3SGuide

Looking for a substantial power increase in your naturally aspirated 3000GT or Stealth? Forced induction is the most cost effective way of big power gains in these cars because of the relatively small displacement. Luckily for the DOHC owners, a twin turbo conversion is a 95% bolt-on process. With good tuning and proper maintainence, a front-wheel drive twin turbo car (FWD-TT) can be a reliable daily driver with 50% more power on tap than stock.

What can you expect in power gains?
A reported 75-100 whp can be expected at low boost levels (7 psi).

How much will a complete conversion cost me?
The cheapest of conversions can cost you anywhere from $500-$1000, but a bare-bones buildup is not recommended. Expect to pay between $2000-$3000 for a reliable setup with quality used parts and new gaskets throughout.

Where can I find the parts?
Using a variety of sources including 3SI.org’s classifieds, eBay, and even salvage yards, you should have no problem aquiring most of the parts. new parts can be purchased from any of the discount online Mitsubishi dealerships.

How long will it take?
Anywhere from 2 weeks to several months, depending on how fast you work, and if everything goes your way. I would count on a solid month to have everything installed if you don’t have much wrenching experience. Working out the bugs afterwards will also take a substantial amount of time. As a general rule, plan for the work to take twice as long as expected to account for the unforeseen.

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1. Pre-conversion Evaluation and Maintenance

The most important step in preparation for the extra power being added is planning ahead, doing research, and have a general knowledge of how the project will come together. You should gather sources for parts, gather information, and plan a time-frame.

Additionally, checking your engine’s vitality is a must. Ask yourself “do I feel comfortable taking my car cross-country right now?”

Make sure the timing belt/water pump service was done in the last 60,000 miles, otherwise figure it into your time and cost budget. I also recommend replacing your oil pump if it hasn’t been done. If your engine is in tip-top shape, it will not have a problem handling the extra horsepower.

Links:
Erik Gross’ compression test guide
Team3s.com 60,000 mile maintainence guide

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2. Purchase the parts

Parts Checklist:
Deftracing’s Twin Turbo Checklist

Used part sources:
3SI Classifieds, eBay, Car-part.com

New part sources:
Mentor Mitsubishi, Rockville Mitsubishi, Norco Mitsubishi, local dealers

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3. Tools:

* Jackstands (3+)
* Hydraulic Jack (19″+)
* Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
* Socket wrenches
* Ratcheting wrenches
* Impact wrench and metric sockets (shallow and deep)
* Cordless driver
* Various socket extensions
* Oxygen sensor socket
* Needle-nose pliers
* Standard pliers
* Adjustable pipe wrench
* Brake line wrenches (fuel pump lines)
* Breaker bar
* Dremel with cutoff attachments (for driver side IC piping),
* Torque wrench
* Wire strippers
* Electrical tape
* Misc. electrical connectors

Chemicals/Misc.:

* PB Blaster (Walmart, Autozone)
* Brake parts cleaner
* Shop towels (Sam’s Club)
* Thread locker (Autozone)
* RTV Black silicone sealant (Autozone)
* Anti-seize compound (high temp)
* “Orange” hand cleaner
* Engine fluids

Add’tl. notes:
Latex gloves or Mechanix gloves are very handy for keeping your hands clean.
Cover your fenders with a padded fabric to prevent scratches.

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4. Installation

On to the good stuff. At this point, you should have all needed parts, gaskets, etc in hand, ready to be bolted on. I *highly* recommend doing things one step at a time and labeling parts and bolts as they come out. Prepare sandwich bags with masking tape to write on. This will make re-installation a breeze.

Safety first: read Stealth316’s jacking point guide. Always use jack stands, never trust a hydraulic jack for long periods of time!

If you plan on removing the engine to do all the work (generally much easier to do this if you have the equipment), here is John Adam (JRC)’s guide.

Bob The Great’s installation guide
Mo0cow2003’s TT Guide
Stealth316’s oil pan removal guide
Stealth316’s transmission removal guide

ECU Compatibility:
91-93 use 91-93 Turbo ECU or swap harness and use 91-93 Turbo ECU
94-95 (Fed) use 91-93 Turbo ECU (modification needed) or swap harness and use 94-95 Turbo (Fed)
94-97 (Cali) use 94-97 Turbo (Cali)

More info:
Green-lantern’s TT conversion link thread
Stealth316 ECU Guide
How to use a TT ECU with your Automatic Transmission
Resistors needed for use with N/A harness and TT injectors

J-Groove’s conversion thread
Mr.3000’s conversion thread
BigTyla’s ATX TT conversion thread
MuDvAyNeDude122’s conversion thread

My gallery:

Feel free to leave comments or email me at wildarmz (at) gmail.com if you would like to contribute to this guide.