considering what your goals are and what your budget is I would go supercharger. and if you wanted to you could always change the pullies to get some more psi down the road
Turbo vs LSVTEC vs Supercharger
Before we start, let me say- Ive been doing a LOT of searching. 
I have a 1997 Integra LS (see sig). Right now, its got 91k miles on it, but only 7k on the pistons and rings. It has been boosted before. About 4k miles of the new pistons was boost. The last owner had it boosted with a t3/t4 running 8psi. The new pistons are OEM. In a compression test, it ran 175 across the board, but the timing belt is a tooth off, which may affect those numbers. In a leak down it was right around 0% I believe. I just had the timing belt and water pump done (OEM Honda). It has an AEM SRI and Apexi N1 exhaust. It has an Eagle talon fuel pump, and I already have a resistor box should I want to run DSM injectors. It is currently OBD2, and HAS to stay that way. No matter what I do, it wont pass inspection as OBD1, so id have to use piggyback systems to tune in OBD2 (bleh). Im not looking to make insane power. Id just like a little "get up and go." Im sick of civic's giving me a run for my money. Id like to make somewhere in the 200whp range, but its not absolutley nessecary. Id be happy with a 180hp lsvtec setup. If im going turbo, id like to be over 220. I think my goals are pretty realistic. The suspension is all set up, and Im pretty pleased with the way the car looks. Time to build the motor.
That said, ive been back and forth the past few months, trying to decide, and id like to get some imput from you guys. I AM ON A BUDGET. Id like to spend under 2k for everything, but am very open to used parts (although it doesnt look like I have any other options with that budget). I need something that is VERY reliable. I use this car as a daily driver to get to school and work everyday.
That said, heres what ive come up with so far.
TURBO- By far the best way to make lots of power. Since my goals arent that high, this isnt nessecarily a good thing. Also one of the more expensive options, and has the potential to blow up my motor. I think i could peice my own kit together relativly inexpensively, but dyno time and tuning would be killer($), and since it has to stay OBD2 it would take even longer. Any way I go, however, im looking at a good about of Dyno time. Id probably run 6-8 psi with a t3/t4 turbo, with 440 injectors and an SAFC. (Im a noob to tuning, and relativly new to turbo). I use the shop Impo Performance (www.impoperformance.net) for all of my aftermarket needs, and they REALLY know what theyre doing. They would be tuning it. I would install the kit at my house, and disconnect the wastegate to drive it to their shop.
LSVTEC- This would put me right around my goals in terms of HP, and I really like the idea of being naturally aspirated. Ive heard of reliability issues with this, but to be honest, im not really concerned. The owner of Impo has a turboed lsvtec integra that he daily drives without ever having a problem, and they are doing my friends LSVTEC build. Until recently, i didnt know how involved this build was. Ive done a lot of reading on the LSVTEC stickies, and never realized about things like filling the oil galley. For some reason (stupid, i know), it never occured to me that I needed a new tranny. This is a big negative, because in the head and tranny alone, im looking at around $1000. The other thing the kind of pissed me off was that i JUST paid 400 to have my timing belt/water pump replaced, and would need to do them again with GSR parts for this build. Then I would probably also want to re-enforce my bottom end with hi comp pistons and such, which would definetly put me over the 2k limit. Just for reference, my friend is leaving his OEM pistons in, and the shop is doing the whole build for $900 (not including parts, obviously).
SUPERCHARGER- I have to admit, this is something that I dont know much about. Ive seen Supercharger kits (JRSC) go for crazy cheap (~1500), and the SC would put me where I want to be as far as power is concerned. I dont know what reliability is like for this, but I would assume better than turbo. Ive seen people SC their B20's without a problem, but I know they cant be turboed because of their thin cylinder walls (on an OEM bottom end, I mean). From my understanding of it, superchargers only hit full boost at redline correct? Since the blower is run off a belt, as the engine speed increases, so does the SC RPM. So if youre running 6psi, youre only hitting that 6psi at redline, where as a turbo would be fully spooled up at 3-4k rpm. Im assuming (correct me if im wrong) that this has to do with why superchargers put less wear on the engine? I would also like SC for the same reason that we all do- no turbo lag. Instant boost.
As far as me as a mechanic goes, im pretty new. Ive never run into a problem working on a car, i just can never get the courage to tackle something so huge by myself. Im doing my first swap right now in my friends Eagle Talon, and was really suprised how easy it has been. Ive done basic shit (stereos, exhausts, shit like that) as well. I know I wouldnt want to do the LSVTEC, but i dont know if i can handle installing the supercharger or a turbo.
Ive also considered a B18C1 swap, but they all seem to be around $2500-2900 for just the motor and tranny. I could get my friend's (WVU97GS-R) entire wrecked GSR with a good motor in it for $1300, but the motor has 130k on it, and I would want to rebuild it. Ive never rebuilt a motor before. Id like to try, but dont want to fuck up something so expensive. (On that note, ive rebuild single cylinder 2 stroke engines before. Much simpler, I know- just throwing that out there.)
What would you guys recommend I do with a +-200whp goal and a $2000 budget?
Sorry for the long read.
I have a 1997 Integra LS (see sig). Right now, its got 91k miles on it, but only 7k on the pistons and rings. It has been boosted before. About 4k miles of the new pistons was boost. The last owner had it boosted with a t3/t4 running 8psi. The new pistons are OEM. In a compression test, it ran 175 across the board, but the timing belt is a tooth off, which may affect those numbers. In a leak down it was right around 0% I believe. I just had the timing belt and water pump done (OEM Honda). It has an AEM SRI and Apexi N1 exhaust. It has an Eagle talon fuel pump, and I already have a resistor box should I want to run DSM injectors. It is currently OBD2, and HAS to stay that way. No matter what I do, it wont pass inspection as OBD1, so id have to use piggyback systems to tune in OBD2 (bleh). Im not looking to make insane power. Id just like a little "get up and go." Im sick of civic's giving me a run for my money. Id like to make somewhere in the 200whp range, but its not absolutley nessecary. Id be happy with a 180hp lsvtec setup. If im going turbo, id like to be over 220. I think my goals are pretty realistic. The suspension is all set up, and Im pretty pleased with the way the car looks. Time to build the motor.
That said, ive been back and forth the past few months, trying to decide, and id like to get some imput from you guys. I AM ON A BUDGET. Id like to spend under 2k for everything, but am very open to used parts (although it doesnt look like I have any other options with that budget). I need something that is VERY reliable. I use this car as a daily driver to get to school and work everyday.
That said, heres what ive come up with so far.
TURBO- By far the best way to make lots of power. Since my goals arent that high, this isnt nessecarily a good thing. Also one of the more expensive options, and has the potential to blow up my motor. I think i could peice my own kit together relativly inexpensively, but dyno time and tuning would be killer($), and since it has to stay OBD2 it would take even longer. Any way I go, however, im looking at a good about of Dyno time. Id probably run 6-8 psi with a t3/t4 turbo, with 440 injectors and an SAFC. (Im a noob to tuning, and relativly new to turbo). I use the shop Impo Performance (www.impoperformance.net) for all of my aftermarket needs, and they REALLY know what theyre doing. They would be tuning it. I would install the kit at my house, and disconnect the wastegate to drive it to their shop.
LSVTEC- This would put me right around my goals in terms of HP, and I really like the idea of being naturally aspirated. Ive heard of reliability issues with this, but to be honest, im not really concerned. The owner of Impo has a turboed lsvtec integra that he daily drives without ever having a problem, and they are doing my friends LSVTEC build. Until recently, i didnt know how involved this build was. Ive done a lot of reading on the LSVTEC stickies, and never realized about things like filling the oil galley. For some reason (stupid, i know), it never occured to me that I needed a new tranny. This is a big negative, because in the head and tranny alone, im looking at around $1000. The other thing the kind of pissed me off was that i JUST paid 400 to have my timing belt/water pump replaced, and would need to do them again with GSR parts for this build. Then I would probably also want to re-enforce my bottom end with hi comp pistons and such, which would definetly put me over the 2k limit. Just for reference, my friend is leaving his OEM pistons in, and the shop is doing the whole build for $900 (not including parts, obviously).
SUPERCHARGER- I have to admit, this is something that I dont know much about. Ive seen Supercharger kits (JRSC) go for crazy cheap (~1500), and the SC would put me where I want to be as far as power is concerned. I dont know what reliability is like for this, but I would assume better than turbo. Ive seen people SC their B20's without a problem, but I know they cant be turboed because of their thin cylinder walls (on an OEM bottom end, I mean). From my understanding of it, superchargers only hit full boost at redline correct? Since the blower is run off a belt, as the engine speed increases, so does the SC RPM. So if youre running 6psi, youre only hitting that 6psi at redline, where as a turbo would be fully spooled up at 3-4k rpm. Im assuming (correct me if im wrong) that this has to do with why superchargers put less wear on the engine? I would also like SC for the same reason that we all do- no turbo lag. Instant boost.
As far as me as a mechanic goes, im pretty new. Ive never run into a problem working on a car, i just can never get the courage to tackle something so huge by myself. Im doing my first swap right now in my friends Eagle Talon, and was really suprised how easy it has been. Ive done basic shit (stereos, exhausts, shit like that) as well. I know I wouldnt want to do the LSVTEC, but i dont know if i can handle installing the supercharger or a turbo.
Ive also considered a B18C1 swap, but they all seem to be around $2500-2900 for just the motor and tranny. I could get my friend's (WVU97GS-R) entire wrecked GSR with a good motor in it for $1300, but the motor has 130k on it, and I would want to rebuild it. Ive never rebuilt a motor before. Id like to try, but dont want to fuck up something so expensive. (On that note, ive rebuild single cylinder 2 stroke engines before. Much simpler, I know- just throwing that out there.)
What would you guys recommend I do with a +-200whp goal and a $2000 budget?
Sorry for the long read.
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
Agreed. Most JRSC LS setups I see are making 150-160whp and 130-140wtq. Woohoo. You can get that easily with a much simpler and more reliable all-motor LS or B20.female four said:
Oh yeah and I was in Costa Rica for a week so I didn't exactly get around to SHO...
Holy Crap!!!! only 150-60whp???? man that is defintly not worth it yet for te money you spend on SC or Turbo you could get those numbers.White98LS said:Agreed. Most JRSC LS setups I see are making 150-160whp and 130-140wtq. Woohoo. You can get that easily with a much simpler and more reliable all-motor LS or B20.
Oh yeah and I was in Costa Rica for a week so I didn't exactly get around to SHO...
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
