92 Laser Fwd 2.0 Dohc Help

[former_stangman]

Hello everyone, I'm new to imports and compact cars, as a former owner of 5.0 stangs, I'd like to gain some knowledge on these cars. Found this site through google search. I had given up on racing and the high performance scene for the past 5 years now, and am now looking to get back in again, with the purchase of this 1992 laser. The car is an automatic, body in great shape and motor runs very well, after doing some research, I've decided to start from bottom , work my way up, or in other word, start with suspension upgrades , then braking upgrades,then engine. Some questions below:
Auto to manual trans swaps;Whats involved and is it simple bolt on changes such as mustangs were?
Natural aspirated to turbo swaps? How much of a project?
Interior map lights overhead do not light up and I see no fuses for these?
Eclipse tail light assy, does it bolt on laser?

Thanks in advance for help.

 

[mdctalon]

For the Turbo:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48231 or
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5986
Tail Lights: You can change stock laser Tail Lights with stock eclipe tail lights.

It would probably be much easier to just sell the one you have now and get a turbo model.

 

[Bobster66]

You have an automatic non-turbo and want to be involved in the "racing and the high performance scene"?

Of course you can do a tranny swap and install a turbo but the easiest and cheapest upgrade you can do is just buy a manual, turbo DSM. Once you have a turbo model it will only take a couple of thousand to have an good performance car. Starting with your car is going to cost you 2 to 3 times more to get to the same point than just buying a turbo car and doing a stage one upgrade. Read the tech articles:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/tech.php

 

[olmytsi]

If you want to go fast, get a turbo model, awd to be exact. Or you can turbo your current car as it as been done numerous times, but is it worth all the work?

 

[BiGGinZ]

I would also just buy a turbo one if I were you. But if you really want to turbo that one and get a nice stall. But you kinda got the wrong car to start modding if you really want it to be fast. Because you got the fwd (with the n/t, cant get an awd n/t I dont think) n/t, and auto. But it doesn't seem like most people on this board know that auto cars are the cars you make to drag race. A nice stalled, geared, built auto trans will always beat a manual (because of human error). I had a friend that has an auto twin turbo supra. People always said "why did you get an auto." His answer was always "come to the track and watch" by the way his supra ran 10's without many mods. If you want to mod the n/t though, go for it and good luck.

BiGGinZ

 

[former_stangman]

To answer what appears to be some sarcastic responses, part of being an automotive enthusiast, is saying you did it yourself,not having someone else doing all your wrenching.
I've already taken v6 cfi mustangs with auto and swapped to 5.0 with 5 speeds,and was very easy swap, and very inexpensive. I was just trying to get idea if the swap is alot of work.What I really want is a fun street car to drive that handles very well, and that I can say I made that way. The fun in all this is starting with a cheap decent car, and spending a few thousand to accomplish a car that handles very well above average, and has some extra grunt.

 

[1fstSS]

you can make a fwd fast, just get a nice suspension and a LSD but what everyone else is saying, is that its gonna be alot cheaper to just go out and buy a factory turbocharged car, to properly turbo a non turbo model you realy need to go inside the motor and replace the guts with forged or simular, the non turbo internals arent nearly as strong stock as a turbo model, but like i always say, its your money spend it anyway you wish.

 

[former_stangman]

One of the last things I intend to do is purchase a turbo ready long-block, in anticipation of installing the turbo, along with swapping to a 5 speed. With the mustangs there are a ton of aftermarket swap parts available, for example. jericho transmissions and other hgih strength 5 speeds, is this option also available for these cars? Are there heavy duty 5 speeds that can handle the power? Being a v-8 man for the better part of 23 years of my life this whole scene is a new ballgame for me. Guess you could say the movie Fast n furious left a good impression on me, and seeing how popular this rice rocket stuff has become is quite impressive.

 

[IHeartTurbo]

Guess you could say the movie Fast n furious left a good impression on me, and seeing how popular this rice rocket stuff has become is quite impressive.

I'm glad you have an N/T now that I read that.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Tail Lights: You can change stock laser Tail Lights with stock eclipe tail lights.

.

You can, but you will need an eclipse rear bumper at the same time.

Tails that are the same and bolt back and forth
90-91 talon and laser tails are the same shape and size as 90-94 eclipse tails

92-94 laser tails are different

92-94 talon tails are different

If you want to put any 1g eclipse tails on a 92-94 talon or laser, you will need to change the rear bumper.l

 

[sjgYFZ200]

Why are you guys being assholes? He is new, cut him a break. Stangman, around here we like to not associate ourselves with the Fast and the Furious. Most of us hate that kinda stuff. However, I think that your questions should be answered, without sarcasm. First of all, a n/t automatic has a low chance of becoming fast. There is so much work you would need to do, and in the end probably wouldnt be worth it. If you want to spend a couple grand for a fast car that you built yourself, get a turbo model and build that up. A couple grand in a DSM will certainly be faster than a 5.0. Do we discriminate against non turbos? No, there great cars, but not a good starting point for a fast car. Do with your money what you wish, and If you have any questions ask, hopefully you will get better responses than this thread

 

[endlessMyk]

Not trying to be sarcastic, so sorry if it comes off that way. You can turbo the N/T, but you also have to do some internal work. The compression ratios are different. I think what everyone is trying to say is you can take the already turbo-ed model, sink a few thousand into it and be light years ahead of taking a few thousand and upgrading the N/T. However, if you wanna go for it, have a blast. I agree there's a lot of satisfaction in doing everything yourself, but you can also do all the upgrades to a turbo model and feel just as good. (Then you can even sell some of your N/T shit on eBay and make some cash!) The swap is not the most horrible thing to do. I have a friend swapping his automatic to a 5-speed, and he hasn't had any major problems as of yet. Good luck! Welcome to DSM-life

 

[BiGGinZ]

If I were you and wanted the same goals as you (start from the bottom). Just do it (not stealing that from nike). Work on the suspension and build it up. Then worry about doing a swap later.

BiGGinZ

 

[trbotaln]

welcome to the site, their is a lot of good information on this sight . The search option is your friend.