Buy a kit or build my own? - Honda Prelude Forum

speed_racer411 · 08-07-2002, 01:23 PM

What would you guys recomend. I was thinking about the F-max kit. But then i thought that maybe I could build my own alot cheaper than If I was to buy a kit. If you think I shold build my own what parts should I use? I plan on doing this over the winter. So I will have plenty of time to go slow and do it right.

ar5enal · 08-07-2002, 08:38 PM

Sadly, in my experience doing things "right" and doing them "cheap" are mutually exclusive...

It really depends on what you want out of your car. If you want a 400 whp killer, then you may as well design a one-off turbo kit, as you're going to have to swap most of the components of a kit out for better ones anyway.

If you want easy and cheap horsepower, you should really look into N20. I hear the H22 likes nitrous a lot more than it likes boost.

I guess what I'm getting at, is that the decision to go for a kit or to design one of your own really depends on your skill/comfort with the modifications required, and what you ultimately want them to do for you.

PS. I'm building my own kit, so if this is the way you want to go, you can ask me or anyone here about components...

speed_racer411 · 08-09-2002, 11:15 AM

I was thinking about building my own. Because I want to get about 350-375 whp. The problem is I am in a remote location so I can't dyno tune. which makes me think I should just get a F-Max kit and call it good until I get out of AK as for Nitrous I am going to purchase a 50 shot in the near future. What kind of setup would you recomend as for a custom turbo?

ar5enal · 08-09-2002, 06:38 PM

I would not feel comfortable with 350-375 whp unless I logged A LOT of dyno time to make sure the tuning was right. At those hp levels, just a small error could have catastrophic fallout.

I think that the Fmax kit is probably one of the best out there, but if you're shooting for that much whp, the turbo may be a bit small. I called turbonetics and they told me that the T3/T04 can flow 400hp, but not until s.thing like 15 lbs of boost. That is pretty high even for a built motor (check the blown/not blown list).

I'm shooting for a +400whp CAPABLE car...PM me if you want to talk about what will be in my setup. In all, I'd say make the effort to find a dyno, it's pretty important..

speed_racer411 · 08-09-2002, 08:17 PM

That is going to be one of my only problems the closest dyno is 700 miles away.. I think I may just end up buying the fmax kit and upgradeing the sheat out of it later. Thanks though I will probally pm ya later to ask you about what setup your running.

SilverLudeSi · 08-09-2002, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ar5enal

I called turbonetics and they told me that the T3/T04 can flow 400hp, but not until s.thing like 15 lbs of boost. That is pretty high even for a built motor (check the blown/not blown list).

I wouldn't really consider 15 psi a lot of boost for a built motor. A built motor will easily handle more than that.

speed_racer411 · 08-10-2002, 07:35 PM

Hey silver what are you running for a turbo setup?

speed_racer411 · 08-10-2002, 07:36 PM

Nice 300 post. I have been waiting to get here. Now it is time to go pull the motor in the total celica I bought. Later

symba · 08-12-2002, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by speed_racer411
That is going to be one of my only problems the closest dyno is 700 miles away.. I think I may just end up buying the fmax kit and upgradeing the sheat out of it later. Thanks though I will probally pm ya later to ask you about what setup your running.

Even if you get the Fmax kit, if you boost 15psi you will still need to have your car tuned..You would not be able to just bolt it on and drive off at 350 whp. Especially if you keep the mf2. Your first upgrade on fmax kit should be to an EMS like Hondata or AEM EMS.

ar5enal · 08-12-2002, 11:24 AM

Another thing you could try and do is to build a kit around the components of the FMax kit. I know that they sell their header, downpipe, I/C plumbing separately...you could get these from the FMax kit, and your own charger and EMS system..

This way, you don't even need to mess around with the mf2 and extra injectors (just get your own 550's)...

SilverLudeSi: True. A built motor "should" be able to handle a lot more than 15 lbs. of boost. Javier at JG said 45lbs. on one of his longblocks..

What I am trying to say is that the higher the boost goes (7+ lbs), the easier it is to stumble across that fine line between fun and catastrophic engine failure. 15+ lbs. on a H22? Sure, no problem....but I would strongly consider making the dyno a second home, or having a backup motor in the garage. I'm just scared because the lude is all I have...