Converting a 2l GX Sport to a Turbo...
 

As the title, bug eye shape....

Does anyone know the differences between the suspension set ups on both cars? Are the components made of stronger materials etc.?

Can I use the same gearbox & diff from the GX or will I have to upgrade these to WRX items?

As far as I can see on diagrams I have found, the only diference on the suspension is that the WRX has a rear anti roll bar which is connected to the rear droplinks - I'm not fussed about spring rates etc, as I will be putting coilovers onto the car.

Also will the ecu need changing, as I have been told it won't but this doesn't seem right to me.

Many thanks

Pele ;)

Not sure if same applies to bug eye, but on a classic you would nead g'box, rear diff, ECU and, the biggest pain, the wiring loom. Suspension I think is just stiffer springs, dampers and rear ARB are different. I can't think of any reason why the current GX suspension wouldn't physically work, but if you're bothering swapping the lump you might aswel have decent handling too so I'd go straight for aftermarket bits. Don't forget about brakes either.

The accepted wisdom for classics is selling the Sport and buying a Turbo is cheaper in the long run, not necessarily what you want to do though I appreciate.

You can get turbo kits for N/A 1.8 - 2.5 from the US (Google EJ18 turbo kit) which claim piggy back chips will sort out the timing and fueling. Putting 2.2 heads onto 1.8 blocks and turboing seems to have been done a few times by people on NASIOC.com. I hope to do that with my 1.6 (same block as 1.8 anyway) one day :) Also, over on ImprezaSport we all dream of supercharging but no one has done it yet.

Hope that helps a bit, let us know how you get on.

wouldn't it be a lot easier, and cheaper, to sell the gx and buy a turbo?

It would cost a fortune for the conversion.
Sell it and buy a turbo for a much cheaper and easier life.
If you did decide to do it, it would also be difficult to sell on :)

I have to second Brun's advise here.

But If you check www.imprezasport.net a couple of the guys have looked into a 2.5 n/a conversion and also a supercharged conversion... still far from getting anywhere with both ideas but they are being looked at.

I had a bugeye Sport and ended up taking a sideways step to a late classic Turbo myself.
One thing to also consider Pele is the insurance cost of this, you may be hammered with it.... oh just remembered if you look up N.W.S. ( Newport White Scooby ) he is in the middle of a classic sport to turbo conversion himself, he may have a few usefull tips for you.

Simon