What do I need to keep in the engine bay?

[hreverman]

First I’d like to note that I’m realizing maybe I should’ve paid someone to do my M50 turbo swap but nevertheless here I am, so I appreciate the patience of what are likely dumb questions.

I searched around other build threads but haven’t found the info I need yet. I’m not sure what stays in the bay & what doesn’t when swapping a 24 valve with a turbo.

On the passenger side, I’ll be removing the wiper fluid reservoir

On the driver side, the fuel filter & the charcoal canister. Do those stay in place or is it common to replace them with smaller variants & move them?

Thanks for any help

[Chilezen]

You asked if you should move the distributor.... for a 24v swap.... yes, a dumb question indeed. Move it into the trash.

I don't know why your fuel filter is in the engine bay. Mine is under the car, towards the driver's rear. See if your car has a cavity there, in front of the subframe bushing.

A lot of people delete their charcoal canister. I built a custom bracket for mine to keep in the bay. You're installing a turbo, so you likely don't care about emissions, so you'll probably opt to delete it too.

[Holland]

You asked if you should move the distributor.... for a 24v swap.... yes, a dumb question indeed. Move it into the trash.

I don't know why your fuel filter is in the engine bay. Mine is under the car, towards the driver's rear. See if your car has a cavity there, in front of the subframe bushing.

A lot of people delete their charcoal canister. I built a custom bracket for mine to keep in the bay. You're installing a turbo, so you likely don't care about emissions, so you'll probably opt to delete it too.

Fuel filter is in the bay because that's how it came in early cars.

[Chilezen]

Ah, you must have something between 84-86. I have an 87. I'd recommend relocating it as I described, if possible. Not many people swap early-early cars, or at least, very few ever document the earliest models. Just keep waiting to see if someone else with more experience can answer you.

[mjweimer]

The charcoal can on late models sits in the same general area as the fuel filter on the early models. I don't know the difficulty/possibility of grabbing all the late model lines and brackets and moving the filter to the back. Might also need a late model fuel tank...been too long since I've been under an early car. If you keep the charcoal can, you'll need the space for it under the booster, since there limited space with 24V swap intake piping, remote brake reservoir, etc. A lot of it depends on your specific plans.

[Panici]

I kept my charcoal canister, went with an aftermarket washer fluid res/pump, and fuel filter is in the back.
Deleted ABS, Deleted coolant overflow (M42 radiator), Relocated main power feed wire to inside the car, cruise control relocated under the dash.

Kept the fuse box in the OEM spot, although I did thin down the engine bay harness to tuck under the fender lip.

[Chilezen]

I don't know the difficulty/possibility of grabbing all the late model lines and brackets and moving the filter to the back. Might also need a late model fuel tank...been too long since I've been under an early car. If you keep the charcoal can, you'll need the space for it under the booster, since there limited space with 24V swap intake piping, remote brake reservoir, etc. A lot of it depends on your specific plans.

For me, 87 has been a weird year. I have the dual fuel pumps, and the swap needed to modification down there. Stock fuel setup, no need to change the tank.

I put the charcoal canister under the intake boot, next to the ABS pump. The brake proportioning valve (apparently another "only 87" feature) was retained under the brake booster.

[mjweimer]

For me, 87 has been a weird year. I have the dual fuel pumps, and the swap needed to modification down there. Stock fuel setup, no need to change the tank.

I put the charcoal canister under the intake boot, next to the ABS pump. The brake proportioning valve (apparently another "only 87" feature) was retained under the brake booster.

I had a '87 iS for many years - many years ago...my memory is rusty but now that you mention it, I do recall it having two pumps and the filter towards the back of the car. My '87 also had the strange fuel cooler lines that ran across the back of the firewall.

Good call on placing the charcoal can under the intake boot. My swap was a late model with a full airbox, not a lot of room with the expansion tank hoses and the brackets for the filter housing.