Trying to make a list of what I need.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Cole

Interesting, that's piquing my interest in it just a little bit more. If only the wait time and the damn exchange between CAD and USD wasn't so bad...

Still some work to do to make the kit totally HDPE friendly, but it's come a very long way. I've been running mine since Feb 2014 and it's been rock solid reliable. It's the torque curve (mountain actually) that makes the things so darn fun.

There's a private party Phantom 1.5x kit for sale on the board right now which could help out the wait time. If you decide to buy new, Phantomsuperchargers is a Canadian company so your purchase would be patriotic

[Cole]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Still some work to do to make the kit totally HDPE friendly, but it's come a very long way. I've been running mine since Feb 2014 and it's been rock solid reliable. It's the torque curve (mountain actually) that makes the things so darn fun.

There's a private party Phantom 1.5x kit for sale on the board right now which could help out the wait time. If you decide to buy new, Phantomsuperchargers is a Canadian company so your purchase would be patriotic

I saw that kit, but at 2k it's just too much. 2800 Canadian, and I made myself commit to not doing anymore mods until after this season of autox finishes. If I consistently place top 25% then I can look into new parts, if not, I need to drive better with what I already have.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Cole

I saw that kit, but at 2k it's just too much. 2800 Canadian, and I made myself commit to not doing anymore mods until after this season of autox finishes. If I consistently place top 25% then I can look into new parts, if not, I need to drive better with what I already have.

Much logic here. Good thinking all the way around.

[Bykov]

Originally Posted by Kendallkab

So would it be a good idea to spend the money and get one of the built shortblocks from fbm or to buy the forged Pistons, rods , bearings and the other things required to have a properly built engine.

If you want MY honest opinion here it is: a naturally aspirated engine was not designed to have a turbo on it. The biggest issue lies in the oil pressure especially for the FA20 with it's range being so wide. This is why you see people with blown engines from a 7psi turbo and not a single one with the supercharger I will be running which peaks at 9.5psi. That early on torque brought on by the turbo coupled with the low oil pressure found where that torque is brought on is what kills these engines *in my opinion*. So yes, a fully built engine with paying special attention to oiling solutions along with pistons, crank and rods is a must. Don't skimp on the rods as they are the most common part to fail, Forged I or H beams should do. The most common cause of failure I stumble upon is a spun bearing, but I haven't read every thread on this forum yet so I just can't say I know that for a fact. Who you get to build your engine is up to you, I won't say any one shop is better than the other but usually being local to you is a big plus.


I really would advise you to take a ride in a 300hp car and see if you don't think that is not already a death trap....

[MokSpeed]

Achieving 300-400 whp reliably is a lot to ask of this motor. That is of course unless you don't mind spending nearly as much as the car cost on your build. I would recommend driving a twin that already has FI to get a better sense of how the car feels before you finalize your power goals. People really underestimate just how light these cars are. Hell I find the car fun as hell to drive at 220 whp @ 7PSI. Combine that with a reliable custom tune I don't see myself dumping any more money into performance.

[brzaapi]

As I stated I am on my 3rd BRZ, and have not made the jump to FI on this one. I dont even know if i will. My purpose is different than yours, as i mainly track mine. But, I concur with about everyone else here in saying that you should first drive some FI cars. And adjust your plan and expectations accordingly.

[Kendallkab]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Truth right here. I'm mean seriously 300 WHP is like 350 bhp. In a 2700 lb. car that much power is just bananas on the street. For non-drag cars it kinda seems like people want 400 WHP to go giant killing GTRs, Vettes, and M cars on the I-10 more than canyoning, HDPE or AutoX. I'm like 240 WHP / 275 BHP with 210 TQ and can say that in a car this light, speeds can get really high, really fast, with lots of good times had in the process. There is the occasional itch itch for more power, but the cost, reliability and street responsibility make me wonder if more power would be only theoretically more fun given the added costs.

Is yours on a stock motor?

[Kendallkab]

Originally Posted by brzaapi

Yes. Yes. to OBI-DAEMANO do you listen. Sorry im a Star Wars geek.

But what DAEMANO is saying above is true. I have owned 3 different BRZs, one was an FBM turbo car pushing over 400whp. It was very fast. But once the novelty of new power wore off. It was not as fun to drive on the street. And forget the track...it would overheat in a lap or two. Plus I was running 265s (tires) in the back and still could not get all that power to the ground. I did not do an engine build, and i never had the car long enough to see the longevity of my project. But i assume my days were numbered. However, I still spent a good 14k getting into a quality turbo build with different tunes for different fuels. That does not include engine internals, trans, diff or axle upgrades.

In short, since your fairly new to this, aim a little lower on power. You can always add more power later. Once you start chasing power, there will never be enough, and someone is always faster. There is a lot for you to learn along this road. Don't jump from 1st grade straight to 4th grade. There are some good lessons to learn along the way. Hope that make sense.

Or, screw what i said and go build a beast. But its a lotta money, and not as fun as your thinking. Plus its likely you will chase little problems or issues here and there. Most of us expect that, and accept it. But be sure that your ready for some aggravating days with a car not quite running perfect. 7 to 10psi is good. somewhere around 275whp is a good place to start. Then decide if you need more to enjoy your car.

Its a matter of how much financial commitment you want to make. If you go big first, then you may have some buyers remorse.

I think this is a great suggestion to me since I am new. This was my first car when I got it and I've always been in to cars but never really knew all of this stuff went into making a car more powerful until I started looking stuff up so I think I'll take the road your suggesting and aim for around 250 - 300 whp and learn more as I go. Is a built motor still perfered for running a little less 300whp. I've read the cars engine is pretty strong

[Bykov]

Originally Posted by Kendallkab

I think this is a great suggestion to me since I am new. This was my first car when I got it and I've always been in to cars but never really knew all of this stuff went into making a car more powerful until I started looking stuff up so I think I'll take the road your suggesting and aim for around 250 - 300 whp and learn more as I go. Is a built motor still perfered for running a little less 300whp. I've read the cars engine is pretty strong

The general consensus is 300whp and under is safe with this engine but I still have my reservations about power delivery with a turbo. I feel it is not "idiot proof". Lugging is not an issue with the FA20 until you turbo it. However, there are tons of people here that are doing just that with a turbo and are not having any problems. The issue with a forum is people don't get on just to post "hey I have a turbo making 300whp just fine" but once it blows you know they'll be here so the failure rate always APPEARS higher than it is. Just know you WILL reduce the life of your engine but that doesn't necessarily mean it will go in a cloud of smoke.


Being a beginner I am not suggesting you go with a supercharger but I DO suggest researching it just to know your options. They are less complicated systems with less points of failure but of course less efficient and don't make that low end power and if that's what you desire it's not the right choice for you. Every bit of research you do will make you that much more knowledgeable though so it's worth doing. It will not only help you make the right choice for your goals but also help you justify your choice to people that love to question people for the choices they make. Remember, it's your car and whatever choice you make is the right one if you're happy with it!

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Kendallkab

Is yours on a stock motor?

Yes all stock components.

[Kendallkab]

Originally Posted by Bykov

The general consensus is 300whp and under is safe with this engine but I still have my reservations about power delivery with a turbo. I feel it is not "idiot proof". Lugging is not an issue with the FA20 until you turbo it. However, there are tons of people here that are doing just that with a turbo and are not having any problems. The issue with a forum is people don't get on just to post "hey I have a turbo making 300whp just fine" but once it blows you know they'll be here so the failure rate always APPEARS higher than it is. Just know you WILL reduce the life of your engine but that doesn't necessarily mean it will go in a cloud of smoke.


Being a beginner I am not suggesting you go with a supercharger but I DO suggest researching it just to know your options. They are less complicated systems with less points of failure but of course less efficient and don't make that low end power and if that's what you desire it's not the right choice for you. Every bit of research you do will make you that much more knowledgeable though so it's worth doing. It will not only help you make the right choice for your goals but also help you justify your choice to people that love to question people for the choices they make. Remember, it's your car and whatever choice you make is the right one if you're happy with it!

My goal will be just under 300 at the wheel for now. I want to be able to beat a 350 since my friend plans on getting one ��. I will be sure to continue my research and explore all my other options as well as a supercharger. I greatly appreciate all the feedback

[Bykov]

Originally Posted by Kendallkab

My goal will be just under 300 at the wheel for now. I want to be able to beat a 350 since my friend plans on getting one ��. I will be sure to continue my research and explore all my other options as well as a supercharger. I greatly appreciate all the feedback

No worries, it's what the forums are for! Or at least what they should be for.