My Setup

[Jeremoose]

Hey guys, everything is pretty well ordered and on the way. Here's what I'll be running:

-autometer boost/AF gauges
-MBC (will be set to 15psi for now)
-14b turbo
-Custom UICP and LICP
-3" intake with K&N filter
-act 2100 clutch
-1g bov
-stock exhaust /w cat removed and hi-flow muffler

So basically, what am I missing? I know I need to replace my exhaust with a 2.5" or 3" catback system as well. Also, if I grabbed a walbro 190 fuel pump and set my boost to say 18psi, would a full 2.5" exhaust do the trick, knowing that I wouldn't upgrade any further? Thanks guys!

 

[Slippi84]

Where do I start. First off what are you trying to do. How can someone tell you what your missing when they don't know what you want or need. Are you trying to have a quick street car are you trying to start from the ground up buiding a 1/4 beast are you autocrossing I mean they're are infinate amount of ways to go with your car and goals and wants along with pocket size detrmine where you end up.

In gerneral though you need to leave boost alone till you get a logger first and formost and if your new to tuning and such I would suggest just picking up a safc to get a feel for tuning. I would also suggest bigger injectors before turning bost up too much but its' not mandatory. Your logger will tell you when you you have reached your limit with your current fuel and supporting mods. By the way don't use that a/f gauge for anything other than a light show it's useless. A wideband is the only way to tune via a/f ration.

 

[Jeremoose]

Hey sorry I didn't really think my post through, .

In any case, I'm not building up a 1/4 mile beast or anything, mid to hi 13's would make me extremely happy. Basically I want a quick street-car, nothing more. I know that I won't be upgrading my turbo any further or anything like that as well.

 

[Slippi84]

Hey sorry I didn't really think my post through, .

In any case, I'm not building up a 1/4 mile beast or anything, mid to hi 13's would make me extremely happy. Basically I want a quick street-car, nothing more. I know that I won't be upgrading my turbo any further or anything like that as well.

No need to be sorry man it's cool. Yeah just it's hard cause they're are a lot of guys that have a lot of diffrent goals. Now that you have stated yours then yeah just get a logger and a safc with that walbro 190 and your good to go but remember do not tune with that a/f gauge.

 

[Jeremoose]

But am I going to need the full 3" exhaust to achieve the kind of times I want? The local shops prices are ludicrous for 3" exhaust for some reason...

 

[Slippi84]

But am I going to need the full 3" exhaust to achieve the kind of times I want? The local shops prices are ludicrous for 3" exhaust for some reason...

But the exhaust is probably the best mod you will do for your car as a turbo car lives and strives off exhaust pressure.

 

[drivemusicnow]

^ yes but...

a 2.5" exhaust would be plenty for what he wants. The 3" exhaust suggestion is pretty much standard on this and many other turbo car boards as anyone who wants to upgrade that first step, will typically keep going until, at some point, they will need a 3" exhaust. If you are SURE that you will not be modifying the car past what you have outlined, than a 2.5" exhaust will be fine. The problem is, no matter how sure of it you are now, the boost bug will have bitten you, and then you're screwed like the rest of us.

 

[tstkl]

thats why you buy a 500 dollar 3 inch exhaust off dejon tool. unless you want a cat to keep it street legal, its the best bang for your buck.

 

[Jeremoose]

Hmmmm, 500 bucks hey? Well, my cat has already been stripped and I already bought a performance muffler, so maybe getting the piping in between done at a custom exhaust shop might have gone down a lot (since my quotes before obviously included a new muffler and going catless). I'll check into it and let ya guys know what I'm gonna' do

 

[LA97GST]

Having a shop put a piece of 3 inch tubing in place of the cat will not drive up the cost much at all. What type of tubing are they quoting you for? Aluminized will be fine but go Stanless Steel if you can. My friend just got his done for 250 dollars.

 

[DSM90AWD]

would a full 2.5" exhaust do the trick, knowing that I wouldn't upgrade any further?

Taking what you say ^^^ as gospel, a free-flowing 2.5" exhaust is plenty for your goals, will be much easier on the ears/wallet and will be far less prone to giving you boost creep issues than a 3".

Then again (as was mentioned above) once you start down the path, well.. you're screwed ..so investing in the 3" now and porting the poo out of your turbine/O2 housing (which in itself will give you ~10hp) may be a good idea so as not to have to worry about it in the future

The bit about 18psi on a 14B has me worried a bit, especially with a stock SMIC. The stocker produces ~4psi backpresure at 18psi, so in effect your turbo is running at 22psi . That little SMIC will heatsoak pretty quick

 

[Jeremoose]

Hmmm, interesting. Maybe I should just go with full 3" turbo-back and be done with it, regardless of price... And having my turbine/O2 housing ported, where can I get this done? I've read that its fairly easy to do the porting on your own, but it's kind-of something I don't really want to mess with. So basically any performance shop does porting or will I have to search around?

 

[scottsee]

As far as the 2.3/3in turbo debate goes. I decited to go with the Megan Racing downpipe, muffler shop catback and Megan muffler w/ silencer for a cool $320 Done, finished. Most of us won't see the benifits of the 3in pipe diameter. I decited early on I was moding once & moding right!

As far as boost creep is concernd with the 14b read this. http://www.posracing.net/BoostCreep.html Porting info can be found on www.vfaq.com

The fuel system will be your biggest concern with that 14b. You will at the very least need to re-wire your fuel pump, lean your 44-55% factory enrichment out above 2.1g/rev or turn the boost down past 15psi. With Dsmlink I was seeing 99% IDC on my 450's on the 14b and was getting massive knock above 5500rpm becasue my fuel pump just wasn't keeping up. After rewiring the pump and leaning the fuel trims out, I was able to reduce my IDC to 89%; wich doesn't give alot of room to grow.

As far as the 190 pump goes, I would absolutly and did buy an Aeromotive 13109 2g install kit with a marchel gauge to supply correct leiner fuel pressure. IIRC the stock 2g fpr is reliable upto 66-68psi max. Wether or not you NEED one, I'm not going to say. I don't feel cofortable running an aftermarket fuel pump without an AFPR

 

[Blk95gs]

I believe there are a lot of guys running the 190lph pump without any FPR issues, it's when you get into the 255/255 hp that there's a lot of 'he said she said'. FPR is always a good idea though!

Also, a 2.5" exhaust would be plenty for you. I have a 3" turboback on my t-25 and it takes a tad bit to reach full boost, but you can definately feel the difference between the two. (the car had a 2.5" exhaust on it when I bought it, I had the 3" in my garage and said what the heck.)

Definately get a logger, they are cheap and so helpful and imperative to tuning a basic setup like that. I believe that I will be going with a 14b as well (I already have one) But while you're at it, might as well port the turbo while it's off the car (assuming it is).

Also, I'd look into some 550cc injectors, because they (like scottsee said) would give you room to grow and play with the boost a little bit more.

And like everyone says, EGT gauge. Also a key point to tuning.


550s, 190lph, AFC, datalogger, EGT gauge will likely only set you back $500-$700, depending on if you buy used or anything like that.

 

[Jeremoose]

Duelly noted, thanks a lot guys