car to begin with.
 
There is a big difference in what power an engine block can take and what power the standard internal components can take. What i would say is you don’t just take a non turbo car and bolt a turbo on. Nor would you take a turbo car and tweak the boost up to 500hp

You’re never going to achieve anything like 500hp at the wheels with a standard engine, you’ll be needing to strip that down to the block and start from the bottom up with many highly engineered components. You may even need to modify the engine block with structural reinforcement, I’m sure that fiat never designed that engine to take anything like that sort of power.

To put that in perspective the Bugatti EB110 with 3.5L V12 and 4 turbo chargers, only just saw that sort of power, with the same sort of technology of that era.

Also anything with 500hp FWD is basically going to be undrivable.

You’d be better off setting your sights a lot lower and working up from there, maybe starting with getting a car to begin with.

Well ive seen quite a few people say that the standard block is pretty sturdy and can handle a fair bit of boost (the turbo model anyway) with just under 90% stock internals (as said here in car throttle on their video review of the coupe turbo https://youtu.be/PD4p4VmKIGM), the money part wont be an issue once i get this apprenticeship neither will getting the car, and as for the "undrivable" part, i didnt wanna go into this without thinking of upgrading the diff ;)
 
Well ive seen quite a few people say that the standard block is pretty sturdy and can handle a fair bit of boost (the turbo model anyway) with just under 90% stock internals (as said here in car throttle on their video review of the coupe turbo https://youtu.be/PD4p4VmKIGM), the money part wont be an issue once i get this apprenticeship neither will getting the car, and as for the "undrivable" part, i didnt wanna go into this without thinking of upgrading the diff ;)


Uhh Huh

Isn't an apprenticeship minimum wage? I dunno how old you are but I believe its less than £7 and hour if you're under 20 and even less if you're under 18?


maybe starting with getting a car to begin with.

Maybe start by getting the apprenticeship, once you have some money coming in it might adjust your sights.
 
Well ive seen quite a few people say that the standard block is pretty sturdy and can handle a fair bit of boost (the turbo model anyway) with just under 90% stock internals (as said here in car throttle on their video review of the coupe turbo https://youtu.be/PD4p4VmKIGM), the money part wont be an issue once i get this apprenticeship neither will getting the car, and as for the "undrivable" part, i didnt wanna go into this without thinking of upgrading the diff ;)

A Coupe with stock internals will be past their best by now, we are talking 20 year old plus metal. Trust me, the Coupe fraternity that I communicate with will have a different story than what you think, not knocking you down, I’m just being realistic. We have a mechanic who has dealt with Coupes since they appeared. Going 500BHP needs a bit more thought is all I’m saying. Good luck though. Please keep in touch and come back with your results. :)
 
Uhh Huh

Isn't an apprenticeship minimum wage? I dunno how old you are but I believe its less than £7 and hour if you're under 20 and even less if you're under 18?




Maybe start by getting the apprenticeship, once you have some money coming in it might adjust your sights.

Well im 17 and this apprenticeship will bw coming in very soon, idk houely wage but ik ill be making £145 (minimum) a week... looking at it now 7k a year will definitely not be enough to build it anytime soon, but luckily this is meant to be a very long term project so itll after 3/4 years it could get somewhere good if i do extra jobs n **** too lol
 
A Coupe with stock internals will be past their best by now, we are talking 20 year old plus metal. Trust me, the Coupe fraternity that I communicate with will have a different story than what you think, not knocking you down, I’m just being realistic. We have a mechanic who has dealt with Coupes since they appeared. Going 500BHP needs a bit more thought is all I’m saying. Good luck though. Please keep in touch and come back with your results. :)

Im willing to try! All i wanna know is: does the NA motor have same block and internals as the turbo one and are the gearboxes the same?
 
Back
Top