Aftermarket turbocharging of a legacy ??

[D_I_A_B_L_O]

My father has a 97' plated Legacy (UK car) with the 2 litre SOHC 115hp H4 engine with 68k (miles) on the clock. He loves it to pieces and has a love affair with it and doesnt want to get rid of it but wants to turbocharge it and fit a/c cause he loves the power and burble of the boxer and he loves the a/c for hot lazy drives through France. How realistic is this ?? Obviously there are a few parts required but money isn't a problem and we're just testing the water so to speak, will head over to Scoobynet at some point to ask there.

Cheers in advance

[GravelBen]

I don't imagine you'd have much luck bolting a turbo onto the SOHC motor without killing it so you'd be better to drop in a WRX or STi motor+box, of course then you'd want to upgrade brakes, suspension etc as well to deal with the extra power.

Personally I wouldn't bother, so much cheaper and simpler to just sell it and buy a Legacy GT (260hp) or GTB (280hp) the same shape, or even a higher spec NA Legacy depending how much the power matters - my '97 Legacy TS-R wagon (2.0NA) has 155bhp, I hate to think how slow it would be with only 115!

[D_I_A_B_L_O]

To be honest 115bhp isnt actually that bad, gets the job done ok and is enjoyable with it. Dad has thought about new engines but he knows how this one has been treated and doesnt want to part with it !! Maybe even a light turbocharge would suffice him, hes not after a 300bhp monster anymore cause of his age but he still wants a bit of fun. Cheers for the advice and engine swaps are always an option still, see what he decides the stubborn old sod !!

[Wadeski]

probably asking for more trouble than just buying a decent GTB...