3.0 to 2.5 turbo?

[jre97]

Ok I have a lebaron vert with a 3.0, it smokes and has some running issues, but the body and interior are immaculate. I was working on the daytona today and thought I should convert that lebaron to a turbo car, I'd have less headaches or at least the same old turbo car headaches that I'm used to. So what all do I have to swap? I can probably get a wrecked 89 lebaron turbo donor car pretty right. So I figure I need the engine, trans, axles, computer, and wiring harness. What else would I have to swap? Will the v6 k frame work with the 2.5? Is it even worth it?

[89acclaim]

The K-frame will work, there is no difference between the V6/4cyl ones. The only difference is if you go 5spd. What year lebaron are you looking to convert? If the lebaron is a 4spd you will have to swap out the selector setup.....

Daniel Merrill

[A.J.]

I bought my '88 mini with no engine but came with a V-6 from the factory. I changed everything you listed to an '88 T-1 turbo and everything works fine. I even used the car motor mounts.

A.J.

[Ondonti]

I threw away the 2.5 TII (not stock) setup that was in the P body I bought in favor of a 3.0 turbo.

[jre97]

Yeah but I think this 3.0 needs some head work and it won't hardly run if it gets above 70 degrees outside. I think its the fuel pump again though. I must of got a bad one a couple of months ago. No more autozone fuel pumps for me. It's a 91 lebaron and my friend has a wrecked 89 with a 2.5 turbo. So do I have to do any funky wiring to get the gauges and things to work if I switch the wiring harness?

[Wink]

body harness should be the same.

[dodgeshadowchik]

this guy converted his 3.0 to a 2.5 turbo. however, it's in a p-body, but the process is probably similar.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/310854

[Murphy]

awsome he is right near me!

[jre97]

I threw away the 2.5 TII (not stock) setup that was in the P body I bought in favor of a 3.0 turbo.
Just out of curiosity how hard is it to do a 3.0 turbo? Are there any sites to look at with some details? I was helping a friend put a motor in his sundance this weekend and he pretty much said I could have a holset hx35 that was laying at his house and that putting it on that 3.0 is what i should do with it. I could handle the fabrication end of things no prob. but the computer and fuel system Would be a bugger.

[GLHNSLHT2]

try and find a 90 2.5 turbo harness. The 89 is SMEC, 90-91 is SBEC 1. Unless you can find a Lebaron Turbo harness you're gonna have to do a bit of wiring. But it'll be easier than trying to run a smec.

[jre97]

I don't know It'll never happen unless I get really really bored with all of my other projects. I just figured a straight up transplant to a 2.2 or 2.5 would be easier than coping with the problems of the motor thats in it but I'm lazy.

[Ben Johnson]

you would'nt be interested in trading the baron even up for an 88 shelby z would ya?

[jre97]

Possibly! I'm not married to anything except my wife lol:D Details? Whats wrong with the shelby? The lebaron has a perfect body and interior except a few paint chips on the hood. It's white with a white convertible top possibly about 3 years old. The tranny shifts good, it smokes a little whan you start it up or Idle for a really long time and it needs a fuel pump which I intend to fix in the coming week.

[Ben Johnson]

you have pm