building super duper 2.2 turbo engine

I've got a 1986 2.2 Turbo 1 engine in a lebaron and I want to turn the
boost way up and put out 400+ hp. Here is my plan:

Get a 1989+ 2.5l non turbo throttle body injection common block to
replace the weak 1986 turbo 1 common block
Drill the necessary holes in the block for the turbo coolant and oil
lines. Cover the balance shaft holes.
Swap the weak 1986 2.2 turbo 1 connecting rods for stronger ones
Change the pistons (is this needed? and if so, to what?)
Install bigger injectors and a rising rate adjustable fuel pressure
regulator
Turn up the turbo boost using one or many of various methods
Install a gigantic intercooler
Use the existing 1986 turbo 1 head (is this okay?)

So, my questions are, can I take any old 2.5L 1989+ throttle body
injection non-turbo common block + crankshaft from a salvage yard and
put my 1986 2.2l turbo 1 head on it? Will that work? What pistons do I
need to use? I will get the connecting rods from fwdperformance or
forward motion.

 

That's a lot of work to BLOW UP an engine! <

 

Get the Mopar Preformance Handbook from your dealer Their are lots of
things to do to a 2.2
If not done right it will be an instant boat ancor

 

400 HP from a 2.2/2.5 is achievble (its been done, IOW). But its well
into the zone where you gotta do EVERYTHING right. The main thing is
make ABSOLUTELY certain that you've got enough fuel delivery- if it
leans out even for an instant at that kind of boost, you'll hole a
piston in 3 turns of the crank. You also need active timing control to
retard the spark as the boost comes up. This isn't a "throw it together
and go" kind of build. I would definitely look at aftermarket pistons at
that power level!

I haven't looked in ages, but the old Shelby Dodge Mailing List used to
have a lot of guys who did this level of build on 2.2/2.5s. Another
place to at least look for links would be to see if Dempsey Bowling's
web page is still active (search for dempsey and "turbo minivan.") Also
look for the Turbo minivan page- the guys that race the turbo minivans
tend to need the most power out of the 2.2/2.5, so they're the ones who
do the most extreme boost increases. Of course they have the most room
for neat tricks like Powerstroke intercoolers, too, but the basic
principles apply.

 

Some O wrote:

You do know that 400 HP is within the capabilities of that engine,
right? The crankshaft is stronger (because its slightly shorter and has
the same size bearings) than a 440/426 Hemi crank. The bottom end could
take close to 600 horsepower. What limits the 2.2/2.5 to the 400 range
is keeping the mixture rich enough to not hole a piston, keeping the
induction temperatures low enough to avoid destructive detonation, and
keeping the head clamped to the block at the kinds of pressures
necessary to reach 400 horsepower.

 

Thanks for all the help! But what I am trying to figure out is if I can
put my 86 turbo 1 head on an 89+ tbi common block

 

Why arencha just buying a 2.5L turbo engine? It's not like there's a
huge cost involved. My favorite junkyard will sell you ANY
four-cylinder engine for $150 or so.

--Geoff