Simple turbo/exhaust upgrade. Need advice

[StumpmanOH]

I'm looking for advice here- I have a 90 Gsx stock, except the intake. I want to upgrade my exhaust. I'm also looking to upgrade turbo headers and downpipe. I don't mind spending a couple bucks, but I just want to make sure what I'm getting is right. My knowledge on turbos is limited. Does anyone have any good suggestions as what to use?
Should I just keep my stock turbo, and go from there? Internal or external wastegate? I plan on doing future mods such as fuel pump, rail, intake manifod,etc. Could I get a header that works w/ my stock turbo? Thank-you in advance for any help! I'm just looking to make my $$ count, I dont want to toss out parts in a year, because I'm upgrading something else.

 

[xxsupralvrxx]

do a full 3" exhaust a GOOD boost gauge, then maybe a 16g. With supporting mods.. O and all maintaince on the car

 

[RyAn007]

Do a full 3" exhaust, boost gauge, possibly a bigger turbo, and if you absolutely need a manifold just go with a ported 2g manifold, its off of a 2g dsm and it flows alot better for cheap.

 

[StumpmanOH]

Boost gauge is going to be first on my list. I have a 94 ram w/ a cummins, I know the importance of gagues Full 3" was in the plans. Any specific brands to look for? Are you guys saying run stock turbo for now, but buy a manifold/ header capable of using an upgraded turbo? I've seen some that use a t-3- Is that something I should even be looking at-at this point?

 

[dsm-onster]

What is your goal with this car?

 

[StumpmanOH]

What is your goal with this car?

Not to just blow it up, - Really , I want it to be fast, add as much as I can without going internal on the engine. I've got a good clean platform to work with. I'm thinking as much "bolt on" as a stock block will allow. I want to drive it as a "daily driver" type car.
This car has 90k on it and I bought it off the original owner- An older gentleman. I've done the timing belt and all that goes with it, and added a Dejon Intake and K&N.

 

[wishnfor4g63T]

Stock internals start going over the hill after 400hp.

A big turbo is always nice so your not maxing it out when making big numbers. Your definitely in the right place for asking questions so keep it up, your headed in the right direction. Megan makes great exhaust IMHO it's the best bang for the buck. Since you have a AWD platform try to save your clutch by not launching it. If you plan to upgrade it then have fun.

Get your maintenance done first the upgrades second. Your car will thank you!

 

[StumpmanOH]

Yes, agreed. I've always been big on maintenance. Its ready to mess with- everything is as good as its going to get. So, What you say is a bigger turbo will be fine because I'm not pushing a smaller one harder- for example less rpm w/ bigger turbo= more boost=faster? Am I right saying that. Couldn't a bigger turbo push me over 400hp if I'm not careful? I'm been searching alot, and have really been looking at the Megan exhaust system,downpipe,02 housing and test pipe (we have no emmisions here) as well as eBay Motors: Mitsubishi Eclipse Header Turbo exhaust manifold dsm (item 190277008609 end time Jan-08-09 15:10:23 PST)
for a header. Sounds like this header will work with my stock turbo and leave me some room to upgrade, but not anything crazy.

 

[jking29]

You could always upgrade the turbo on your Cummins and use the stock turbo for the DSM. A Holset big h1c would get you into the 400 hp range pretty easily with a bolt on housing. A stock 6 bolt in good condition will handle it. You would have to upgrade the exhaust, injectors, intercooler, fuel system and add a ems of some sort, but would be a very fun car.

 

[toofast82]

I would definitely begin buying supporting mods before turbo. Follow the upgrade paths in the site. I would definitely recommend getting full exhaust(2g manifold,02housing,3"the rest) Then start getting some fuel mods like a pump and some type of logging and tuning. I think you need to establish some type of hp/quartermile goal so that you know what parts are capable and go from there.

 

[MaNGiNa24]

I'm looking for advice here- I have a 90 Gsx stock, except the intake. I want to upgrade my exhaust. I'm also looking to upgrade turbo headers and downpipe. I don't mind spending a couple bucks, but I just want to make sure what I'm getting is right. My knowledge on turbos is limited. Does anyone have any good suggestions as what to use?
Should I just keep my stock turbo, and go from there? Internal or external wastegate? I plan on doing future mods such as fuel pump, rail, intake manifod,etc. Could I get a header that works w/ my stock turbo? Thank-you in advance for any help! I'm just looking to make my $$ count, I dont want to toss out parts in a year, because I'm upgrading something else.

I'd probably go with the Forced Performance cast manifold if you don't mind paying a few bucks. You'll get the flow of a tubular and reliability of an OEM manifold.

I'd stick with the stock 14b for now until you can set a goal for what you want out of your car. A lot of people run an internal wastegate on higher HP applications (300-400whp) without any problems, but it really depends on your goals.

Start off with a manual boost controller and at least a boost gauge to begin with. An intake & exhaust would be the conventional next step and then you'll eventually want to upgrade/rewire your fuel pump, get a larger set of injectors and something to manage that extra fuel like dsmlink/ecmlink or an apexi SAFC.

First you need to realize what you want out of your car and set some goals. Once you have those in mind, figuring out how to accomplish those goals becomes much easier and much less cost effective because you'll only have to do it once.

 

[beyondspexj]

i was searching for this type of info and seeing what everyone else has done as well. great info in here.

 

[StumpmanOH]

Well I definitly like the Idea of taking the turbo off the Cummins....Thats down the road, it needs mods too. At least I know where I can get my bigger turbo from. Seems like I should stay away from the headers, and go with the cast. I like the look of the headers, Are they really that bad? I've heard of people just using an Evo manifols and have increases in HP. I guess if I had to set a goal, I'd say I'd like to get this car as close to 400hp as possible using the easiest, most cost effective ways. thats the goal for now. When I get there, then I can blow it up and go internal.

 

[Dsmj89]

For now a full 3" TBE, fuel pump, 2g DSM manifold and an safc with a tune would do you good. Also if you can, throw in a fmic and a MBC and up the boost to 16. You should run hard with that simple setup until you decide on a turbo later on.

 

[StumpmanOH]

For now a full 3" TBE, fuel pump, 2g DSM manifold and an safc with a tune would do you good. Also if you can, throw in a fmic and a MBC and up the boost to 16. You should run hard with that simple setup until you decide on a turbo later on.

Ok- TBE= turbo back exhaust?
safc?
fmic-front mount intercooler?
MBC- manual boost contoller?

 

[Dsmj89]

Ok- TBE= turbo back exhaust?
safc?
fmic-front mount intercooler?
MBC- manual boost contoller?

Yes, yes, and yes.
Safc = Super air fuel converter. It is a tuning device made from apexi that tunes your air/fuel ratio.

 

[MaNGiNa24]

Ok- TBE= turbo back exhaust?
safc?
fmic-front mount intercooler?
MBC- manual boost contoller?

FMIC - Front Mount Intercooler

VR Speed Factory - EVO, DSM & WRX Performance Parts - Intercooler - VRSF Front Mount Intercooler Kit : 95 - 99 Eclipse & Talon Turbo

MBC - Manual Boost Controller

VR Speed Factory - EVO, DSM & WRX Performance Parts - Forge - Forge Bleed Valve Boost Controller

TBE - Turbo Back Exhaust

VR Speed Factory - EVO, DSM & WRX Performance Parts - Exhaust

S-AFC - Super Air Flow Controller

VR Speed Factory - EVO, DSM & WRX Performance Parts - Fuel Management - Apexi S-AFC NEO Air Flow Controller

The tubular manifolds you purchase off ebay really are that bad. They use thin, 16 gauge piping for the runners and WILL crack eventually whether its a couple months to a year, it's going to fail in one way or another.

Most of the ones sold on ebay are copies of copied copies so theres a good chance the one you pickup will either have poor fitment, or will before more poorly than the one you end up purchasing. If you like the look of a tubular than you definitely won't want to see it after a few miles as they will eventually turn brown and ugly

The EVO 3 cast manifold is a good option as long as the runners are port matched to the head (head to manifold flange) & the collector is also port matched (turbo to manifold flange). I just initially recommended the FP (forced performance) manifold because it combines the best of both worlds, flow & reliability.

 

[StumpmanOH]

I have to agree, I've been seeing it all over the net, they crack. I will go with the evo 3 cast manifold.

 

[tkelly27]

You don't need a header, and the ebay ones are hit and miss. A really reliable cheap manifold upgrade is a 2G manifold. In ported form people have made beyond 600hp with them. There are other options that may be more efficient, but most will never outgrow a 2g manifold.

You don't need a bigger turbo. Bigger turbos can give more boost more efficiently (efficiency is mostly how much they heat up the air they are compressing), but generally at the cost of spool up RPM.

If you've already done the maintenance then you need supporting mod upgrades, not turbo. The 14b is capable of easy 13's, harder to get 12's, and full out race 14b powered cars can go 11's. You will want bigger injectors, fuel pump, a better intercooler, an exhaust, and a tuning system before you really need to be looking at a bigger turbo.

On the stock fuel system a bigger turbo is limited to the same extent that a small turbo is, nearly the same story with the intercooler.

I don't know about exhaust anymore. I used to say go big or don't bother, but with how badly I creep, figure out what your goals are and size accordingly. Zero back pressure is good, but over boost is bad : /