When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
I am building my "ultimate commuter" which is a 2002 Honda insight, engine and trans is out of a 1.5L 2008 Honda Fit Sport automatic 5 speed with paddle shifters. Engine will remain mostly stock with the exception of Hondata Flash Pro, oil cooler, custom short runner intake manifold due to no clearance for the stock one, and of course a turbocharger. There will also be an adequate intercooler but not sure yet what kind until manifold is done and engine installed.
With exception of a rare drag strip visit just to know what she can do, this car will not be raced, launched etc. I am looking for an honest 150 BHP with a slightly higher capacity for the future. The less lag the better. Car will weigh right at 2000 pounds. Driven daily, Lowered on 195/45 15 Toyo Proxes TR1s. 95% freeway car which will be driven in normal traffic 99% of the time so drivability and reliability and cost are important.
Also know Im equipped to build my own manifold including custom flanges if needed.
The following is a list that I have been looking at that seem to fit the bill....
Please give an opinion of what you like best and also feel free to recommend one not on the list.
re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
It seems like you've done a bit of research, but have you mapped these out? Garrett has compressor maps available online and all the info you need to plot correctly.
re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
If you want the quickest spool up get the Garrett 2056. Powerwise the compressor maps of the 2056, 2252 and 2560 are similar for your power goals. The smaller turbine is going to need more psi for the same whp compared to the larger.That´s the trade off for faster spoolup. If it´s a daily I would get the 2056 because you will be in the efficient area of the map most of the time. Remember you´re only 1.5 displacement.
re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
You can check the Garrett gt 2056 compressor map in atpturbo.com. It seems turbobygarrett.com deleted it. Any way you should check if the auto tranny can hold such high early torque.
re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
Originally Posted by gabocastano
You can check the Garrett gt 2056 compressor map in atpturbo.com. It seems turbobygarrett.com deleted it. Any way you should check if the auto tranny can hold such high early torque.
Despite its popularity, they are looking to remove the turbocharger from the lineup. Dumb move, but very likely
Company is in CA, it seems like these are made by Garrett in china, for the chinese market. If so would it have the same characteristics as the one from APT but with funny flanges and oil cooling?
This it the same GT22 in the first post but on their own website, anyone aware of this company? If this turbo were to hold up at 7psi I would be satisfied, oil cooling seems nice but never seen it on a small turbo before.
Sorry for these randoms, I had a tough time on this one because the only legit forum threads are people that are driven to race..... even the street cars. I want a very factory feel and I want reliability and I want cheap..... I want a lot I know. Even this EVO turbo would work but seem big? I don't know..... I DO know how to make a crazy flange though FWIW
re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
Originally Posted by LightningTeg
You should stick to the recommendations made already.
Well, There are a few GT20s in different configurations from cheap to not so cheap.... One of them sold by a company Im not familiar with so based on those recommendations I have more questions, also no-one mentioned anything else besides garret so Im brining that up as well.
re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
There's no heat, Bongo., It's just that you're asking us to increasingly mentally stretch our brainstorming more into your lower budget ideas (Other than the Evo 8 16G6 which is about as quality as you're going to get.), and we're just not willing to invest the time any further into the lower budget cost without more on-board testimony (actual use of each turbo from these ideas you're getting). We're not going to lie to you or speculate. We're just kinda done going into it, until you've actually started doing some "mad scientist"-style testing yourself; meaning.. go ahead and try a few of these out first.
Regardless as to how you feel about the secularism of each question you've stated (and yes, we've understood you perfectly), It's time to tap multiple resources for your ideas and include what you've put together already. We keep pushing more of the Garrett ideas because many of them fit the size and utility constraints you're looking for in more universally housed systems. We don't delve into a lot of OEM turbine housing "frankenstein" types of turbo setups because that requires a lot more designing, modeling, and fabrication than we're honestly willing to perform and document. If you've got the tools and talent, now is your time to shine and contribute to your own process, and not just look to what we think. In the end, what we think is irrelevant. It's your project, start getting done.
No hate,, heat, throwing shade or ball-busting. No insults, or disrespect, just.... at a point where we have to stop talking about flying, and kick you out of the nest so you can spread your wings, fail, and then succeed. ..
So, Get to it, and get back to us about your feedback. ya know? We'll be here, no worries.
Last edited by TheShodan; 01-15-2017 at 03:54 PM.
Reason: Tough love approach to turbocharging.
Re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
I have been looking at turbos for this for a good 6 months to a year, Ive read countless hours and Im kind of reaching for straws at this point, your right about the doing my own research part but understand there is no one to ask other than spending thousands to try all these turbos. I have actually asked questions on the DIY turbo forums and get zero. I did find out that Honeywell does in fact manufacture turbos in China but then that brings me back to the question is a 2056 made in china the same as the one ATP sells? Sorry if that is an unreasonable question but who do I ask? I have been reading this forum for 15ish years and it seems like a logical question yet THAT is where I get the heat from and ultimately my thread deleted.
Re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
Originally Posted by BongoBennie
I have been looking at turbos for this for a good 6 months to a year, Ive read countless hours and Im kind of reaching for straws at this point, your right about the doing my own research part but understand there is no one to ask other than spending thousands to try all these turbos. I have actually asked questions on the DIY turbo forums and get zero. I did find out that Honeywell does in fact manufacture turbos in China but then that brings me back to the question is a 2056 made in china the same as the one ATP sells? Sorry if that is an unreasonable question but who do I ask? I have been reading this forum for 15ish years and it seems like a logical question yet THAT is where I get the heat from and ultimately my thread deleted.
There's manufacture in Taiwan, and there is manufacturing in China. Location doesn't make much of a difference in the era of globalized manufacture, but the standards as to how consistent that manufacture process is, should be what is important to you. Not just where.
To directly answer your question, Any of those turbos can be have some of its components manufactured in one country, assembled in another country, and shipped from a third country. It doesn't usually go by turbo part number, but sometimes it can. For example. You can have the castings molded in Taiwan (Different from China, get a map and look at some history before you conclude "same thing, different name" like many Americans), full units assembled and tested in MexiCali, and shipped from there to a U.S. distribution center.
Only the logistics team at Honeywell will be able to answer that question, and you're not going to be able to call them to find out. If you don't want to do Garrett, then don't. But don't be surprised if you get the same answers from Holset, Volvo (Now owned by a Chinese conglomerate), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Precision, or Turbonetics (Now both under one umbrella). The only completely in-house manufacture and design turbocharger facility as of recent years is IHI (Ishikawa Harima-Heavy Industries) which now has a U.S. facility. So, basically, you'd want to find an OEM Subaru VF39/ VF48 as your best stock alternatives, if this is the path you really want to take this.
The question of "where it's made" is not so simple anymore. Hasn't been for 15 years.
That's like going to store that is known to sell highly marketable clothing, and all have tags of "Made in (not the U.S.A.) still on it. Are you still going to buy it? Or go somewhere else if the consistency of the fabric is fine to you? Stop this "made in China" discrimination, because honestly, a lot more is made over there than you want to realize.
Honeywell Turbo Technologies has facilities in Taiwan, China, Japan, and the U.S.A. The overall concern is consistency of manufacture. If you think that location is the only criteria you have to compare against the eBay cheapo versions of these turbos, then, you've got a lot to learn about how manufacture works.
In the meantime, if you want to avoid the "Chinese knock-off" stuff, stay away from CX-Racing, Hinmi-Racing, and similar companies that bank on eBay to do the majority of their sales. Not because of being made overseas, but because of their lack of consistent manufacturing standards.
Re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
OK, after some more research (learning to read compressor maps etc) and accepting the $1000 price range I Have narrowed it down to two units. The GT2052 which seems to have the ideal compressor map for my goals but only oil cooling and journal bearings vs the GT2554r which is slightly bigger but BB as well as water cooled, the price difference is small but neither is cheap so I want to pic the right one. Again, my goals are a very smooth, responsive, and crisp power band, 130ish whp and 6500rpm redline (quickest spool!)
Re: Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
Summer heat wave cooling "R&D", after trying a new aftermarket OEM replacement we hit 115°F days and car struggled, in the end I went with the 2858X CSF Civic dual core which comes with SPAL fan, I upgraded it to the 1325CFM unit, Also moved the heat exchanger up some to give radiator a bit of direct air..... now, it runs very cool even on the hottest days!!
01-05-2017, 07:29 AM
Project 2002 Honda insight -1.5 Fit Automatic Turbo: Insights Are Welcome
We'll be here, no worries. 
