Vivid Racing turbo kit. Reviews?

[scoutsout]

I have come across a turbo kit for our car, direct bolt on.

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/t...2-p-42982.html

I was reading some old post on here about someone making a custom kit, or got a kit from turbokits.com and how bad they were. Well I'm just wondering if this is just as bad. I'm not looking to go all out and shoot for 250hp or 12psi, 5psi will do just fine. With it that low, you don't even need an intercooler. Anyways, guys if you would please let me know whatcha think.

[Milky]

Originally Posted by scoutsout

I have come across a turbo kit for our car, direct bolt on.

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/t...2-p-42982.html

I was reading some old post on here about someone making a custom kit, or got a kit from turbokits.com and how bad they were. Well I'm just wondering if this is just as bad. I'm not looking to go all out and shoot for 250hp or 12psi, 5psi will do just fine. With it that low, you don't even need an intercooler. Anyways, guys if you would please let me know whatcha think.

first, you will most deffinatly need an intercooler. simply because the engine is high compression(10:1). you do not want to even risk detonating on the stock bottom end. it will end badly.

second, that kit has a tiny turbo. i wouldnt even run it on a 1zz. it will be too fast spooling and drop off on the top end where all the fun is. other than that the kit looks decent. very basic. there are some parts that will not and cannot be used, such as the rising rate fuel pressure regulator. we have a returnless style. unless you drop 600 extra from MWR for their return kit and fuel rail, that regulator will be useless. there is also the problem on fuel management. there is none with that kit (sans aforementioned regulator)

if you want to turbo, but are on a budget i would suggest taking your time and piece together a kit over the next year. turboing any car is not something to rush into. research, planning, and lots of knowledge will go a long way.

my suggestion on a nice turbo kit for a stock engine/daily driver:
JGS precision manifold
t3 super 60. (internally gated to 7psi)
2.5in turbo back exhaust. (muffler and resonator of your choice)
2.25 - 2.5in intercooler kit
BOV (cheap option is a 1st gen DSM bov)
370cc/min injectors (can be a little bit bigger, but i wouldnt go much smaller than 350cc/min)
as for fuel management, if your non vvti you really have 2 options. a piggy back like the greddy emanage ultimate (dont go for the blue) or swap to a DIY plug and play megasquirt from DIYautotune.
if your vvti, then i would say go the power fc route. but you will need to swap you corolla ecu harness connectors for celica gt connectors.
either way i would recommend a j&s safeguard, aem uego wideband, and a egt/pyrometer of your liking.

the big thing is tuning. find a well experienced local tuner and be prepared to spend some money to have it tuned right.

[scoutsout]

Good info, thank you. I didn't even think of the compression bein high. I had a '85 300zx (single turbo, not twin) that only ran 5psi and ran like a champ. Yes it was a 6 cylinder, but still. The reason I was thinking I didn't need an intercooler is because my Z didn't have one. But I completly forgot about the high compression that my Rolla has. I guess I could run 7psi, by the time it hit the intake from the turbo, it would basicly be at 4-5psi TRUE boost. I don't really have a budget, I was asking if this would be a good kit to start with. I have been doin research for a good couple of months now. Trying to understand all the tech stuff about it. I understand how the basic system runs and works, but the technical portion such as the fuel management system, ect. forget it. Any other input is much appreciated. And I know keep researching.

[Milky]

Originally Posted by scoutsout

Good info, thank you. I didn't even think of the compression bein high. I had a '85 300zx (single turbo, not twin) that only ran 5psi and ran like a champ. Yes it was a 6 cylinder, but still. The reason I was thinking I didn't need an intercooler is because my Z didn't have one. But I completly forgot about the high compression that my Rolla has. I guess I could run 7psi, by the time it hit the intake from the turbo, it would basicly be at 4-5psi TRUE boost. I don't really have a budget, I was asking if this would be a good kit to start with. I have been doin research for a good couple of months now. Trying to understand all the tech stuff about it. I understand how the basic system runs and works, but the technical portion such as the fuel management system, ect. forget it. Any other input is much appreciated. And I know keep researching.

the best thing to do is get these two books. Maximum Boost by Corky Bell, and How to Tune And Modify Engine Management Systems by Jeff Hart.

also, it would be 7psi. the proper way to setup a turbo system is by plumbing all the vac lines (boost gauge & BOV signal lines) behind the throttle body on the manifold. the waste gate signal line should be placed just before the throttle body on the cold side piping. so your engine would really be running 7psi. the second thing that comes into play with an intercooled setup, as your aware of is pressure drop. to figure that out you must first know the cooling efficiency and the flow ratings of the intercooler core. this is explained in Corky Bell's book. i cannot stress this enough to read these books before turbo charging. they are excellent books and will keep you from making a costly mistake you may regret.

fuel management is pretty simple once you get into it. there is alot of math, so you better be good at it. ive tuned quite a few different cars now, everything from a supercharged high comp d16 honda, to an itb'd saturn 1.9l (llo engine for those that know) to turbo ka-t's and other odd ball builds. tuning is the key to all engine builds. anything from a thrown together turbo kit to a 15K engine build. if its tuned like shit, it will run like shit.

get both books and read them 2-3 times while piecing everything together. trust me, it will be the best 80 bucks of the build you will have ever spent.

[Downhillzze110]

+1 for good advice. i flipped thru max boost by bell. i think it was better book than my ASE/NATEF certified engine repair book.

[scoutsout]

Yes thank you for that. Goin to Hastings to get 'em. It's gunna be a while before I even start this project. But when I start, I'll be blowin the forum up of questions that those two books can't answer.

[Milky]

Originally Posted by scoutsout

Yes thank you for that. Goin to Hastings to get 'em. It's gunna be a while before I even start this project. But when I start, I'll be blowin the forum up of questions that those two books can't answer.

i think between those two books it should have most of your questions taken care of. but if not just shoot me a pm or make a thread on here, if i see it ill do my best to help you out.

[scoutsout]

Originally Posted by Milky

i think between those two books it should have most of your questions taken care of. but if not just shoot me a pm or make a thread on here, if i see it ill do my best to help you out.

Sure thing. Thanks again!!