Turbo Vs. Built Engine (which is more fun?)
 

Ok, so my gsr swap should be done sometime tomorrow... i am excited... going into an ek hatch which used to have just a stock motor... now i haven't even drive it, but I am already thinking more power. i will have the I/H/E and etc done... but i am thinking of either building it up with like a 9000rpm redline roughly or just turbo... what do you guys suggest?

I am just looking for something with good pick-up and fun... just fun... and lots of fun!!!

depends what you want it to be best at, street,drag or track?

if its strickly fun then what do you find more fun, shifting at 9000 or hearing your turbo spooling and...

vvvrrroooooo0000OOOOOOOMMMMMMM psssttt

vrooooOOOoooo00000MMMMM psstt

turbo'd cars generally require more maintainence.

hahaha, both...

n/a is by far the more expensive route. Turbos take time to spool, but n/a takes more money. $4000 will get you a turbo setup but if you can do most of the labour yourself $4000 will get you a decently built n/a engine. N/A engines are nothing without headwork. But with a turbo if you want more power, turn up the boost, don't get me wrong, doing headwork to a boosted engine will yeild great results, although its not as necessary as it is with n/a, b/c you can just turn up the boost.
If going n/a make every purchase planned and thought out, meaning keep your future mods in mind when buying parts. If you're serious about n/a get a good header. A custom built header for your individual setup will yeild amazing results, especially compared to a cheap, off the shelf header.
Tuning is also very important on n/a, not as important as with a turbo b/c its more about safety when cramming in a bunch of hot air. But its important to have a well tuned ecu to extract the most power/driveability out of a well built n/a engine.

before u add more power, upgrade your brakes.

either way it is going to be a lot of work and once you are done you will probably want more so i'd recommend going boost first... then when you get hungry for more power build the engine for boost and turn it up.

a lot of people tend to argue this point, but I still believe it's true. If you cannot turn a wrench and won't take the time to understand how your turbo works then don't boost it. A lot of little things go wrong and if you pay someone or a shop to fix it for you every single time.. you are going to be broke very shortly.. weither it be an oil leak or a boost leak.. chances are you will run into some complications.

Other than that.. i think andrew covered it all

Exactly...The same goes for a built engine...or pretty much any mod you do to your car. If you don't know how it's done or where to start, then don't do it.

If I were you, I would just leavethe GSR swap stock with I/H/E for now...You almost doubled your power, be happy with what ya got for the time being.

Focus on your chassis, brakes, and wheel/tire setup.

yup, very good adivce here ^^ :nods:

i already have sway bars/tie bars and kyb agx on h&r race springs... the ride is already stable... my car has just been itching for more power!

And you're a bout to get it....:thumbup:

i agree with Chris, if you don't turn wrenches don't boost. More stuff goes wrong with a boosted car than n/a. Even a heavily built n/a engine can have its quirks, but once you get all of the bugs out it will be fine.
I've beat turbo audi's, volkswagen's and even modded turbo talons/eclipses with my n/a civic. If you want some persuasion to stay n/a come for a ride in my car, theres nothing like the sound of a built dohc vtec, except maybe a turbo spoolin....lol.

Get some brakes though dude! If your going to be able to faster you need to stop faster to.

lol.. then after you go for a ride in andrews slow eg.. come for a ride in my boosted ek:D

just kidding bud :cheers:

Speaking from personal experience, if you're gonna boost. Don't just post what people think is best. Take your time, maybe even 20mins out of everyday and just RESEARCH.
When I was 15, I boosted my first car. I dropped a 4g63t in my colt, motor lasted maybe....3 weeks. I blew it before I had my licence. Although through the 3 weeks i had that motor, i had alot of problems. boost leaks, mis fire, idle surge, name it, I had the problem.

My 2nd motor was a dud from the beginning, I got ripped because I was young and this guy took advantage of my little knownledge.

Now, 3 years later, motor #3, I built it from scratch by myself in my garage, I rebuilt the entire engine MYSELF. FACK does it rip. I did it right on the 3rd one. I sat my ass down for 2 months researching. It took my motor 4 pulls to blow up my tranny. I can post pics if you want. Beside the tranny blowing up, it took me 3 years, about....9g's and finally I figured it out.

It's so EASY to make power with boost, like its ridiculous. When it comes down to it, it's ALL in the tune.

Long story short, do your research, make sure you realize what you want to do. Don't just post on forums, although they're a great tool and I wish I used them earlier on but look into other resources, call up shops, magazines, call guys up on the board and speak to them personally.

and yea, upgrade your brakes. I did that on the last build and I think it was my greatest investment.

boost is more fun because of the fatter torque curve. it's just that simple.

They do say once you go boost you dont go back.


But I'm an N/A guy, theres just something special about stomping on some domestics or other modded imports with all motor that makes me smile.

BRAKES!!! You need em if your thinkin of doing either. Did mine last year, like the other guy said prolly my best investment yet. Doesnt seem like it would be but dam man, you dont even know what your missing.

man just buy greedy bolt on kit and do little work on motor, and BAM u r all set.

i myself a boost guy, i want it so bad.

pshhhshshshshshhhhhhh

greddy kits suck man

i am an all around guy personally.

i love boost for the sudden rush once it kicks in and like every other guy who ones a turbo the bov noise ofcourse.

but i love n/a motors too. and its something about the motor that just makes you get excited.


boost is boost but the sound of a n/a motor at its peak is something that can never be achieved with turbo. and the entire feel of the motor is completely different and you will like your part of the motor.