New Turbo Prelude owner - Honda Prelude Forum

NuLude · 09-18-2003, 04:10 PM

Hello everyone, I'm glad I found this site. I'm also scared because of the site. I just bought a 97 Prelude with an Auto Trans and a Drag 3 Turbo kit on it. I am in the process of tuning out an "off idle" stuble that it has. I also have all kinds of questions about the Turbo setup, tuning tips, other people experience with FI etc. I'm sitting here thinking "Jesus Christ who the hell should be Turbo charging this engine?" I have been a long time fan of the 5th Gen. In fact I've wanted one ever since they came out. I've been driving my 3rd Gen on a daily basis with not one day of trouble for over 6 years! No offense everyone but just a casual glancing over the FI pages and I'm not very happy. Is the H22A a piece of crap? OR are our Turbo dreams just that...Dreams? Please no flames...I just can't take them in my weakend state. I want my Turbo to work and I want to keep my new Prelude, but just look at the track record. I dont want to buy another car just so I can tool around town under a measly 6psi of boost. HELP!

As of yesterday my compression test on the engine came out with good results. SO I still have a healthy Honda lurking under the Turbo setup. But for how long?

I'm wondering what the formula is for a reliable Turbo setup? New or different ECU...seems likely. What else? How many thousands of dollars will this take? I am NOT a happy camper. Seems the reliable Turbo setup is the one NOT INSTALLED. I literally just bought my "new car" and I'm ready to remove the entire Turbo setup, return it to stock and sell it. My dreams are dashed and I just cant believe I didn't see this coming! Someone please tell me something good! Your's Truly...New and very troubled TurboLude owner. You guys seem very knowledgeable...please, tell me how it is...

MugenPoweredLude · 09-18-2003, 04:40 PM

well first off ditch the slush box and swap in a manual

thats why youre not happy

now what kind of hp are you looking to make????
an Engine Management System will definitely help
and you need to build the motor to go higher than anything over 8psi

search....you will find TONS of info...its just gonna take some time to go thru it all

Paluce · 09-18-2003, 05:34 PM

I went threw exactly what your going threw now. I bought my Lude new with 268km on the Odometer with a Jackson racing supercharger on it installed by Honda only 10 months ago. I was happy as hell untill I read some of the stuff on this forum (like you right now). Then I was crapping in my pants thinking my motor was going to die any day, and that the H22 was pure $h!t. All that isn't really ture. I've been happily supercharged for 40,000km now with no problems. I beat on it regularly, and it's holding up fine. It dosn't even use a drop of oil between changes. I also have a J&S knock sensor on the car to retard the timing in case it ever detonated in extreme heat or from some ****ty gas. (BTW SHARKCOHEN is selling a J&S, I would buy it If I were you!) The J&S knock sensor can, and probably will eventully save your motor's life. Also, does the Drag kit have something for timing retard? If not, go standalone or at least get an MSD boost retard ignition.

If your thinking this is a lot of $$$ to spend to feel safe, I agree. It's BS. not many other cars need to do this. But most of the newer, higher compression motors do.

one more thing,,, Welcome to Prelude Online!

sharkcohen · 09-18-2003, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paluce
(BTW SHARKCOHEN is selling a J&S, I would buy it If I were you!)

A little update on that: I won't be selling my J&S or PMS. Yesterday I went ahead and snipped the SEFA wire (data transmission from ECM to TCM) to see whether or not the TCM can function without the stock ECM. Well, the SS tranny would not behave properly AT ALL. I promptly reconnected the wire

So it is not possible to run a replacement, programmable ecu. NuLude, their are engine management alternatives that retain the stock ecu, do some searches for "EFI PMS", "vafc hack", "Greddy emanage".

There's nothing wrong with boosting the H22, nor is the engine junk. As has been said repeatedly in this forum, it requires an adequate fuel setup, proper engine management, and GOOD TUNING. Otherwise, a boosted H22 setup will run poorly at best and be destroyed at worst. But this really is true of any engine not originally designed with FI in mind, and not specific to the H22.

I would not recommend boosting more than 10 psi on a stock motor.

I think your largest concern will be the tranny. The SS tranny isn't known to be the most durable unit, and now you are asking it to support more power than it was designed to. Just keep in mind the added risk you are asking your tranny to take. I know it is not something you want to hear, but purchasing a boosted SS lude was not the wisest investment.

prelude jesus · 09-20-2003, 08:26 PM

Don't trip my 5th gen has been turbo charged for about 8 months and still runs great. I did end up doing a complete engine build up so that I could boost more. I drive the crap out of my car every day @ 11lbs and its still cool. Beware of the fact that you can spend an infinate amount of money on your engine, that is the only down side.

MugenPoweredLude · 09-20-2003, 08:44 PM

if you dont mind me asking....about how much did it cost you for everything???...rough estimate would be fine
Thanks

prelude jesus · 09-24-2003, 09:30 AM

It cost about $15,000 including the turbo setup

geramy · 09-24-2003, 10:25 AM

did you buy it from a guy named Ryan in MD?

prelude jesus · 09-25-2003, 09:43 AM

NO I live in Cali.

geramy · 09-25-2003, 09:46 AM

I was asking NuLude...he is from PA.

Vapor · 10-02-2003, 07:05 AM

Geramy - Ryan isn't selling his anymore. I sold him my wrecked 97 5 speed, he's swapping in a manual and keeping it. I also believe he's changing to an AEM for better tuning.