Often on these type of boards, many people ask "what type of manifold should I get" or "what's the best turbo" or "what's the best product" questions when they post on these boards and the most common response is SEARCH or someone gets into a fight about how many 6 second civics his friend has built.

I want to ask this for all nOoBs but in a different way. I was hoping you pros over here would be willing to share ONE thing that you would have done differently if you could go back in time to the first time you undertook a FI project. A hiccup in the process that you learned alot from and could have only learned that way by experience.

For example..."I went with a Drag Gen 3 kit when I shoulda just put my own kit together" OR I paid way too much for (insert product here) when if I just woulda waited a week or searched more I would have found it 10x cheaper." I think you all get the point, but please be specific even if it was only one little thing.

I thinks its a lot easier to tell what NOT to do as its from experience than giving your opinion on what someone should do.

 

This is my personal opinion. I would of bought a 1992-1995 Civic with a B16a to start with instead of an 00 Si so I could of had more money for my project. I'm selling my 00 Si now but it's a pain in the *** selling cars. Everything else I did right because I researched.

 

Not to do ? have a girlfriend...they cost too much money..

just get a fu$# buddy or buddies and you'll still be boosting and get what your daily need..

stan

 

that, and dont let cars fall off jacks, cutting the end of your thumboff.
<--- personal experience

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flamenco-T &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not to do ? have a girlfriend...they cost too much money..

just get a fu$# buddy or buddies and you'll still be boosting and get what your daily need..

stan</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL!!!

I'd do the same thing again, but I would have kept the DAMN A/C!!!

 

I wouldn't have skimped on my fuel management.

 

run a pump and regulator setup. save up for a standalone instead.

 

i would not use Hondabond for the oil return line fitting or JB Weld. get it (oilpan) welded properly.
(which I STILL havn't done)

don't skimp on fuel management.

know that you need deep pockets for FI, really deep pockets.

do lots of research BEFORE jumping in.

dont touch the turbo after running the car hard

 

Wish i wouldn't have had a shop install it and done it myself.

 

i wish i wouldve spent the money on a hondata when i first got my turbo because the old versions seemed cheaper to tune. by the time i decided i wanted hondata the new models came out and the prices weren't too bad but the new prices to tune and even get a basemap put it outta my budget. poo on me for procrastinating

 

If putting together your own kit, and are given the option between two parts (one cheap, one not as cheap) go for the better quality/more expensive one. There were a few times when I would opt for the cheaper part to save a little dough, but ending up either wanting or buying the more expensive part later anyways...now which was really the cheap and which was the expensive one?

Ryan P.

 

do the oil return line the right way.

 

dont spray carb cleaner in the wrong way of a one way valve.

nothing goes on schedule... realizing that before I started would have saved me alot of my nerves.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by twkdCD595 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nothing goes on schedule... realizing that before I started would have saved me alot of my nerves.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, and don't get your hopes up either.

Ithink this was a really good approach to ask this question. I would have skipped over the usual "what's the best turbo kit" question. Don't go cheap. I wish I would have saved up and bought everything at one time. (turbo, fuel management, etc.). As for parts, I haven't really had any bad experiences with any particular brands yet. Good luck. Oh yeah, it's always gonna cost more than you planned for.

 

have extra money.

you WILL go over your budget

 

Do not even attempt starting the project untill you have acquired everything. Make sure you research and ask around and make sure you even have a clue what that "everything" even entails. Then once you buy all that and wasted your life savings away, save up more because you will need it for install and tuning unless you can do it your self. Either way still save up because either A.) you will break something or B.) you will want more.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pissedoffsol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">have extra money.

you WILL go over your budget </TD></TR></TABLE>

and take twice as long to install as you thought it would

and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait for the part your ordered to finally come in.

 

Don't mod an auto.

 

dont cheap out on things.

 

don't rush anything. you'll be redoing it.

 

Don't get married.

I had a quick little single cammer with big plans, now I have a stock single cammer and a GSR stuck in the 15's..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTC_CiViC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don't get married.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL! Everyone should take this advice. Weather your car is turbo, na, slow fast...whatever!

I've never been married, but know lots of guys at work that got SCREWED in divorces.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flamenco-T &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not to do ? have a girlfriend...they cost too much money..

just get a fu$# buddy or buddies and you'll still be boosting and get what your daily need..

stan</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL...that was great

 

oil return killed me and no half assing like check valves and jb weld..also RESEARCH learn off of everyone elses mistakes

 

These are great guys...although...I was wondering if you could expand a little more on some of your suggestions, like:

"Wish I wouldnt have skimped on the fuel management"

What did you do first(FPR, Inline Pump, FMU & Check Valves), what do you wish you had done the first time(AEM EMS)?

I am hoping this can be a thread for all of those "What's the best Turbo Kit" posts to be refered to in the future!