You know how we dig late-model, turbocharged GM 4-bangers around here, and we love sleeper cars just as much. Combine them together, and you could end up with one potent package that nobody would see coming.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on which side of the fence you stand on, a ’93 Saturn SL2 sedan (remember those?) severely bruised the ego of one fifth-gen Camaro owner. While the specs aren’t clear on the modern pony car, the Saturn has enough oats under the hood to get it into the 11.90s – maybe even more.
On this occasion, it pulled an 11.93 at 119 mph at New England Dragway on 18-20 psi. Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you – it’s a stock block, turbocharged 1.9L DOHC 4-cylinder daily driver.
After doing some investigating, we got the full scoop from BangShift and the Saturn owner’s YouTube channel.
The complete recipe is below:
- Stock 1993 Block
- Custom Wiseco Forged Pistons (Stock Bore) – 8.8:1 Compression Ratio
- Custom SCAT Forged Rods
- 1999+ Crankshaft
- Clevite Main/Rod Bearings
- Personally (Mildly) Ported and Polished Head
- ARP Head Studs
- .030″ Valvespring Shims
- High Temp Valve Seals
- Stock Cams – Dual Intake Cam Mod
- Stock Intake Manifold
- Stock 1995 SL2 Taper Bored Throttle Body
- T04E 60 Trim Turbo w/Internal Wastegate
- Custom Tubular Turbo Exhaust Manifold
- CX Racing Intercooler (29″ x 11″ x 3″)
- 2.5″ Intercooler Piping
- 2.5″ Full Exhaust w/Exhaust Dump
- 2000+ Tie-Plate (Girdle) and Oil Pan
- Stock Flywheel
- Fully Balanced Rotating Assembly
- 55lb/hr. Injectors
- MSD 8.5mm Spark Plug Wires
- AEM UEGO Wideband O2 Sensor/Gauge
- Auto Meter Phantom Series Boost Gauge
- 24.5″ x 8″ x 15″ Mickey Thompson Slicks
- MegaSquirt 2 Extra DIY EFI Controller: Controlling Fuel/Spark
- Launch Control, Boost Control, Idle Control & Fan Control
- DIY Voltage Booster – Pressure Switch Activated
- Walbro 255 LPH High Pressure Fuel Pump
- Ice Cold Air Conditioning
- Stock MP3 Transmission – Custom Quaife LSD
- ACT 6-Puck Sprung Clutch
- 2000 Dogbone Motor Mounts – Prothane Polyurethane Motor Mounts
- Windo-Welded TAM (Top Engine Mount) & Lower Transmission Mounts
- Polyurethane Lower Control Arm & Sway Bar Mounts
- H&R Sport Springs Mounted on KYB Struts – 1.3″ Drop
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of GMEFI Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the brand’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next modifications for his own cars.
