I've drive a 91 longnose that I purchased back last sept. and have been looking to turbo for a while now. I recently got a house so it's slowed me for the past few months but I'm looking to start getting some things now. My questino to you gus is should I stick with the 1.6? It runs pretty good for the most part but it boggs a lot when I come to a stop and I wonder if that might be an issue with the turbo or if it's just a possible tuning issue. It has new pratically eveything(belts (including timing), alternator, plugs, wires, 5-30 extended performance oil, and 150k miles(bought it with 135).

I saw where I could get a 99 1.8 for around 1k but would it be worth it? I need to decide before I get engine management because it's different ECU's for MS as i'm sure you all know. I'd like 225-300 whp (not sure till I actually get there) but just looking for some input on what you guys, the experienced might do. Thanks for the Help!!

 

That bog is likely just a tuning issue.

A 1.8 will kick that 1.6's *** BUT, if you can tune the bog out you can get to your HP goals with the 1.6.

wait wait, is the turbo on or it bogs in stock form?

 

It's probably bogging because you don't have engine management. What band-aids are you currently running? I'm guessing your car is going far too rich at idle.

 

It's still N/A. I figured that's what it had to be. Ive checked all the vacum lines and have no clue else what it could be. It pulls strong 7k+ though so I think the engine overall is in good shape.

 

No turbo right now, any thoughts?

 

Also, if I did decide to go 1.8 is there any specific years I should target? I think I've heard the 99+ has variable timing which if so could lead to more tuning possibilities and possibly more power/better eficiency, is this so? Also would it be a bad idea to just drop a mazdaspeed engine in there if I could find one for a reasonable price?

 

94-95 have lower compression than 96-97 (stock pistons). Personally I think messing with VVT is a waste of time unless you want it for some other legit reason.

 

I was in a similar situation with my '90 when I got it. I even had the bogging problem. The first thing I installed was a Megasquirt unit on the 1.6. That gave me experience with the MS and cured the bog (and made the car a LOT faster -- the 1.6 with megasquirt and no air meter is a fine car to drive. It doesn't get raped by minivans at stoplights the way it did when stock.) I've been driving it this way for the last year and a half.

I did not buy any turbo stuff for the 1.6. I bought a 1.8 motor (1996, $500, included spare transmission and delivery) and 1.8 turbo stuff. My reasoning was if I'm spending money on making the car faster, $500 for a 10% increase in displacement is a no-brainer.