Does anyone know the issues with replacing a 1994 turbo 850 engine with a non-turbo engine, also from a 1994 850? Thanks.

 

Are you planning to keep the turbo in the car?
If so I believe the turbo block has piston cooling jets and the N/A doesnt or something like that.

 

compression is 10.5:1 on the NA and 8.5:1 on the turbo. are you swapping in the NA or the bottom end ? or whats your idea?

 

Oil jets(oil squirters cooling jets) aren't the big issue in Dsm's the car performs better without them. The big issue is compression ratios like stated above if you put a NA in it keep it NA unless you build it and build it properly

 

The oil cooling jets doesnt affect the performance really at all, though they help the engine last longer. and the NA doesn't have them and the Turbo does. Though i dont think the LPT engines had cooling jets

 

ECU needs to be from NA motor.

My 2 cents: cooling jets > no cooling jets.

 

I know what there for and reasoning for them. I really don't think the LPT engines have them either. Also yes the ecu needs to be from a NA motor. In the end your best option remains a turbo engine less to worry about drop it in and go on with life

 

Thanks everyone for weighing in on this. I am wanting to pull the whole non-turbo engine from one 850 and drop it into a different 850 that is a turbo...but it's engine is bad, if this is possible.

 

...also the turbo would be eliminated, just want to know if all should match up and function happily as a non-turbo car.

 

I think if you try and do that, you will run into more problems that you thought. Different computer and main wire harnesses for starters.

 

Is it too crazy to swap the computer and wire harnesses, etc. over with the engine?

 

No. Have you ever done something like that? I don't get it, your doing SSSSOOOOOO much extra work than necessary if you just put in a turbo engine. Don't forget there's difference exhaust manifolds, so you'll have to get a custom downpipe and exhaust work done. FCP shows different part numbers between radiators, so you'll need a different radiator. You'll need a different intake.

Someone tried to do an NA to turbo swap, and about three months in, he gave up because the car just wouldn't run right. You're going to have the same issues if you attempt this if you've never done something like this before.

For all I know you're a professional mechanic, however, based on the fact that you don't know much about the two different engines, you've never done anything with these cars before, in that case, you would be way over your head.

Also, the fueling system may be different, it was for him. He had to go to a junkyard and take the entire fueling system from a turbo car, you will probably have to get the entire fueling system from an NA. IMO, you may attempt it, you'll get finished, and the car won't run, and if it does, it will barely run.

My 2 cents.

 

The only way I would swap an engine of different design is if I had the entire front half of the car Im swapping from.

 

Thanks for the straightforward insights, it's what I needed to know. I just happen to have the engine available, but will keep it where it is. I do appreciate everyones generous thought. I'll go look for an engine!