Need some Turbo and/or N/A Help!!!

[MP5s Make Ready]

Ok so I'm sitting at the table the other day and thought to myself I could get the spool turbo starter kit that's only 1,600 so I went online to look at it, and it comes with a good turbo, manifold, and oil feed lines...now I have about 500 right now and am trying to decide wether I should save for turbo or just go the n/a route. I'm not really interested in racing but If I got a turbo I'd be more apt to go to car shows, and things like that, oh and I love the sound that a turbo makes...however seeing as how I don't really know much I see that some other people have the begi kit that's like $5,000 to install, I know that there are some added parts such as an intercooler.....what I'm trying to say is can I get the starter kit and put it on my car and be done with it or do I have to spend like 5,000 to be able for the turbo to work. On their website they said that the kit gives you the option of upgrading later on if you want. Now for example it doesn't come with an intercooler....do you need one? I've done searches throughout this message board, but I haven't found anything on what all the kits have to offer a.k.a a comparison test.

How hard is it to install a the spool starter kit? What about full turbo kits? I hear it takes about 10 hours but is it mainly bolt on stuff and running lines or do you have to cut bend, and drill to install the stuff?

On a different note if I'm not going the turbo route I was going to first get the injen cai, I've heard different numbers on the hp gains but I think that it's more realistic to get about 4 hp...now I'm wondering what the sound is that alot of people talk about...i've heard "deep growl", is it the same as the "deep growl" that an exhaust makes? Or is it more like the turbo "woosh" sound? Is it loud enough for everyone around you to hear it and think "fast guy coming through" or is it something that only you will hear because you are the only one that knows you have a cai in your car and everyone else looks at you like "Oh geez rice boy comin through."

Sorry about all the questions but I'm just curious...it'll take me way to long to save enough to get a full turbo kit...I average about 200 a month between school, ins, car payment, gas, etc. But if all I have to save is 1600 and be able to turbo my way around town that would be great. Like I said, I'm not looking to race so it's not like i need a huge intercooler and huge turbo, just something that will let me pass the minivan soccer mom on the way to school.

Thanks guys/gals......

 

[blynzoo]

With a turbo, you definitely need to know what you're doing. Spool's starter is great (and its actually only 1400 for site members), but there are more things to get. Spoolin is also coming out with a complete kit soon. For "easy to install" the Tripoint kit cant be beat.

The injen honestly produces a GREAT sound. Not ricey at all. it's a steady rumble that gets louder as you accelerate. I sounds like (because it is) a car with no resonator chamber on the intake, which means that all the sound waves that would normally travel out of the throttle body into the (stock) plastic intake and resonator box are now transferred directly outside, giving it a definite racer sound. People do indeed look, and the look is a good one.

As for F/I v. N/A, that is not a question you ever want to ask here. The debate is vicious. for some background on the argument (and I must admit my face pops up there a few times), go to this thread:turbo or N/A There are more arguments going on right now all over this site. In the end, a good N/A car that can whip a turbo will cost as much, if not more, than a turbo. It's all about personal preference. Turbo is always the cheaper option for big gains. (oh god, I'm going to be sacrificed just for saying that).

Look around, and feel free to PM me anytime, or hit me on a thread.

Brook

 

[Sir Nuke]

I will answer your question about the injen intake.....WHAT SOUND? the only time I can hear my intake is when I turn the car off.....and you can hear that last bit of air being sucked in.....other than that....I guess I play my music too loud...lol I don't even really hear my exhaust!!!

 

[MP5s Make Ready]

Geez....so many questions....so many questions...........

 

[spoolinmp3]

In the end Turbo will always give more power. If you currently follow import draging you will see that all the big dogs are turbocharged. Do you see any N/A hondas running 7-8 sec quarter miles??..........I dont think so, you will never see N/A do that alteast for now, the technology is not currently available.

N/A is beautiful thing its responsive and the pride that your motor is making all the power on its own.

But N/A will never be able to match turbo in the power per dollar ratio.

If you are interested in getting a trick setup BiG_BEN is selling his spool starter kit that has everything to get you running (a whole kit) and a beautiful front mount intercooler. I think he is selling his setup up for 2500 dollars and that includes everything!

We also offer a stage 2 kit that is a full running kit to get you going. It is a 5-6 psi kit that is not intercooled. It basically includes everything that comes with the spool starter kit but adds all charge pipes, airfilter, downpipe, FMU ect. The kit starts at 2700 dollars and we are currently taking orders.

In the end it all matters on personel taste. Expect to pay about 7000-8000 dollars for a potent all motor setup that will get you 200 hp and about 9000-15000 dollars for 200+ hp.

I willl take the turbo please!

 

[Keith@FP]

Umm, the BEGI kit will be somewhere around $3000-$3500, not $5k.

I agree with all the others so far - turbos are far more cost-effective than NA mods. This is particularly true of modern motors, where old V8 tricks like changing the air filter will NOT give significant power gains. The engines are already very good. Turbocharging has far, FAR more potential for much less cost.

That said, I love my built NA motor in my Miata. It's got a different feel, and I'm notorious in the Miata community for running NA and working for the main turbo supplier

Before you embark on any modification, do your research and have a plan about what you want to do. You don't need a full parts list, merely a final result in your head. Otherwise, you'll end up with a car full of unrelated parts that don't mesh and you'll probably find yourself going down several dead (expensive) ends.

Keith

 

[quiksilver]

How much hp/torque can you get with a 5-6 psi kit on a P5?

 

[Keith@FP]

Well, here are our dyno runs:

www.fmprotege.com/tech/dyno.asp

Currently 167.5 hp and 191.5 ft/lbs at the wheels, 6 psi.

Keith

 

[DooMer_MP3]

Well, I'm figuring about a 18% drivetrain loss, so that is getting you quite close to the 200HP at the crank that I'd love to be at , and thats only at 6psi! If you can get this kit more solid, and free of some of the odd nuances people have been having with the 10 prototypes, I think you might have me sold.

As of now, the turbo side has instilled some fear into me. Enough to make me debate NA or Turbo again . Thanks for your findings Keith.

Chris