HiCompression VS Turbo

[zmepro]

Ok, i know this has been disscussed in great detail over and over, but i want some opinions

basicly, i want a reliable car that has enough power to deal out some street punishment (rsx type-s level would be cool), autox, and just feel powerful

i know that both turbo and high compression are expensive and have their pluses and minuses

currently i am leaning twoards high compression because it can be done in phases ( as i am low on cash ) vs turbo which has to be done all at once, and i feel that high compression is more well rounded for daily driving and with enough work, engine managment and agressive tuning can be as powerful as a turbo (my theory)

i would like to hear from people who have acctually done high compression and turbo and what their opinions are from experience.

im not lookin for 500 whp or anything, just a fast car (250whp would be great)

 

[CruzinAltitude]

I vote turbo, not from experiance, more from the info I have read on this forum. From the sounds of it its less expensive for more HP.

 

[Striker187]

turbo......the only way to go.

 

[xantxp5x]

turbo. end of story. the sound of the blow off valve as your passing a wrx. I would imagine and will find out in december can not be compared to any other feeling in life...TURBOOOOOOO.

 

[mp5jeff]

turbo can also be done in stages, start with a non intercooled kit then upgrade as you go...

 

[AZDriftR]

go with the turbo. something like a spool stage 1. u will have the ability to in the future if u decide you need more power to increase it very easily. plus they sound do much better!

 

[DooMer_MP3]

Well you're dreaming if you want 250whp NA. Turbo is the better bet for that. But if you go NA and get HC pistons, custom cams, header, exhaust, intake, and a piggyback or standalone to tune it, I'd say you could get about 40-50whp more than stock.

Chris

 

[Kooldino]

250whp? BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH. Only a FEW turbo guys have gotten that level of power. No way are you doing that street legally.

The WSC Proteges make about that much power N/A. Their engines cost like $10K, and they blow every month or so. A turbo is less stressful on an engine.

 

[ProtegePoe]

Before redoing the internals on the protege, AWR got like 146 whp. They had the obvious intake, header and exhaust, the familia intake manifold, 50mm throttle body and some sort of standalone ecu. Yes you will probably spend less and get more with turbo. 250 NA hp for our engine is alot if you get to this point I would say reliability is out of the question. Now I think 180 NA whp is realistic. Personally I have a plan to get there but will probably just keep my mouth shut about it until its done so I don't get flamed.

 

[deckedoutmp5]

turbo. i am very close to 250 whp and i smoked an rsx type s.

a wagon beating fast cars is funny to see thier faces.

new internals level 10 tranny and e6x ill be at 400 whp soon

go boost, my buddy is goin to try to build the first NA power mp3 ( i mean all out, custom cams and s***) but he will be out of money and ill still have more power dollar for dollar)

go turbo, youll be glad that ya did. lower your compression when you boost... or stay below 13 with the stock 9-5.1.

 

[cbcbd]

250whp?? And you're worried about reliability? haha.

Anyway, turbo is the way to go. Turn boost down for everyday driving, up the boost for the track. And if you want to get as close to 250whp as possible turbo would be the cheapest way.

But yeah, do you care if you're street legal?

 

[mp3moose]

I am one of the few high comression boys on here. And I love being all motor, but if I had the money........turbo, no question with this motor.

Moose

 

[Doodsmack]

If only a good turbo wasn't $3500 . Plus you'd need a heavy-duty clutch and flywheel.

 

[Kooldino]

You need a good clutch and FW anyway N/A or turbo.

 

[PaulMP3]

http://www.wagnermotorsports.net/products.php

for 3250$ you will have a hell of a car. im running 4psi and my car hauls. this kit is good up to 6psi. for another 400 you get engine mgmt. cant beat it. price and performance. Turbo all the way, my car feels totally stock untill i floor it and go into boost. I have 2000 miles trouble free so far. Either way you go there are a lot of other expenses that go with it.

untill people start dropping serious cash experimenting with NA, boost is the best bang for the buck. So far i am not impressed by NA, i have seen many members spend serious lute trying for power with poor results.

 

[zmepro]

i don't care about legality cops can bite me

 

[Installshield 2]

Since you mentioned "RSX Type-S level", you could have 180whp, slightly more than a Type-S, for about 3 large if you can do work yourself...I have seen you in a lot of the NA threads, so check out what needs to be done to get there...

You seem to have a good idea of what kind of numbers you are looking for, you could easily get 150whp with ZE specs, header, exhuast and a standalone...To get to 180whp you would need some customs cams, and higher compression (probably in the 11.1-3 neighborhood)...The standalone will be by far the most expensive single thing purchased for a 150-180whp FS...everything else is relatively cheap on its own, but it can add up quickly...

as far as price look at it like this...

J-spec cams $310 for intake and Msp exhuast cam combined...
60mm exhuast ~$400 (racing beat) a custom 60-65mm exhuast non staniless would be cheaper...
Long tube header ~$350...These added you have ~130whp for about 1 grand...and easy to live with until you do the research and get more cash for the next part...

With just the upgrade of MSP pistons (10.5:1 comression), and a Haltech E6x you will easily gain another 40whp for just over 1 more grand (parts wise, the tuning and installation of the standalone will be more...hopefully a plug and play AEM EMS will be available for an FS soon which will illiminate the need for professional installation)...

So you can get about 160whp for roughly $2200 NA, not bad at all IMO...

to get ahead of a Type-S power wise, a custom set of cams and slightly more compression will be needed which will depend on the machinists doing the work...and at that point a ZE intake manifold and short ram intake will be much more beneficial than they are on a stock FS...

Assuming you have a 5-speed, with a lightweight flywheel and clutch + MSP's LSD (probably another 900 when all said and done) you can get deep into the 14's

will you have more hp per dollar than a Turbo'd Protege? probably not unless the turbo'd protege in question was created very poorly...will you have a faster than stock protege?...**** yeah...with instant response and little strain on the gear box...

Also turboing is an excellent way to go as well...I am only pointing out that there are indeed more than one option on an FS to make more power...For the numbers you seem to be looking for, I would vote NA, but if you want much more than that, forget it NA...

 

[xantxp5x]

psssssssttttt.... as my BOV will say as i'm passing you on the shoulder.haha

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

boost! while your at, give me money so i can be boosted too!!

 

[akhilleus]

Well I figure its about the same price. You could have a 200whp NA engine for about 3k or u could go turbo and have about the same. Alot of this turbo talk is from MSP people who have been blessed already. I am personally lookin for doin a NA setup and when it comes to doing it in parts it is the easiest on your wallet and u dont have to upgrade the tranny right away either. Oh and RSX-s arent all they are hyped to be. 200@crank with 150-160 whp 125 torque...A SE-R could beat them or an MSP stock