FI experts, i need your advice - Honda Prelude Forum

nuro · 05-28-2002, 06:18 AM

I am approaching a big decision and thus possible step: go turbo or not. I have read on and off in here for the past couple months but i havent found the real answer yet...

Here are my requirements:

1) i cannot blow my motor. It must be truly reliable (read: like a factory turbo). This car will be a daily driver for the next 3-4 years.
2) I need to be able to turn the boost down (easily) to anything that will make me have less than 220 horses at the FLYWHEEL to pass certain tests here in switzerland.
3) must be able to pass smog (i can choose the boost)

So obviously because of point 1 i need to build my motor. I want your suggestions. what do i need to do? i want to be more than safe. lets say i want to boost at around 6 to 9 psi, but your suggestions are welcome. Is this project feasible, and what is the price tag on it (turbo kit, motor build up, and whatever else i may need)?

Thanks for your help

anubyss · 05-28-2002, 08:31 AM

If you need to meet all the requirements you listed, you may as well not go turbo.

1. You have to be tuned really well. But there is no guarentee against something going wrong. You can only minimize the risk of something going wrong.
2. 220 at the flywheel? Even at low boost you are going to hit that mark. The boost will be set by the wastegate spring. I've seen 4.5psi springs but don't know if there are lower ones. You can't turn it down more than what the spring is set for. You can only turn it up.
3. Greddy was the only one I know about that was smog legal. I can't say you'll pass emissions if you have such a thing over there.

The cost of a turbo kit ranges from around $3000 to $3500. The engine build up (sleeving, pistons, rods) will run around $2000. The rest of the parts (engine management, injectors, fuel pump, gasket, turbo timer, spark plugs, gauges, boost controller, arp studs, map sensor (if boosting over 12psi)...) will run around
$2000 to $3000 depending on the parts you choose. The installation and tuning will run you another $1500 to $2000.

That's my best opinion.

Smilez · 05-30-2002, 05:34 PM

For 2, you'd have better luck with a boost controller like the avc-r or profec b. Using a spring to change it is kinda a pita because you'd have to get it dialed in each time, it could be done, but it would be a bit of a pita.

I agree with 1 and 3 of anubyss, but if your just doing a neutral rpm test for emmisions, you won't be boosting at all, so it would be about tuning the non boost fuel setup, like if you went with a stand alone. If you were using an fmu or mf2, then theoritically there shouldn't be more fuel, and if you still had the stock cat and exhaust, you should be ok, as long as there isn't a visual.

NowSayGoodnight · 05-30-2002, 11:25 PM

I'd go all motor if you have to go by those rules. As anubyss said, low boost would take you over that mark. If you have a vtec engine, an intake, header, cat, exhaust and pullies would take you over that mark most likely. I'd only recommend you going FI if you're willing to deal with things breaking once in a while. If you're going to keep your setup for 3-4 years, you'd most likely have to rebuild the turbo at least once. I say go all motor, it'd be more reliable.

trevelazion · 06-11-2002, 04:26 AM

u can make it reliable up 4 years if ur boost is set at a consevative 8 psi and ur internal is uprgraded i have a fmax kit on my 4th gen prelude vterc 4 2 years now. i had 30,000 miles on da engine. with dat in mind i still had problems. not extreme. it just dat there a lot of maintance and money involved. i got mine turbo kit for $5300 upgraded to ball bearing and my i/c piping coated and t4/t3 turbo housing also coated. if u have money and still want 2 do turbo then u could prep ur motor for turbo 4 now and then wait 2 get a turbo system later. if u don't i would suggest u just get a all motor build. it was worth it at da beginnig. but after things kept breakng on me and buying upgraded parts. i wish i would just build a normal aspirated engine. i just didn't have da money 2 keep up with the turbo. and dats my fault because i didn't plan on it being replaced and i was happy i got money saved up 4 turbo and then care bout my how long it was gonna last w/ stock internal. everytime i drove my turbo prelude i was always worried about something going out or always listening 2 my engine. turbo, checking my boost, a/f, fuel pressure, and water temp gauge all da time. i couldn't really kick back and listen 2 my music cuz i was always worried. 2 tell u da truth if u have the money 2 do a motor buildup w/ a turbo system. do it. iif u gonna slap on a turbo kit w/ stock internal then get ready 2 spend more. now my motor is blown and selling my fmax just 2 get a new motor. i even ask jg engine dynamic 2 hook me up w/ a custom low compression motor and i got an estimate of 5300. so i can't afford a fully build motor i'm selling mine just to get a mtor

2. u can change ur setting up or down. i have a apexi avc-r boost controller i set at 8psi at normal driving 9psi for street racing and 11 psi for drag.
unless ur engine is prepped w/ goodies ur gonna have a hard
time to be reliable w/o having any problems
3. tuning was one of da problems 2. i got mine tune at a unreliable shop mess up everything from ignition 2 fuel and drivetrain and blew my headgasket. i i ended up replacing a lot of things.
i don't want 2 scare u off but dats my experience of a turbo system. its fun if u have da money and reliable tuner

MrManz1691 · 06-11-2002, 04:41 AM

Nuro, Build the engine. Then once it is TOTALLY built. Like you have everything, Pistons, Cams, Crank, Rings, Rods, Ported, and sleved, then worry aboi\out your turbo. But by the time you get all that done to your engine. You will be kicking so much A$$ that you wont want it. With just that it will be ALOT faster, more reliable, and you can look at people you beat and say it is all naturally asprated. I dont want to slam you but I am one of your best friends, and I know alot more about actually wokring on cars than you do. You are going to pat out your a$$ in labor and parts for this. And then chances are your sh*t is going to blow up. I know you got your mechinac out there, but i dont think it is worth it. For the amoutn of money you spend to get the kit on al stok internals, it isnt worth the money to have it all installed and sh*t for the amoutn of HP you gain. You dont get enought HP for the money. But if you build the bloakc and then put a turbo on you get mad HP but for how much like 8k+. So add that all up 16k for the car 8k for a engine and turbo. Thats 22k right there. Thats alot. But hey if you are dying for it, build the block up and then tell me it aint fast enough. And HEY one the block is built, Slap NOS on there. You could hang with probally a 150-200 hp shot in a totally build up block, I mean I am running a 75 shot on a totally stock engine, and she is haning just fine. Just did a compression check and it passed with flying colors. I dont know. Just in my opinion for the money it isnt worht the risk. I mean **** for 8k your car would be done. You could do anything and everything you want to for that price. Buthey its your cash. I would be way stoekd for you if you do it. Oh well. Later Nuro