Getting faster

[BigTurboStore]

Hi I'm Jesse, owner of the BigTurboStore. I understand that there is a severe lack of performance products for the 1.8 ecotech that comes in the Astras in the states. Larry Brown, a forum member and Astra owner, just brought this to my attention about an hour ago. I have some people looking into possibilities now. It seems to me that someone out there has to make a turbo kit for these things. If anyone has any insight to throw my way, or any suggestions feel free to shoot me an email. I'll be posting updates in this forum when I get them.


Thanks,
Jesse

Yahoo Email: Jessed123


You can check out my website if you would like to, it won't do you any good at this point though. I don't have a single product for an Astra I don't believe. Hopefully soon we will.

[Larry_va]

Hey everyone. I meet Jesse and asked him to help try and find some performance upgrades for our cars. He is very willing to try and help us find somemore HP for our 1.8L Astras.I've had nothing but good experience with him so please feel free to ask him about your interests.
Thanks Members,
Larry

[mdcclxxvi]

Originally Posted by Larry_va

Hey everyone. I meet Jesse and asked him to help try and find some performance upgrades for our cars. He is very willing to try and help us find somemore HP for our 1.8L Astras.I've had nothing but good experience with him so please feel free to ask him about your interests.
Thanks Members,
Larry

i've explored almost every option for power increases, some of them more doable than others. all of them requiring large sums of money in R&D time.

[BigTurboStore]

Yeah, that's what Larry was saying. I'll tell you what, since I'm new to the Astra world I am going to see what I can find out about getting, or getting made, some turbo kits. When I have questions I now know who to ask. The insideline just gave me a brief introduction into the Astra world in the U.S.


The engine Larry was initially asking about was the 1.8 ecotech. This article says it comes with about 140 HP out of the ocean container. Since this article seems to be a little on the old side...I can't help but wonder if these other engines have made their way here, the 1.6 that pushes 178HP and the 2 liter that gives 237HP.

How much handiwork is going to be necessary in an engine swap here if you can get one of these motors?

I'm just covering the obvious here to get myself up to speed a little. Thanks for the input Larry and mdcclxxvi.

[mdcclxxvi]

Originally Posted by BigTurboStore

How much handiwork is going to be necessary in an engine swap here if you can get one of these motors?

I'm just covering the obvious here to get myself up to speed a little. Thanks for the input Larry and mdcclxxvi.

an impossible amount of work unless you have an access to an OEM Tech2 device to program the car and engine to talk to each other. Other than that, about $5k-$6k for the motor / tranny, several more $1000s for the labor and R&D to swap it.

[Larry_va]

I don't think it ever hurts to have a set of fresh eyes look into options for our cars. With Jesse's experience in the performance industry he may be able to find someone willing to explore helping us get more power for our cars.

[Articwhite2008]

What happened to the Cobalt SS engine swap?

[mdcclxxvi]

Originally Posted by Articwhite2008

What happened to the Cobalt SS engine swap?

no one was ever doing one

[Teh_Freak]

I think our best bet, so far, is to just hold out until the Cruze comes out; if it uses our 1.8L then the aftermarket will surely open up for us.

[Articwhite2008]

Do our engines have good reliability ratings?

[mdcclxxvi]

haven't read too many bad things about them on here

[99Saturbo]

What do you guys think an ideal price would be for a single turbo kit? Either intercooled or non-intercooled?

I know someone who can build them if there is enough interest.

[mdcclxxvi]

Originally Posted by 99Saturbo

What do you guys think an ideal price would be for a single turbo kit? Either intercooled or non-intercooled?

I know someone who can build them if there is enough interest.

all the the built kits in the world are worthless without the software.

with that said, i'd bet that it wouldnt be less than $4k

[Teh_Freak]

Originally Posted by mdcclxxvi

all the the built kits in the world are worthless without the software.

with that said, i'd bet that it wouldnt be less than $4k

Quite the cynic aren't we?
Can't hurt to have someone take a shot at it.

[MGGDTW]

Mechanical upgrades are at a minimum. The standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder is treated to a cold-air intake system, an exhaust header and a modified throttle body. Like many a backyard tuner, GM occasionally runs into faulty or misrepresented parts in the aftermarket, too. The first cold-air intake, purchased from a German aftermarket company, didn't fit. General Motors figures that it gained about 20 horsepower out of the mods (once it fitted proper parts) for a total of 160 hp. The Tuner Concept uses the stock five-speed manual transmission.

Taken from.

http://www.insideline.com/saturn/ast...r-concept.html

160 hp would be quite a step up if you ask me.

[Articwhite2008]

how did this guy put a turbo in his car right when the car came out? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqScdSG0ypA

[MGGDTW]

Originally Posted by Articwhite2008

how did this guy put a turbo in his car right when the car came out? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqScdSG0ypA

Heard a little exhaust tone and a woosh sound. But otherwise the video is pretty pointless...

[mdcclxxvi]

Originally Posted by Articwhite2008

how did this guy put a turbo in his car right when the car came out? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqScdSG0ypA

without talking to the guy it's not even confirmed if he's even got a turbo.

he might just let the stock software attempt to compensate for all the extra air naturally, in which case he's limited to 4 maybe 5 lbs of boost. assuming he has one.

[Articwhite2008]

yeah, he didnt touch the software, he said the computer compensates for all the extra air and actually burns rich. The only problem he said he has is the transmission constantly braking from the boost.

[mdcclxxvi]

Originally Posted by Articwhite2008

yeah, he didnt touch the software, he said the computer compensates for all the extra air and actually burns rich. The only problem he said he has is the transmission constantly braking from the boost.

is it an automatic?

if not, one would have to beef up the clutch otherwise it would just slip under boost