Forced Induction Buyer's Guide | $5,000 +/- (otd) | Daily Driver Spec

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Far too early, but a variant of this engine has been out since MY2012 on the Impreza platform. You could check the word on those engines to see if they have the headgasket issue - what I will say is that most recent turbo EJ engines haven't had outright failures like the 90s NA engines...but they still leak a bit (first-hand knowledge, saw a new STI with ~3K miles on a lift).

Leaking? Ain't nobody got time fo dat

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Leaking? Ain't nobody got time fo dat

Not an outright leak per se, but the area where the heads and block meet actually attracts a lot more grime/dirt. That would lead me to think it's weeping a tad bit, no?

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by 1086

Which supercharger kit(s) + supporting mods specifically given the price range?

A rotrex kit (Jackson Racing or Kraftweks for now) would be your best bet. The "tune included" kits for both come to about $5k for either & they're supposed to work with stock internals & exhausts, so you'd be fine there.

Though I'd still at least upgrade your fuel pump (about $150), & upgrade your tires and wheels (go wider & get good rubber... About $1200 if you're fine with inexpensive wheels and stick to 17" rims) to hold to the ground.

Then save up for clutch for when stock wears out eventually.

I'd also suggest engine mounts & transmission bushings.

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[1086]

So, if we are working towards that rough 250 whp goal...and include what everyone has been sharing - Perhaps this is too general of a question but,

Supercharger w/ mostly stock hardware = less likely heat/damage issues?
Turbocharger w/ mostly stock hardware = more likely heat/damage issues?

This isn't to say one is better than the other by any means
safe to say/ask?

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by 1086

So, if we are working towards that rough 250 whp goal...and include what everyone has been sharing - Perhaps this is too general of a question but,

Supercharger w/ mostly stock hardware = less likely heat/damage issues?
Turbocharger w/ mostly stock hardware = more likely heat/damage issues?

This isn't to say one is better than the other by any means
safe to say/ask?

I don't think heat damage is the issue - the torque spike of a turbo (which *can* be tuned out, but who would do that?) is going to induce more wear on the reciprocating assembly. Can anyone with more knowledge comment on this?

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by 1086

So, if we are working towards that rough 250 whp goal...and include what everyone has been sharing - Perhaps this is too general of a question but,

Supercharger w/ mostly stock hardware = less likely heat/damage issues?
Turbocharger w/ mostly stock hardware = more likely heat/damage issues?

This isn't to say one is better than the other by any means
safe to say/ask?

Yes and no, it also depends on turbo location.

[nelsmar]

Originally Posted by 1086

So, if we are working towards that rough 250 whp goal...and include what everyone has been sharing - Perhaps this is too general of a question but,

Supercharger w/ mostly stock hardware = less likely heat/damage issues?
Turbocharger w/ mostly stock hardware = more likely heat/damage issues?

This isn't to say one is better than the other by any means
safe to say/ask?

Well a wastegate issue could cause over spool and damage. A supercharger could only over spool if you somehow downshifted instead of upshifted and over rev'd your engine. In which the case you probably would have already done damage. Both have their us and downs. From my experience a turbo "feels" faster as you get that surge of power coming in after pushing the throttle vs a nice linear power from a supercharger. I tell most people to buy a turbo kit as they mostly want that power feeling. But I personally absolutely loved my supercharger setup. And would do it again all over again if I had a stock car right now.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

I don't think heat damage is the issue - the torque spike of a turbo (which *can* be tuned out, but who would do that?) is going to induce more wear on the reciprocating assembly. Can anyone with more knowledge comment on this?

This^ I've been told humorous times, hp doesn't cause issues, it's tq.
hp=top speed
Tq= how quickly you get there

The quicker you get there, the faster the internals rotate, the higher probability of damage. But I'm hesitant to think at this power level, this will be much of an issue.

[SirBrass]

For 250 whp, SC would be easier. Heat will be as much of an issue as with a turbo. Thus the FMIC. No worries. Rotrex sc does handle heat better, though.
Problem with sc is potential for more power without upgrading the blower. With a turbo, you can just add more boost (in terms of making more power & tuning for it), where with an sc, it's a constant amount of air moved for a given rpm.

So big power potential lies with the turbo. But if you want to get to the mid 200s on whp & stay there, an sc kit will do as well as a stage 1 turbo, but you'll just feel like you're driving a bigger displacement engine than an FI'd 4cyl

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[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Yes and no, it also depends on turbo location.

Cooling can always be improved (SC or turbo, don't matter) - reciprocating assembly wear, however, requires thousands in parts. We can say this engine is stout, but we'll know in a few years when people have ~60K on their FI setups.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by nelsmar

...Not that MPG is a huge deal but I don't want to see 10-15MPG, its annoying as hell filling up every other day

If you were getting that just from an added S/C...I'd be seriously worried about the injectors lol

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by 1086

So, if we are working towards that rough 250 whp goal...and include what everyone has been sharing - Perhaps this is too general of a question but,

Supercharger w/ mostly stock hardware = less likely heat/damage issues?
Turbocharger w/ mostly stock hardware = more likely heat/damage issues?

This isn't to say one is better than the other by any means
safe to say/ask?

250whp? Hows 240ish with zero supporting mods? This is the Jackson Racing kit on our car without an engine oil cooler.




I don't know what the Kraftwerks kit will do, since they've gone silent, but I suspect it'll be similar for single dyno pulls.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

I don't think heat damage is the issue - the torque spike of a turbo (which *can* be tuned out, but who would do that?) is going to induce more wear on the reciprocating assembly. Can anyone with more knowledge comment on this?

It's not the torque spike. Rather, it's the peak torque output.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

If you were getting that just from an added S/C...I'd be seriously worried about my injectors lol

He's on E85...