Well I descided that I am gonna put a turbo on my d16. I am basically wondering what I would need to start to prep my engine. I have read and understand the logistics about how the turbo works and all but I am wondering what I should start looking into getting (the small things) before the spend the big bucks on the turbo. I know I will need to get an ecu (hondata seems to be the choice around here) to regulate the air/fuel and all that good stuff but what else should I start looking into getting? I know how a turbo works and all, but I just basically need to know what I need to make my engine withstand more PSI. Throw it at me...im still new at this! Thanks!

 

1) How much money do you have?
2) How fast do you want to go?

 

Well...I don't have much money...but who does. Thats why I am gonna save up for it. I know I am going to spend roughly 3 grand if not more on a nice kit. I am just wondering what else I am going to need to have the kit.

I want to be able to have a descent amount of power. I have read that you can run about 6 PSI safely without damage to the engine but from what I have read its not much of a power gain. So I will most likely want to run more then 6 PSI. So thats why I am wanting to know what I am going to need to do to the engine for it to handle a good amount of PSI without harm to the engine. I want to be able to have a car cruise up next to me and want me to race him and not be affraid of getting my ass handed to me. If that answered your question...

 

Figuring a T25 size turbo, 8psi is doable, 10 if you are conservative about it. Tuning is a must. Boost is addictive, the first day you'll run 6 psi, the next day you'll want a little more, then a little more, until you are running 12psi and the engine blows up.

Rods and pistons would be nice, but it helps to know the intended boost and the turbo you want to use, i.e. 6psi out of a T25 is a bit different then 6psi out of a T3/T4.

 

T25, T3? Are those different categories of the size of the turbo? What if I want to run a small amount of PSI for now...say 6-8 PSI and later I want to run more...would I have to change the turbo or what would I change? Does each turbo push out a certain amount of PSI, and thats why I need to figure out how much I wanna run?

So is it a lot of internal engine work or no. I have read that its good to get a better fuel pump and rail and stuff to make sure your engine will get enough fuel but what else would I need? Does the kit usually come with everything that you need or no?

 

Whoa, you have a lot of research to do. Those are two examples of different turbo sizes, the size of the turbo mostly relates it's efficiency to the engine you use it on. The wastegate controls the actual boost output of the turbo, however a small turbine looses efficiency faster then a larger one depending on engine displacement and volumetric efficiency blah blah blah...

Before you decide to turbo or build the engine for turbo, you really need to decide what kit or what parts you plan to use. Save up your money, and while you are doing that take time to learn how a turbo and components work, and you'll be much better off when it comes time to build.

That said, a set of aftermarket rods and low compression pistons never hurt anyone.

 

Oh yeah...I know I have more to learn...thats why I am asking. Its gonna be a little bit before I get the turbo and will learn a lot more between now and then but just want to get a head up on what I am going to need and the price range. I know what you are talking about how the sizes differences. How one might take longer to spool up then another but the top end speed from the bigger turbo would be greated then a smaller one. I knew all that. I was just wondering what the different categories are.

What else would I need to get besides the kit though. I am going to want to run a great amount of PSI in the long run (probabaly more then 12)and just want to know what I am going to need for that. I know I will need to build up the engine for that and thats what I am asking about.

Know any place/site in particular to get those?

 

What, you're talking along the lines of 1bar+? That's going to pretty much need a bottom end overhaul. If you do that, you might as well drop in a B18B now and turbo that...it will produce much more power in the long run. You'll have fun with new sleeves, rods, pistons, a crank girdle (one a B series) would be nice, piles of stuff should be reworked for higher boost. We're talking a couple/few thousand into the engine itself to make it perform sweetly, reliably.

 

Whats the most amount of PSI that I can run on my d16 without doing a major overhaul on the engine? And whatare things I would have to change with that setup? Everything listed above but without the bottom end everhaul?

 

sleepercivicex ran like 11psi on a stock d16 if that helps. Most run around 8