you go max boost-depending on stage u get much better numbers, but at the exspense of your internals needing major work and emissions r dun
Several kits, Flyin' Protege's included, are emissions legal in every way. The FP kit was engineered by Corky Bell, author of the aforementioned book in this thread. The Protege engine will handle
on stock internals up to 12 psi of boost from a T3 intercooled setup with fuel control. This has been proven time and again through repeat tests by many people.
not to mention new drive shafts and clutch work.
there is no evidence that new drive axles of any kind are needed for turbo applications. if you burn out all the time from every light, regardless of whether or not you are turboed, you will eventually need new axles. drive smart and you won't have this problem. I went more than six months with the stock clutch and even when I changed it, it was in perfect shape - i wanted a lighter flywheel and because the clutch was right there, figured what the hell
best bet is to go for the NA build, fsze style.
this is hardest, one of the most expensive and fruitless paths to modifying the engine you can take. high compression pistons will give you maybe 25 hp, cams on top of that 10 to 12 hp. The labor to have these parts installed plus parts cost will run you as much if not more than a turbo setup for less than half the power gains. Doing an FSZE engine swap is pretty useless unless you can swap the entire electrical system and ECU over to the Japanese spec OBD1 (USA runs OBD2). The ECUS are also NOT swappable on thier own. The 170hp FSZE engine plugged into an American ECU will yield you ZERO gains over an 130hp FSDE. Ask LinuxRacr, he's gone that route with little positive result.
another member of this forum, Chdesign, went the "all motor" NA route with his Protege and gained about 30 wheel horsepower, and his was the most complete, well done NA protege I've ever seen. My turbo kit at a "mere" 6 psi gains about 75 wheel horsepower. And there are stronger, faster kits being offered now.
