Hi guys Andy here, ive brought a 323f BA and ive been very amazed by it so much i done 3K miles in 3 weeks but the big annoying prob that i have is on a bad day my car seems to get beaten by a 1.4L 16V MK2 Renault Clio which realy annoys me because i got rid of mine for this 323, ive had many serious engine plans for previous cars but when it comes near to the point i wanna do it i end up selling the car, i realy wanna keep this, its my new baby replacing my old baby, my Renault R5, that i done alot to, so big question, can i fit low boost turbo to my 1.5 16v just to give me that bit more poke? if so any ideas what?

Waste of time and money.
A 1.8 GTX transplant is the best option, do a forum search or look in the BA section.

It can and has been done, at great expense.

As Neil says, look into the 1.8 GTX, or GTR conversion.

It will not be cheap.

You will find that there is not a lot around for tuning these cars, if you want something quicker, buy the 1.8, the V6 or look into another car.

Having said that, what these cars lack in straight line performance, they more than make up for on the twistys, so many people on this forum will recommend that's where you spend your cash. Coilovers, strut braces, good tyres.

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=8781

http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showth ... 7543&pp=15

It has been done a couple of times.

i have a restricted licenses so bigger engine i ain't going to be able to insure plus you can do loads to any engine if you know what your doing, i ain't got alot of money so i thought turbo would be the cheapest option because you could get one from scrappy or were ever, just wanted to know from someone who's done it what turbo they used, if i was to do a engine swap i prob wouldn't use the 1.8 because i can keep up with one of them, stainless cat-bak i have plans for just not yet, ECU chip is to costly, just don't know what i could do, ive move up the line so don't have access to engineering shop anymore so can't drill out the inlet and exhaust ports, i done that on my five, made a hell of a difference, thanks for reply's so fare though

[quote="323LXIman1990"]you can do loads to any engine if you know what your doing, i ain't got alot of money[/quote]

I think you just underlined the problem there.

Stating the obvious a bit there, yes you can make a car fly to the moon if you had enough money, but that's not the point you're making, economically speaking there is no point in doing the conversion.

Either live with the crappy power you have or buy a new (faster) car.

how come other people on this forums have done it for cheaper then? i think im best off commenting on that thread, bit bad your ment to be 323 fans but recommending i get another car, i wouldn't recommend another car, its good alround car, ill prob get bit more out of it my way and keep you posted, thanks for the comments anyways

hi there. I am a bit late to comment on this as I have been away. Trust me when i say that the people on this website are indeed fans of the vehicle, its just when you have been on this forum for a while you notice quite a few new people coming along and asking about turbos and stuff to up the hp of their vehicle and most the time they are just young people looking for cheap hp (not saying you are one of these people). In those cases it really is just a lot easier and better (for the wallet and time) to actually go for a different model of vehicle if all they really want is hp (also in my opinion it keeps the forum slightly free of boy racers and those types). I love my car and that shows by the fact that i have just spent close to £2000 rebuilding my engine. These cars are great but just expensive to get hp out of but there is always some way of getting the hp out of the engine if you dont mind spending the time doing the research, finding the parts and taking your time with them.

[quote="323LXIman1990"]how come other people on this forums have done it for cheaper then? i think im best off commenting on that thread, bit bad your ment to be 323 fans but recommending i get another car, i wouldn't recommend another car, its good alround car, ill prob get bit more out of it my way and keep you posted, thanks for the comments anyways[/quote]

Depends what you consider cheap, if I remember rightly from the last time I checked out build threads, doing a conversion properly, this means also taking into account handling and braking, you're looking 4-5k.

This club gets asked this stuff wayyyyyy to often, please believe us, unless you have a true passion for the car and money isn't really an object then go for it otherwise don't bother.

people arent being negative, they are being realistic.

The 323F is what it is - they arent rapid cars, if you want a fast car then you are probably better off looking at a different car. As the Z5 isnt normally turbo'd you are looking at custom parts/bodging things together....
It will cost you money, it isnt worth trying to do it on the cheap unless you have many years to work on it, in which case your car will end up on a drive for years (which would be slower than it is now)
A good aftermarket ECU is going to cost you a pretty penny.

If you really want to go down this route, look at what you can get off of a 1.6 GTX and see if you can get most of that to fit on the 1.5 block. Dont know if it has been done that way, but is the way i would try to go if i was stuck with a 1.5 block.

Have fun with the wiring

Can you work on the braking? cos i wouldnt leave a turbo car on standard 1.5 brakes........

I wouldn't leave a standard 1.5 on 1.5 brakes

[quote="323LXIman1990"]Should i or Not???? TURBO[/quote]

You ask, we say not......
Would you prefer we just said yes you should?

Have a search on here, and on the countless American and Austrailian/Asian/South American forums, then come back on here and tell us your findings. You'll probably find its still a no.

As you say, anything is possible if you know what your doing. If you know what your doing, and you have very deep pockets then by all means go for it.

I looked at one of those electric superchargers on ebay.

Its arriving next week

You have to realise that fitting a turbo is never going to be cheap. You can't just cobble a lot of parts together and hope it works. Remember the manufacturers spend hundreds of thousands on R&D.

If you want to up the power then you need to improve everything else along the way, most importantly the brakes, but also suspension, probably gearbox, engine internals to cope with the extra power, etc, etc.

Basically there is no option for 'cheap' hp. Unless you believe the eBay jokers.

Anyway, the key to being able to drive fast has less to do with power and more to do with brakes and ability. I could quite happily keep up with a scooby in my first 1.5 F (completely standard) around some twisties. Try and get on a rally day, you'll learn how important brakes are when you're driving a Group N Evo and bouncing it off the limiter in 3rd.

Also if you can't afford the insurance of a larger engine then you won't be able to afford the insurance when you tell them you've stuck a turbo on it. And without telling them you would be technically uninsured.

really only viable if your doing it because you love the car!
it will cost a lot! (talking from experience)
for the same money spent we could have had a faster car but it wouldn't be a f

Anyway, the key to being able to drive fast has less to do with power and more to do with brakes and ability. I could quite happily keep up with a scooby in my first 1.5 F


Been there done that, im cornish, no one knows back roads better then us cornish, cornwall IS back roads, ive beaten a 3.0L supra in my metro 114 GSI on a back road,
but thanks on the input anyways, cant wait to get bit more dosh and mess about, love this car, had a laugh with a Golf GTI on a straight, was amusing, anyways keep you posted, thanks for the comments, realy like some of your 323's guys, nice work

Sorry mate but that's rubbish Scoobys / golf GTIs are faster then a 1.5 it's simple as that 323s are nice around corners but the people you're taking clearly can't drive or aren't trying, it's a matter of power.

Sorry to come across as being a bit arsey but you have a lot to learn about cars before going ahead with statements like that...

The first line was quoting me Cosmo. If it's all about power why do racing companys spend so much on downforce, suspension, handling and braking?

And it was a scooby driver, so of course he couldn't drive!

[quote="cosmos1989"]it's a matter of torque.[/quote]

i don't think your being arsey but like the other chap said, unless you cant drive it ain't all bout POWER, back roads are bends not straights so u need good handling and brakes and the best handling standard cars are original minis and metros, my metro not being funny could prob beat your 323 on a back road, you'd obviously kill me in a straight line but unless your american, straight line power ain't important, 140m.p.h. is fast enough in a car, been faster but you may as well cut your losses and buy a bike if you wanna go faster in a straight line, this thread i only mentioned turbo for acceleration not top end and to save me changing down gear on hills, better on fuel if you stay in last gear, thanks for comments anyways,

Might just go head with my other idea, after my Cat-Bak exhaust and a few odds and sods, a 6-speed box, better torque and acceleration, would be interesting, anybody heard of anyone doing that, ive looked into a few gearbox's but need to look at the mounting a bit better

Would be interested in seeing what you can find. Nothing wrong with trying something new.

[quote="Dragon Rob"]The first line was quoting me Cosmo. If it's all about power why do racing companys spend so much on downforce, suspension, handling and braking?

And it was a scooby driver, so of course he couldn't drive! [/quote]

On an F1 track yes I agree, but one an A road in cornwall a 1.5 323 would be thrashed hands down, unless the scooby driver had no legs and then I would change my opinion!

First off, I can beat allot of cars even with my 1.5... let alone the 1.8 I had... coilovers and proper handling mods do allot.

Secondly, when you go the turbo route, you cannot just buy a turbo and then it will magically hook up to the engine...

Here's some stuff you'll need anyways...

Turbo
Turbo Exhaust manifold
Downpipe
waste gate
blow off valve
various sensors
new wiring loom
new ecu
new bigger brakes
intercooler
intercooler piping
bigger exhaust (like whole)

And on the normal n/a engine allot of work to get it running.

If you were to buy a GTX engine complete as, you'll still need

new ecu
new brakes
intercooler piping
intercooler
bigger exhaust
preferably different gearbox


Think about 4-5K for a quite basic setup...

And I know, I'm one of the idiots actually doing a turbo swap, so Is Matt by the way, but he's lesser of an idiots then me. still...

You forgot stronger driveshafts, different suspension, stronger clutch....

One very important thing is missing from the list

BALLS

[quote="323F Rock"]really only viable if your doing it because you love the car!
it will cost a lot! (talking from experience)
for the same money spent we could have had a faster car but it wouldn't be a f
[/quote]


Exactly.

I weighed the cost up before getting my parts together. My original idea was to upgrade to an mps3 . BUT I wanted one with a bit of warranty so I would have had to find 5k or so....then I would have wanted other stuff to make it 'my own' ... the cheaper option was to turbo the Bj, then I would have something quite rare

[quote="errnee"] then I would have something quite rare [/quote]


Quite bloody rare???

It would be easier finding Diplodocus spunk in the Lake District!!!

[quote="DMS"]One very important thing is missing from the list

Bill Gates bank details [/quote]


fixed

[quote="323LXIman1990"]
Might just go head with my other idea, after my Cat-Bak exhaust and a few odds and sods, a 6-speed box, better torque and acceleration, would be interesting, anybody heard of anyone doing that, ive looked into a few gearbox's but need to look at the mounting a bit better[/quote]

6-speed box? you really have no idea do you..

but, don't get us wrong. we are happy with every new member on the forums and there's nothing wrong with asking about things. but let's get 1 thing straight: the 1.5 isn't an bhp-monster and it never will be. turbo's cannot be mounted with duct-tape and tie-wraps to make it faster, and to my knowledge there has never ever been a 6-speed gearbox which will fit the Z5 engine.
your best bet is to do basic mods to the intake and exhaust, and concentrate on the suspension and brakes.
reading your posts makes me thing your a rally-king so you'll need the handling!