Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

[flatside]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

...*EDIT* Re: The engines. The 234 is taller than the 204 so you might get clearance issues with the bonnet. If you chase larger power the 2.0 is considered a better choice partly due to rod angles. If you do go for it, try and find one on an auto box....................... :-) If you do get the whole lot in and reliable for a grand I'd say very fair play indeed. It's a heavy lump so remember to spec suspension inserts to suit.

I know it's taller, I planned to mount it lower to compensate.
Why intentionally go for an Auto?

Honestly, apart from the odd blat in my turbo'd GTEs and maybe one or two in Darren H's red one when I owned it, I've had more fun in the week I had Jamie Arkle's 1.4 small block MK2! The novelty of the pov spec was way more fun than driving the GTEs hard anywhere. I have bad roads my way so that does have a bearing on how I feel about it.

Age plays a part but a lot of the fun of these things can be taken away with the constant maintenance. You need to have a fairly robust wallet to keep on top of maintenance, body work AND then tune the things. Either buy a hot version in good nick or enjoy having a slowish mk2 for other reasons. That's what I'd be telling myself to be honest.

I've tried telling myself that, trouble is I don't believe it.
Especially when there is an over taking opportunity I'm just not quick enough to consider, or when in convoy with mate I know they're driving extra slow so they don't just leave me for dead, most of the time. V6 Mondeo, Turbo'd escort, you get the idea.

I agree small engine cars with decent handling can be more fun than big power motors. My 1.3 is'nt exactly quick but i have sorted the suspension on it and made sure the engine is running as well as it can and i can keep up with quicker cars through the bends. The fun comes from knowing your are getting the very most out of it and that bloke in the audi tdi infront is upset because he has a 24 year old astra behind that keeps catching him up. My Standard 16v gte had no probs keeping up with a mates turbo nova in the real world, i could get the power down quicker and more aggressivley where he would be spinning the wheels up to 4th gear. Yes the nova's ability to do the quarter faster than a 300 bhp scooby was entertaining at the pod, but that was really all it was good for.

(I can keep up with Lotus Elise's around the twisty bits)
It's the bloke in the Cayman S in front, he's not upset because he has a 20+ year old crumbly astra behind that keeps catching him up, he isn't trying. When he does, he disappears into the distance, leaving me for dead.
There is some flash fast stuff this way, and I can't keep up with it. Look's like I never will.

[BlackBox]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

There's a very standard 1.3 106 round my way and I can't keep up with that .... does make you wonder?

[flatside]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

First up, I'd wonder if it's running a GTi lump, the 106GTi is epic, for what it is.

[BlackBox]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

Nope, it's totally standard, it's my sons ... it ain't slow ... there are some 1.4 and 1.6s around here as well ... can't keep up with any of them ...

It's not always about power is it, size, weight and handling play a bigger part in the equation than power.

Power is great for the stretches, but above a certain BHP it's not much good elsewhere.

[flatside]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

So I'm going to guess that yours isn't a GTE either.

I'm not about to bob-tail it, and I can't afford the carbon fiber bits to really lighten it, so changing the size and weight are out.
It handles pretty well, even if some expensive rubber would be nice.

It's straight line power that it really needs.
(and some welding, maybe a respray, some work on the interior...)

[Davey J]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

I've tried telling myself that, trouble is I don't believe it.
Especially when there is an over taking opportunity I'm just not quick enough to consider, or when in convoy with mate I know they're driving extra slow so they don't just leave me for dead, most of the time. V6 Mondeo, Turbo'd escort, you get the idea.

Probably an age thing then. I'm 32 now and been there and done it with road going modified cars. I thought the same thing as you up until fairly recently to be fair. I think I've just had my patience tested with older cars of recent and know how much time I've wasted chasing impossible dreams.

[BlackBox]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

Interesting view Davey,

I'm 46 .... and still chasing dreams ... lol

The main reason I stick with these cars is because I can fix them myself .... new cars when they go wrong tend to rob you blind ... I've spent some serious money in the past having newer cars fixed (or not) and my wallet threatens to leave home ...!!

[Davey J]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

I think my decision making with turning my back on GTEs has also been helped by an EP3 Type R which is just brilliant from the production line. I've test driven a load this month. I've never owned a nearly(ish) new car. I've only had 80's/90's cars since 1999 so feel it's time to try something different. The Honda is still fixable between myself and Ady. My mate at Skurrays Vauxhall has been trying to get me into a Corsa VXR or Astra VXR but I just don't like the new Vauxhall turbo stuff.

I've started totting up what is already coming in from having a clear out and the dosh I've been sat on is f'ing daft! Still got 3 cars to go out the door too. Last time I looked too, I'm a Chef, not a legendary engine builder and I cannot afford a 3-4 grand fail on a head done by one guy, a bottom end done by another, mated by me and mapped by someone else. That sort of risk at this point in my life is too great...................so factory Honda it is.

The next MK2 will be a base model small block to come to shows in. (Got Sundays off for the first time properly in my adult life as of May).

[BenH]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

I think my decision making with turning my back on GTEs has also been helped by an EP3 Type R which is just brilliant from the production line. I've test driven a load this month. I've never owned a nearly(ish) new car. I've only had 80's/90's cars since 1999 so feel it's time to try something different. The Honda is still fixable between myself and Ady. My mate at Skurrays Vauxhall has been trying to get me into a Corsa VXR or Astra VXR but I just don't like the new Vauxhall turbo stuff.

I've started totting up what is already coming in from having a clear out and the dosh I've been sat on is f'ing daft! Still got 3 cars to go out the door too. Last time I looked too, I'm a Chef, not a legendary engine builder and I cannot afford a 3-4 grand fail on a head done by one guy, a bottom end done by another, mated by me and mapped by someone else. That sort of risk at this point in my life is too great...................so factory Honda it is.

The next MK2 will be a base model small block to come to shows in. (Got Sundays off for the first time properly in my adult life as of May).

I agree Ep3 Type R is a fantastically good car, and great value if you want quick and easy to drive. If you just want to be faster than everyone else, then a mk2 even a GTE is never going to do that. I know full well that mine is never going to be proper quick or handle that well compaired to newer stuff on the track, if I wanted that I'd not be playing around with a GTE! But then mine is cheap really, if I cant do it myself then it's not getting done I'd not get any pleasure from paying somone to do stuff on my car.

[tjshill82]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

Nope, it's totally standard, it's my sons ... it ain't slow ... there are some 1.4 and 1.6s around here as well ... can't keep up with any of them ...

It's not always about power is it, size, weight and handling play a bigger part in the equation than power.

Power is great for the stretches, but above a certain BHP it's not much good elsewhere.

Would have to agree with this statement. I had a 306 d turbo a few years back. It was only 90bhp but handled so well and put a real smile on my face. One of my fave cars to honest.

[DarrenH]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

i had a 150mph 900 kilo astra that went round tracks quicker than most production cars. that was 5-10 years ago now. i stake my life on this fact, all the people i "beat" round brands, mallory, donnington, combe, or got up pod quicker than, or accelerated up the local bypass quicker than, or pummeled off the traffic lights, are still just living their lives no poorer for the experience.

[Steve Heley]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

i had a 150mph 900 kilo astra that went round tracks quicker than most production cars. that was 5-10 years ago now. i stake my life on this fact, all the people i "beat" round brands, mallory, donnington, combe, or got up pod quicker than, or accelerated up the local bypass quicker than, or pummeled off the traffic lights, are still just living their lives no poorer for the experience.

Couldn't have said that any better..

[flatside]

Re: Mk2 Astra 2.3 Saab turbo conversion?

OK, OK! I'm leaving it as it is (for now at least) I'll just have the 3rd slowest vehicle of all my many offline friends.
A 2CV is the slowest (their favorite toy - but their day to day car is quicker my astra).
Second slowest is a semi rare classic car (they have something newer, but rarely drive it).