Hey all, i have a 420A with 88,000 miles on it. I was planning on turboing my car maybe next summer or around there. But is it safe to turbo a car with that many miles? If not should i get a new engine or just certain parts. Please advies. Thanks guys you all rock!

I know it is going to cost a lot, but you should rebuild the bottom end with lower comp. forged pistons, rings, rods, seals, etc.. You end up saving in the long run.

I turbo'd mine at 96,000 and at 101,000 the piston ring lands gave out because I was spiking to 10-11psi cause of the cold weather, and I had this weard lean spot the whole time from 4,000-5,500 rpm.

I think you can def. do it and if u leave the boost alone I think u will be fine (8psi at most depending on what kit) but your ganna want more boost...


Bit and owned by boost bug!

turn it down to 6-7 and you will be ok for a while. The main factor is, How is the engine and car doing now? If its in bad shape the turbo will make sure to exploit that.

Miles mean almost nothing (cept under certain circumstances). If the engine has been strong so far, then shoot for it IMO. There are people here that boosted cars with less than 14k miles and blew, some that ARE boosting with 100k miles plus and do ok.

Originally posted by SilverBullet20g
I know it is going to cost a lot, but you should rebuild the bottom end with lower comp. forged pistons, rings, rods, seals, etc.. You end up saving in the long run.

Well how much would that cost? With all the bottom end rebuilt? And im gonna get a Star Stage II. And the engine is in good condition, ive had no problems with it in the past 2 years.

Lots of options... You could get the whole kit from Howell or do the Ebay one at a time.. I just saw JE pistons/Eagle Rods for $704

http://www.howellautomotive.com/Howell/Store/catalog/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=142_38_174&products_id=519

http://www.howellautomotive.com/Howell/Store/catalog/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=142_38_174&products_id=1439

http://search.ebay.com/420a_W0QQfromZR8QQsorecordstoskipZ0

Hope this helps

Ok well i dont know a lot about rebuilt bottom ends. Could you tell me your opinions on which robs and such to buy, like who makes the best, which parts would i need to do a rebuild and all that? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

bump.....thanks for the help guys

the question you have to answer is, how much boost do you want to run? that will decide if you need to rebuild or not.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7932488524&category=33623

that link has argueably the best setup for a rebuild with the 8.8:1 compression pistons. and you would want to go to a machinest and have them bore over your cylinders +.02.

if you don't know what to do, i suggest you read A LOT of the info on here. just by asking us to tell you what to do, you're not going to learn it for yourself. at least that's what i try to do now :).

Originally posted by 420a-Tnthewerks
the question you have to answer is, how much boost do you want to run? that will decide if you need to rebuild or not. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7932488524&category=33623 that link has argueably the best setup for a rebuild with the 8.8:1 compression pistons. and you would want to go to a machinest and have them bore over your cylinders +.02. if you don't know what to do, i suggest you read A LOT of the info on here. just by asking us to tell you what to do, you're not going to learn it for yourself. at least that's what i try to do now :).

Well im gonna run a Star Stage II (unless someone can convince me that the HRC is better) I dont plan on running any higher then 10psi, it will be a daily driver so i will prolly keep it around 8psi, but i want to build it up enough to handle anything i may want, like if i want to go up to 12 or whatever if i take her to a track. So please keep the information flowing!! You Guys Rock!!!!!!

bump....

I installed a STAR Stage 2 at 88,000 miles.

What it boils down to, you're eventually going to want to put good pistons and rods in it anyway, so the fact it has 88K on the stock bottom end should be the last thing on your mind, and should have absolutely no bearing on whether you install the turbo or not.

Thanks...i think i will rebuild the bottom end first, just so i can be safe, i wouldnt want to take any chances, bump

Your engine is going to blow just as quickly whether you have 1,000 miles, or 100,000 miles.

The rings and bearings are what wear out over time, yet these never blow on turbo'd 420a's.

We blow the piston ring lands which never age or wear down.

The only thing that could go out on a high-mileage engine is the head gasket, and even then, you're just as likely to have it blow on a new motor.

Originally posted by TheOctane
Thanks...i think i will rebuild the bottom end first, just so i can be safe, i wouldnt want to take any chances, bump

I've never understood this mentality. Why build it first? A turbo kit on a stock motor will work fine. Sure, you can't make as much power on stock stuff as on a built motor, but you'll end up putting good stuff it later anyway.

Even when you "blow up" a stock motor, it's not a catastrophe. You crank a ringland, your compression drops, it burns oil, whatever. Not like a grenade went off.

:shrug. just my thoughts i guess. I'd rather turbo it first and have fun with it and rebuild it later than go through the hassle of building it now, then having to buy the turbo. Just seems backasswards to me.

good old "dont fix what aint broke" mentality - you got my support.

Originally posted by Chamuko
good old "dont fix what aint broke" mentality - you got my support.

That's my mentality right now. I do wanna rebuild later though when I hit the 10X,XXX.

yea i dont wanna do any unnecessary work but enough people have told me that its likly the bottom end will blow out if i turbo it an engine with this many miles without a rebuild....Thanks a lot guys ill prolly just turbo it and monitor the psi no higher then 7-8 untill i do the rebuild...YOU GUYS ROCK!

Originally posted by TheOctane
people have told me that its likly the bottom end will blow out if i turbo it an engine with this many miles without a rebuild..

Nah. Not if you tune it right and don't get boost happy. Even if you do, like i said, it's not a catastrophic failure... one day, sometime after you start thinking, "Oh, maybe a little more boost won't hurt" for the third or fourth time, it will just run kinda funny. Then you'll check the compression, and uh oh.. 60 psi on one cylinder? Hmm. Guess its time.

heh. i didnt even blow my engine. i just got tired of 8psi and stuck in the built bottom end.

Thanks you guys, i appreciate the help. The ultimate goal of mine is to get my car 300+ and still be a daily driver. With the help you all have given me, hopfully this summer i will be a lot closer to reaching my goal. I really appreciate it.
If Anyone knows where i can get a STAR Stage II kit, with a Ball Bearing turbo in it, please let me know....

http://www.overboost.com/obs/search.asp?search_string=&search_make=20&search_model=76&search_year=1999&search_cat_id=1&search_price_from=&search_price_to=&search_mfg_id=&search_button.x=53&search_button.y=9&search_sc_id=

Originally posted by WarnerC
http://www.overboost.com/obs/search.asp?search_string=&search_make=20&search_model=76&search_year=1999&search_cat_id=1&search_price_from=&search_price_to=&search_mfg_id=&search_button.x=53&search_button.y=9&search_sc_id=
Hey is there any package deals out there to get the STAR STAGE II with the BALL BEARING t03/04 turbo????? PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!

First mesaage got messed up. Um ARE there any package deals for the STAR STAGE II that include the BALL BEARING turbo t03/04???????