LarsHonda

I am planning on buying a turbo for my 98 civic ex and I wanted to know how well the engine will hold up if I get the stillen turbo, revhard intercooler, and hks greddy types blowoff valve. the car has about 55thousand miles on it.

liam821

i would highly recommend getting a thicker head gasket (2mm). That will lower the compression some and help with detination. Remember boost does not kill an engine, detination does. I would also get an aftermarket ignition, say a MSD.

With the head gasket and a good fuel management system you should beable to boost ~12psi safely. Although i might keep it to 8-10psi around on the street for safety.

Also check your compression before you do anything and make sure each cyl is within 5% of each other.

Last note, fuel management is the key...do the fuel right and you will have a very fun little car.

liam

sohc_boy

if u keep boost below 10 psi, the car should be fine. u should also change your plugs to a couple of heat ranges colder and retard your timing a little. u should also make sure your fuel is ok, not lean rich is safe, as was mentioned before this is pretty importanant to the life of your motor. i would probably upgrade the ignition system too, although i ran my car w/ a turbo and stock ignition for awhile.

bigTom

U DONT NEED TO LOWER YOUR DAMN COMPRESSION! i keep saying this yet people still think u need to lower it... honda's stock compression is fine with turbo... just make sure your fuel setup/management is setup right... imo it would be a waste to take off the head and put a new gasket on to lower the compression that little bit

DragII

8-10psi for over 15k miles, and over a year, NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER

as long as you pay attention to your car, ie a/f ratio, and don't boost it at every light, you'll be just fine

BTW I am running, stock compression, timing, and injectors

liam821

i soo agree with keeping the compression stock...But a lower compression is *safer* when problems arise...like if blow a vacuum line at 17psi (oops).
And with a honda running on pump gas with crappy hack ecu mods and other hacks to make it all work..sometimes safe is good.

liam

DragII

just to add, get spark plugs two ranges colder, and always run the highest octane gas available at the pump