I am planning on purchasing a turbo kit for my 03 Base RSX within the next few months...i'm looking to make at least 350 WHP...any suggestions for kits that you've possibly had good experience with?...Any other suggestions would be appreciated as well. Thanks.

 

To make 350whp on the base rsx, you'll probably need to custom piece together you're own kit, and have the best tune possible. It's definately not impossible, I'm just not aware of any "kits" you can buy that will make 350 on the a3. You'll need one of the better sidewinder manifolds...full race, synapse, etc. Decent intercooler, good turbo, at least some 750cc injectors, and probably a fabbed exhaust / downpipe.

I ran into a few things I hadn't planned on in my EP3 boosting the stock k20a3...having to buy a new clutch, flywheel, fuel pump, and a few other random things so that the car itself could handle the drastic HP increase.

 

How long ago did you boost your EP3? Did you piece yours together as well after obtaining the necessary clutch, flywheel, fuel pump, etc. and if so, what did you put into it and how did it end up working out for you? Thanks.

 

I'm actually selling my turbo kit that I pieced together. I was going to be out of money after finishing it, and realized that the 375hp that Tony at T1 projected would annihilate my clutch. It's in a WTS: K-series custom turbo kit (new) in the forced induction for sale forum on the market place. I only made one mistake when ordering the parts, I needed an intercooler with the inlets on the same side, re-rerouting piping back to the same side of the engine bay is a bitch.

I spent about 2400 on parts alone piecing it together, 900 of it on the manifold. I still need k-pro and 1000$ for the fabbed 3" exhaust / downpipe from Abel Racing, which is a pretty good price. Downpipe has to be custom with the sidewinder manifolds, because they branch out to the side of the engine instead of the rear where the normal shitty cast iron manifolds would sit. I have a 62 trim turbo, with 3" piping all the way around

Decided to fix my suspension, clutch, flywheel, fuel pump, and wheels/tires before just bolting on an extra 200+HP.

 

Oh ok...yeah i'm currently in the process of saving up some money to buy a turbo kit and daily driver...I would really like to put on a Garrett GT35R but without a built motor or transmission, that probably would be such a good idea considering it's a 82 trim and rated around 680HP lol...so I might go with a GT28R or something around there. I've looked at various turbo kits online and most of them are made for the Type-S K20A2 motor, although i've heard from many people that the K20A3's are better for boosting. I already have aftermarket suspension so at least that won't be an issue...so I guess i'll start off getting a Clutch and Flywheel capable of handling a decent amount of power. I won't be doing the majority of the motor work myself because I don't have the time or tools to do it with the precision that I would like it to be done so luckily, i'm having a local friend of mine do it for around 500...were you going to do all of the work on yours yourself? Sometimes I just want to buy an integra and turbo that lol...so much cheaper and easier...but then I always remind myself that I have a base RSX and not a Type-S so I wouldn't really be as satisfied having it as just a daily driver, i'm sure many can relate. But anways, when piecing together your turbo kit, what were you going to do about the oil return lines, and all of the plumbing jargon associated with boosting your car?...Considering i've never actually boosted a car myself, i've always been curious what people do about these kinds of things.

 

A friend and I had planned on doing everything by ourselves, except the oil lines. He has a boosted h22 EK hatch that he has worked on for years, and even then he said that he really doesn't like messing with the oil lines...something your entire setup, and really your entire motor depends on. I was going to let Abel Racing do them in Oklahoma City. Other than that, you really can't mess anything up I guess. I mean, the other parts bolt on, and they only work 1 way. Even if it takes us longer to do, at least when I'm done I can say I did it, and know exactly where and what everything is. Letting someone else install it for you is cool I guess, you know it will be done right the first time. I on the other hand, enjoy reading, learning...and actually doing it myself.

Oh, another problem I ran into...rarely will everything work the first time, and my EP3 is my only car. Going to have to save up and buy a motorcycle or something for the probable 2 or 3 weeks my car will be down.

 

save your money and throw in a2 cams

 

WTF^^ Why not just get a complete a2 swap, or even the Type S itself? He wants to make around 350whp, and the amount of work to make the swap would end up costing more than a good turbo set-up because I'm sure the OP wouldn't be able to save any money in labor. Not only would it be pointless, but he would not only need to get the head done, but the block as well. a2 cams are meant for a k20a2, not for a low compression k20a3. Sure it can be done but there's no point.

 

why would he do a a2 swap when all he needs is the rockers and cams? and kpro , many people have made 199whp and more on just using the rockers and cams.,....then you boost it......i promise you that a stock a3 will not do 350whp

 

How reliable would that be for boost though? I guess I can see your point, plus the bottom end would be better being low compression already. I don't know if I would trust a conversion like that to boost. You know anyone with that same setup already?

 

i have seen a few people do all motor that way , and a couple do boost that way and they made good power and have been running with no issue for a loooooong time...since like 04.....tuning is your key no matter what you do....hell , i know a guy who made over 300 whp and ran a low 11 on a boosted stock LS motor....tuning is your key

 

So you have the a2 cam swap? I completely agree about tuning, I actually had a 12 sec LS-T EG myself.

 

Yeah, I would like to do everything myself and learn it well but like I said, I don't have the tools or really the time as of right now. Also, this guy I know is pretty much an expert when it comes to boosting Acuras/Hondas...he's boosted 8 of his own cars and various others for people. He and his brothers have a garage and junkyard and they do motor swaps and engine work as well as fix up salvaged cars and sell them. I think I might go with a turbo kit from Full-Race and maybe go with the GT28R...i'm not looking to make a crazy race car, just something quick and reliable...I figured 350HP would be sufficient but I would be satisfied with anything over 300 really. I'd like to stay away from the E-bay turbo kits but if i'm going to be paying over $3K i'd like to at least have some nice, reliable stuff...such as that of full race....unless I can find something cheaper that will still give me reliability ya know?

 

I've been doing some thinking and I might just build the motor a little bit in order to increase the HP to about that of a Type-S or maybe more if possible...and just add Type-R parts to it and make it really nice...then, I will buy an integra or a hatch and get an engine swap, turbo that, and have a nice daily driver AND a nice turbo car to drive around now and then. This way, I won't have to worry about ripping apart my RSX that I just paid 10 grand for...and I could save money because B series motors are much easier and cheaper to modify. Any suggestions for building the K20A3? (besides Intake, Header, Exhaust, Cams, and Kpro)

 

Cam gears, fuel rail...you could always venture into internals as well. Depends on how intricate you want to get with the all-motor thing.

 

Yeah...how much HP do you think I could generate from Intake, Header, Exhaust, Cams, and KPro?...or maybe minus the Kpro...I just want to make the equivalent to a Type-S or more if I can...but at the same time i'm not looking to spend a fortune on it because i'll likely be putting a great deal into the turbo car. I plan on hopefully making it into a Honda Integra Type-R (appearance-wise) and then maybe 220HP or so...that would be sufficient for a daily driver in my opinion. Then as far as the DC2 or whatever I end up making turbo, haha...i'm gonna do what I can to make as much HP as possible...

 

You could probably do without the kpro if you went with some Stage1 cams, but I really wouldn't suggest it. K-pro opens so many options, even for NA motors. You could make 200+ easy with I/H/E, stage 2 cams, stage 2 cam gears and a good tune.

If you go to skunk2's actual online store and call them, they will give you discounts for multiple products. You could roll with their headers, 2.75" megapower r exhaust, stage 2 cams, stage 2 cam gears, and then pick up an AEM cai or whatever you prefer.

 

you really need to go over to clubrsx forum....there are a lot of guys there that have boosted a base.....I think you will find that the a3 has a limited life span over 300whp. The rods/ crank tend to have issues much over that.....but go ahead and prove me wrong, just post up pis of your rod inspection ports when it goes.....I love motor gore.......

 

Motor Gore... mmmmm...

 

Yeah...well I would be sure to build the motor first if I was making that much power.

 

you need kpro to run pretty much anything that is internal motor parts i.e your stg 1 cams, they need to be tuned....also he wouldn't need to change the cam gears, the stock ones are fine...and on a personal note i wouldn't purchase any internal parts that skunk2 produces...mega power r exhaust is about as far as i would go....200+ is easy to accomplish with just kpro, i/rh/e and rbc...stg 2 cams would push it more around 220-230whp, i would recommend getting a different fuel rail thou if you went with the na setup, also don't forget once your creeping around that 220whp mark it would be advised to upgrade the clutch/flywheel setup and well as your injectors!!!

 

I'm sorry...i'm not following what i/rh/e and rbc is...what do you think I should do as far as the motor itself goes before boosting?...I want to make sure that I don't get any "engine" gore as a result of lacking reinforced engine components...but at the same time, i'm already going to be spending a decent amount on the turbo kit and it's parts...kinda sucks that I already am missing out on that 50-60HP just from it not being a type-s...but i'm trying to work with what I have...I like my car too much to sell it to get a Type-S...so what are your suggestions?...thanks.

 

Here,
Call Innovative Motorworks. 717-218-8227. Located in Carlisle, PA. No more than a 30 minute drive from Chambersburg. Ask for Derek and tell him Johnny sent you. Him and John will be able to assist you in everything. If you are serious about doing this, call. Easy going people and have been doing this for many years. They build, tune & perfect!

-Johnny

 

Oh ok...thank you Johnny...I appreciate it.