HELP: How much is too much power? :)
 

So, I have a 2017 DGM BRZ, with 18/9.5 wheels and 235/40/r18 Hankook RS3s.

I just managed to buy a lightly used SME Turbo kit with a GTX 2867r.

I should be able to get near 210-220ish atwkw (near 280-300hp) which was my goal....

but...here is the dilemma:

Also on offer for cheap is the following
Deatschwerks 1200cc injectors
Deatschwerks 300c pump in pre-modified pump cradle.
Invidia o/p and catted midpipe
Greddy Evo GT 3" catback
Extreme 230mm twin plate organic clutch
GFB GForce 2 electronic boost controller


Which on e85 will give closer to 300kw (400hps) if I want (apparently).

SO HOW MUCH BLOODY HORSES SHOULD I GET?!?

I want the car to be a fun daily spirited driver... with maybe a track day here and there.

I definitely do NOT want it to be unfun because it's too much of a beast, and hard to drive safely.

Well 300hp at the wheels is pretty good you want to budget for at least an oil cooler and a clutch with even that setup.

with the 400whp setup well that probably pushing the bounds of friendship with a stock motor and driveline components if you want to drive it on track or hard with any sort of reliability and you still need oil cooler and clutch.

e85 can be hard to source in many places so you might need to consider flex fuel setup as well.

most people struggle to outdrive a stock car with basic mods like better tyres and brake pads

Have you already mastered the stock power level? If not, doubling the HP isn't going to make it any easier to control.

:) well... I have flipped a BRZ... :D

I've come from a WRX, and driven modded WRX STI on track.

I have the same kit coming soon, 220wkw will need injectors and maybe a fuel pump. You will be lucky 200wkw without injectors with a little safety margin.

Nah man you need 2000hp who cares about controlling when all we're gonna do is drive straight :D

If you don't know, then go conservative. Especially if you've already flipped one.

205 is too much horsepower!

I would say 200-220 is the best bet on a stock motor on a decent reading dyno. You dont want to push all this power then be scared to use it worrying about the engine busting up etc.

Alot of people have been on 200-230 in QLD and haven't had any issues with the right tune. I think if you start pushing past that you become worried and cant just enjoy it as much.

Unless your planning on building later then go for it push it and have fun :P

Sounds like you bought the used kit from import monster? Fantastic value and I was tempted but I'm holding out for a twin scroll efr kit.

I've driven a low boost 86 with around 220 or 240hp and that was super fun. I think initially I am only shooting for 300hp with a new clutch, oil cooler and fuel. Any more than that and you have to worry about gearbox and drive shaft failures.

As long as you get a setup that will let you choose more power later then you can't go wrong. You just don't want to be buying 2 turbo kits just because you want 100 more hp

Yeah, Aaron's kitted me up with some good stuff. The pics of that DGM BRZ from last week are mine :)

It's a very good kit and the components included are excellent.

Last time I dyno'd on 16 PSI with the Borg Warner kit, I made 254kW on a 40C day fully heat soaked after a 2 hour drive. That was with stock front pipe and midpipe, blast pipe from axle. It would drop down to about 12 PSI by red line due to restrictive exhaust components.

I've since fitted a Blitz 2.75" catless front pipe and refitted the rear muffler and my 14.5 PSI boost level feels the same as what my 16 PSI setting does and I had to readjust boost control as I wasn't getting anywhere near the same taper at high RPM.

I also run stock wheels with not so decent tyres. Grip on 98 RON and 14.5 PSI is good but not great. Grip on E85 and any boost level is virtually non-existent.

I have DW 700CC Injectors which are at about 85% Duty Cycle on 18 PSI, DW 300C fuel pump, Competition Clutch Stage 4 (for the price in Australia, buy a Mantic), SME BW 6758 EFR kit 3" dump to 2.5" over pipe and the rest of the exhaust above.

To get the most out of the power now, I need to strengthen my drive shafts because they will go pop, run better tyres and pray to Jesus as I'm hammering the engine that it doesn't go bang.

How much is too much power?

Too Much:
When you can't afford to fix something when it breaks; because you went "all in" on the build.

Anything over 400 is enough. Above that you get into useless power, more broken transmissions and more money spent.