F-Max turbo kit on a 97 base lude - Honda Prelude Forum

Variant · 09-13-2001, 10:28 AM

Hi all,

I have a few questions

My plan is to have the fastest 5th gen prelude in the world, but then again, isn't that everyone's plan? :P

Seriously though, I've heard a lot of good things about the F-Max kit, but I do have some questions. I'll outline them below:

1. I plan to build up my bottom end before I get the turbo kit, with less compression pistons and rings (hopefully 8:1?), and of course, rods.

2. My goal is to put out horsepower in excess of 500hp. I know this is a high number, but I think its necessary in order to hit low 10s with the lude. I know that integras have hit 490hp on a 1.8l b18c1 engine, built of course, so my bet is that with an engine .4l larger, it should be possible to break the 500hp mark, given the right buildup. That being that, I've heard that the T3/T04 turbo hybrid is only good up to 20psi, and that is what comes in the F-Max kit. With a goal of horsepower as high as that, am I better off to go completely custom and buy all the turbo parts completely separately, or buy the F-Max kit and upgrade the parts in it that need to be upgraded, and which parts would they be, besides the turbo and intercooler?

3. Why don't more people use the h22a in civics and integras? Is it really less superior than the B18C series? Obviously, Honda pulled an amazing feat pulling 195hp out of a B18C5, but my bet is that they could have pulled a good 235hp out of the h22a without much more tuning, unless I'm wrong here. Is it really that much less superior than a B18C5? Granted, it is a little heavier, but how much heavier? All the civic guys complain that its a heavy engine, but I can't see how much more heavy it could be over the B18C5 to warrant not using it

I would bet that if it is just as good of an engine as the B18C5 that putting it into a hatch civic you could hit 8s or 7s with the right turbo and tuning

Anyway, thats my thing - I know the prelude is quite a bit heavier than civics and integras, and thats why a lot of people don't choose it for a race car, but its also unique, and it does have a great engine to build up

Sorry for the huge post! :P

Variant · 09-13-2001, 10:33 AM

Building up the bottom end before getting the turbo - I forgot to elaborate on that part. I know if I'm using less compression pistons and everything, my engine is going to have signifigantly less power than stock, without a turbo. But is it safe on the engine? My guess is yes - it'd be the same thing as having a turbo, but running with no boost, so I guess I'm answering my own question. Let me know though if I'm not right about that

DirtyLude · 09-13-2001, 12:20 PM

If you're planning on putting down 500whp, get a shop to do it for you. Your questions are pretty basic and your plans are very large. Trying for the fastest Prelude means everything is going to be custom made. There's is nothing on the F-Max kit that would not be replaced on an all out full bore Drag car.

Others don't go with H22a motors all the time because it will change the drag class that you are in. Also with your logic why not put in a big block V8, since the potential is much greater. You run what you have.

Turbo size and trim, you'll have to work out yourself, or have the shop work out or recommend. It all depends what you want. It's more complex than just figuring out how much psi you want to run.

Engine efficiency has diminishing returns. You can get more horsepower per liter on smaller engines. 600cc motorcycle engines are putting out 140hp stock. That's 200hp per liter. The larger the engine the harder it is to get the same horsepower per liter out of it.

bgod · 09-14-2001, 08:51 AM

like dirtylude mentioned, your plans are very large but your specifics are very vaque.

1.8 b18c's have been known to push way over 500hp to the wheels even with street trim. a few guys at the shop i goto have b18c civics pushing well over 500hp to the wheels in street cars. also, remember a lot of the guys that run these cars aren't into track racing. rather street racing for cash. the shop i goto had a b18c1 built hatch take out a supra tt at the half mile for $2000. pushing 20psi.

but if your serious about getting 500whp from a prelude and one of the fastest int he country, you have to have a solid and realistic plan. your investment will reach into the $15,000 mark just for engine work if you can't do any work yourself. that's how much you would at least need if a shop was to totally do it for you.

the fmax kit is a moderate street kit. you'll need to go with a custom kit with t4 for the 2.2. you'll need to go with a stand alone and a complete build-up. the custom kit with a real deal fuel system, injectors, t4, manifold, etc. will run you close to $6000 alone.

Variant · 09-14-2001, 10:20 AM

Admittedly, my questions were pretty basic. I do want to do most of the work myself, though I have a feeling that since it is the first car I'll be doing turbo work on

, its going to be quite a learning experience and I'll probably end up getting another engine after my current one (70,000 miles on it) to do the real buildup on.

Good to know though. I'm quite aware of the high costs involved in this type of a project.

On the B18C civic thing, wow. I didn't realize you could get that much power out of one of those engines, nor did I realize that a lot of those guys race for cash

Gives me more ideas for my engine though...

:finger:

Smilez · 09-14-2001, 12:12 PM

If you really want to do a lot of the work yourself, a good place to start is reading... try the book overboost, it has lots of comprehensive information on planning a turbo system.