A few general questions

[fanatic26]

I am not sure if this should go in the turbo tech part of the forum or not, but since I am a DSM noob I figure this is as good a place as any to put it.

I recently purchased a 90 Laser RS iwth 135k mi on the clock. All major maintenance has been done but it seems the turbo might be going out on me. I have been looking around and it seems to me that an ebay special ported and clipped 16g is my best option as far as price, along with a small performance gain while remaining 100% stock looking. What I am planning for now is removal of the honeycomb, and around 16psi on the 16g. My goal is to keep the car 100% stock looking but have a bit more pep as a daily driver. My recently sold daily driver was an Isuzu Impulse RS (AWD Turbo) that would pull a high 13 or so, and im looking for similar daily driver performance without sacrificing reliability. My questions are as follows:


1. With a 16g, what is the acceptible boost limit on the stock fuel system and IC without too much timing retard?

2. Will removing the honeycomb on the MAF cause me any smog issues? I am from California which has tougher than usual laws compared to most states.

3. Whats an average power number/track time with a setup as described, im looking for a general idea as work normally interferes with open track nights and I have no clue when I could geet down there for a run or two.

4. I am currently at 135k mi on the clock, whats the normal engine life once you perform some small power mods. I keep up well on maintenance and know how to use and not abuse the vehicle.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

1) Depending on if you go with the Big16g, S16g, or EVOIII 16g, your limit will be right at around 16psi. You will be getting very high on duty cycle by then though. I would recommend rewiring your fuel pump to ensure proper voltage at higher rpm so you don't lose fuel pressure.
2) It won't cause any smog issue's but you also won't see any gains from it. In my opinion I leave them in there. They are there for a reason.
3) At 16psi and a good driver on a 16g with stock injectors and basic mods, exhaust, intake, fuel pump rewire or 190lph fuel pump you are looking at low 13's. Now if you got a set of 550cc injectors and a datalogger with a SAFCII to help tune you could easily be a 12 second car.
4) Do a compression test first and see where you are at. If you are good then performance mods that you are looking at won't affect your cars life to much as long as you maintain a decent tune on it and avoid knock and other things like that. I have seen people runnning mid 12's on this forum with stock motors over 180k miles. It's all about how you tune the car to make it last.

 

[fanatic26]

I do have a set of RC 550's sitting here, but I didnt know if I wanted to go thru all the hassle of an AFC test and tune. I gotta do all that on my drag car and im not sure if I want to bother on the daily driver. I will have to consider this carefully, but damn that boost is addictive!

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

If you wanna safely run you 16g at 16psi you will have to use your 550's. And they aren't that hard to tune at all.