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Hi,

I've recently come across another idea about my engine (EA81), a gemini 2L turbo suck-through setup.
I was wondering if:

A) it was even possible?

B) it was practical?

C) it would require more than just a fuel pump, turbo, and turbo-carby?

D) it would be any good; and

E) if anyone has done it to an EA81 before?

my budget is rather dim, so i was wondering if it was an actual cheaper alternative to an EA82T or EJ20K/G that actually worked?

The carburettor in question is a CD175 or something, what turbo would go onto it?

I reckon it's possible, an EA81 turbo might be a bit more practical though!

You should be able to get by with the original fuel pump, and if it's a suck-through setup I can't see why ye olde 32/36 Weber wouldn't work.

You could even use an engine-pipe and turbo from an EA82 turbo.

I was actually considering this. Have a brumby and a donor touring wagon with aftermarket turbo ea82. Was thinking of pulling the turbo off and doing something similar.. Not sure if it would work or be any good though..

right... so can i use the same internals on an ea81 and run an EA81 turbo setup, through a 32/36 weber... is that what i just heard?

I think a sidedraft Weber would be better like 40 DOCE. Do some googling for some similar blow throughs.

I do seem to remember the standard EA81 head design doent lend itself very well to boosting, as detination dur to port layout is the problem, not so with a Turbo head EA81T as they are different. Look for Steve - Rising Sun comments in earlier posts.

My 2c worth....

I'd hate to try and tune a carburettered turbocharged engine. You'd have to play around with jet sizes for ages to get it right, and at the end of the day you'd still end up with a poor tune compared to an EFI motor. The factory EA81T's are EFI, as well as having a different head design to help prevent detonation.

The cost involved in doing all this would be a fair bit, remember if you're pioneering a conversion (ie have noone to help) it will cost you a whole lot more than if its a tried and true swap. I'm all for crazy conversions and definitely love seeing someone work outside the square, however I feel on this one the costs outweigh the gains.

I won't harp on about an EJ conversion too much, its obviously something you have given thought to. The cheaper option is simply an EA81 rebuild, maybe get a performance cam, shave the heads a little and freshen the old girl up. Won't go a whole lot faster than it does now but its guaranteed to be more reliable and even produce similar HP figures compared to a homemade turbo setup....

good bye to the turbo idea hehe. nah i gotta change my rings up soon enough, so perhaps once the bits are all deconstructed ill see what i can do. cheers for that

I put one together with a pair of SU's.
Screamed and wouldn't idle.
Good for WOT applications like hovercraft or jet boats.

There was an ea81 turbo hatch from america that was used in the movie "Canon Ball Run" The car was known as "Quattro San"
It had a draw throught turbo setup that was designed by students at a Washington unerversity.

I will see if i can dig up some info

You could always have a blow through setup with the carb, by building a pressure container for the carb you wouldnt have to play around with it much

Bit tricky to tune a carby in a sealed box though, never fully understood how you could do that whole setup.

whats to rejetting the carby then? ea82 apparently is a bit of an ass to get into an MY without major cutting and transplants, so no doubt ill keep this engine until i can afford a liberty half-cut, but to make things clear, its not worth turbo-ing a N/A ea81?

From memory how a mate did it ages ago on a Datto he tuned it to run slightly rich on the carb then built the box and sealed it in there and it ran pretty good.

Yeah I've seen a few on v8s and by all reports they run just as well as any other carby engine. Just never could get my head around the practicality side.

Kerazy, I reckon a carby EA81t is a good idea and I think you should give it a go.

This was done in the days before EFI was really an understood thing

Bang for buck it isnt really worth it these days is it?

from what ive gathered, i wish it was. i could probably get the same result as a single 32/36 weber and a new muffler if i tried to do it, but i just like the feel of a turbo, as well as the sound. what sorta power would someone get out of a weber? at some point EJ20K would be goin in it, but til then, its weber unless i can find an EA82T n try to install it myself. so what can i get out of a weber?

Unless you really really wanted to do it i would think the amount of time you would use setting it up would be wasted, go the EFI

right.....

A weber will give you a more responsive engine and it will feel as though you have unleashed a heap of power.