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Topic: turbo 3.8 (Read 3204 times) previous topic - next topic

turbo 3.8

I was just wondering if anyone has seen or know of anyone trying to turbo charge a 3.8. I've been playing around with the idea for a while and was wondering if anyone knows of reasons this might or might not work...I'm always looking to try something different. My last was a remote mount turbo on a 91 cavalier z/24.... It turned out pretty sweet, so I was thinking about trying to turbo my '85.

turbo 3.8

Reply #1 –
Only one word, "Boom"
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

turbo 3.8

Reply #2 –
Quote from: wewsel;158556
I was just wondering if anyone has seen or know of anyone trying to turbo charge a 3.8. I've been playing around with the idea for a while and was wondering if anyone knows of reasons this might or might not work...I'm always looking to try something different. My last was a remote mount turbo on a 91 cavalier z/24.... It turned out pretty sweet, so I was thinking about trying to turbo my '85.


just buy my complete 2.3l with a t-3 and i have a 5 speed to go with it

turbo 3.8

Reply #3 –
Quote from: wewsel;158556
...and was wondering if anyone knows of reasons this might or might not work....


The reason it won't work, at least not for very long, is the early 3.8's have a hard enough time keeping headgaskets alive in stock form.  Adding any kind of forced induction is just a recipe for disaster.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

turbo 3.8

Reply #4 –
If you used a Super Coupe 3.8 as a base I can't see why you couldn't turbo it...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

turbo 3.8

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;158657
If you used a Super Coupe 3.8 as a base I can't see why you couldn't turbo it...
]

Yes, but he's talking about the stock '85 NA 3.8. Using a SC 3.8 is a totally different story.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

turbo 3.8

Reply #6 –
thanks guys... just thought I'd throw the idea out there... guess the 3.8 ford isn't as strong as the chevy 3.1... huh... who'd have thunk it...

turbo 3.8

Reply #7 –
its not that its not as strong, they just blow head gaskets bad, and im gonna pm you about the turbo cavi, my brother wants to do that.
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

turbo 3.8

Reply #8 –
Yeah, I guess if you could find yourself some nice strong head gaskets for it, you could boost it a little.  LIke the others said though it'd be easier to use the engine out of an SC since it's already boost friendly.

turbo 3.8

Reply #9 –
i dont get it on the 3.8 headgasket phobia.  I drove my 3.8 for 340,000 miles and never had that problem.  i think its a myth created by people who done know much about cars,, the myth started just about the time aluminum heads arrived on the market. seems like everyone was then and still is now against aluminum. 

its like you never hear about cast iron heads being the problem when a hg blows but just make any fuss on a 3.8 and all of a sudden  "well darlin, it must've been them there alumninum heads that cause your engine trouble"

recall or not,, i still think that headgasket phobia is faux

turbo 3.8

Reply #10 –
You must have the freak then, because I've seen more 3.8's pop headgaskets than I'd even like to think of...and they we all iron headed...we even had times when we would have 2 or 3 3.8 cougars/birds sitting outside the shop awaiting head gaskets. 

I say O-ring the block and use head studs...lmao.
Project 3G: Grandpa Grocery Getter-'85 Crown Vic LTD 2-door, 351W with heavily ported/polished GT40 heads, heavily ported/polished Typhoon Power Plus upper & lower intake, Comp Cams 265DEH retarded 1*, FAST EZ-EFI, HD T5, 8.8" 3.73 trac lock with extra clutches, 3G alt. swap, '99 CVPI front brakes, '09 CVPI rear disc brakes, '00 CVPI booster&m/c + wilwood adj prop valve.

Parted & Gone-'88 T-bird Sport, 351W swap, ported GT40 heads

turbo 3.8

Reply #11 –
Since when were the 3.8's iron-headed?
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

turbo 3.8

Reply #12 –
The aluminum heads and thier different cooling/expansion rates (compared to the iron block) are part of the reason why the 3.8's are known for HG failure.

turbo 3.8

Reply #13 –
1990 and up 3.8 are worse than the earlier 3.8 for engine issues.
1988- 3.8- T-bird- sold 2005 Grand Prix, GTP- COMP.G MODS: Inferno Hood, GXP spoiler, Liquid Metal Wheels,K&N Intake,LED taillights,LED reverse lights, LED interior lights, 180*,605s, Pacesetters :burnout: