Project Turbo 5sfe
During December of 2002, I decided to turbocharge the current engine (engine code 5sfe) in my '91 MR2. I'm still wondering exactly why the hell I decided to do this. I guess I just needed something to do to satisfy my "mechanical instincts." Most MR2 owners question why anyone would turbo a NA MR2 when there is a turbo model already available (3sgte engine). For me, there are a few simple explanations. First, this is just a hobby of mine, and I wanted to expand my mechanical horizons by tackling an obstacle such as this. Second, I'm not a fan of turbo lag (my WRX has plenty of it), and the 3sgte engine in stock form has lots of it, due to it's lower compression ratio (compared to the 5sfe). By adding a turbo to the 5sfe engine, I am able to increase power throughout the powerband, obtain quicker spoolup times than the 3sgte, and maintain the inherent 5sfe low-end torque characteristics. Finally, non-turbo MR2's are more plentiful than the turbo model, and insurance rates are lower as well.
It has taken me several months to gather all the parts needed for this project. I could have cut some corners here and there, and spent less money, but I wanted to do it right the first time. After many discussions with others who have done a similar conversion, I decided this was the route that best suited my needs and budget. Time has not really been an issue so far, since this car is not my daily driver (garaged in the winter anyway), and the weather has been so cold this year, that I have been unable to do much labor in my unheated garage until early March. This project should be completed by late March, and a dyno-tune is planned on April 12th. Based on the performance of other turbo 5sfe's, I'm expecting ~210 HP and ft.lbs of torque, to the wheels at 7-8 psi.
Below are the various steps to completing the turbo 5sfe conversion:
MSD6-BTM Ignition Installation
Removing the Exhaust
Intercooler Installation
Intercooler Piping
Swapping Oil Pans
Custom Exhaust Fabrication
Turbo-Manifold Assembly Installation
ERL MF2 AIC Installation
Final Parts Installation- Gauges, O2 sensor, Plugs, Air filter/Intake, PCV Breather/Catch Can
Test Drive and Tuning
