Upping the power on an SE Turbo -Advise please.

[ManiacLachy]

No reason not to do ECU early, but you'd have to tune again for each subsequent change.

[pepejesus]

I reckon if you want to do stages you might be better off going:

Stage 1
Intake
Intercooler
Boost controller / BOV

That takes you about as far as you'd want to go with the standard ECU. You shouldn't run into any major ECU/fuel issues if you keep the boost relatively low (~9psi?). This is basically what my car is running at the moment and it gives a good bump over stock while being ok driveability wise (as ok as you get with the stock ECU anyway...)

Stage 2
ECU
Injectors
Exhaust

And then you can up the boost when you do the tune and go for 200+rwhp.

Also means you only have to tune once, but the trade off is living with the stock ECU through stage 1...

I think doing the other bits you've got in stage 1 without doing the intercooler will mean you run into heat soak issues.

[Roadrunner]

Depends how long you are going to leave it between upgrades.

My SE was just an Intercooler and exhaust, stock everything else and made 160hp at the wheels.
Adding an ECU to the mix put it up to around 175hp (12psi) but sooo much better to drive in every way. Way more power down low with boost coming on early and smoothly. Chalk and cheese to the factory ECU.

Yes I will need a retune when I eventually add injectors and intake etc, but that won't be for quite some time yet and to be honest, I'm really liking the car as is at the moment so stumping up for a retune again later down the track doesn't really bother me. Definitely getting my money/fun out of the current tune for sure

If you think you'll upgrade the injectors, intake and up the boost sooner than later, leave the ECU till after its all done (as advised previously) to save tuning costs ;)

[ManiacLachy]

Don't forget the throttle body elbow ;) it should be done at the same time as the BOV.

I wouldn't do a boost controller before ECU, you'd have to go manual before, and you want to go with a solenoid controlled by the ECU after.

For the record, I've done everything except ECU, injectors and boost. I plan to do all 3 at once. The stock ECU currently annoys the hell out of me, I avoid WOT as much as possible.

[pepejesus]

Couldn't you just use a stand alone electronic boost controller (eg HKS EVC-S) with the controller itself operating the solenoid, then when you replace the ECU, ditch the controller but keep the solenoid and have the ECU control the solenoid?

[Daffy]

Hey Billybunter- fyi RE your SE power increase- if your interested, I have a 2560R garrett ball bearing turbo (HPC, ceramic coated) that i got fro mx5mania a little while ago before my 3rd build- Its seen less than 2000ks of use and is in perfect working condition. PM me if your interested

[davekmoore]

That /\/\, bearing in mind you'll otherwise waste money trying to get the little IHI to perform.

[billybunter]

thanks but I bought a gtx 2863r a couple of weeks ago

[SKYHI]

bearing in mind you'll otherwise waste money trying to get the little IHI to perform.

I understand that the IHI certainly has it's limitations, but wouldn't a lot of the upgrades such as exhaust, CAI, intercooler and ECU etc all be reusable once you decided to upgrade the turbo and do some rods etc?

[Nevyn72]

bearing in mind you'll otherwise waste money trying to get the little IHI to perform.

I understand that the IHI certainly has it's limitations, but wouldn't a lot of the upgrades such as exhaust, CAI, intercooler and ECU etc all be reusable once you decided to upgrade the turbo and do some rods etc?

Exhuast - not the first part (dump pipe) as the IHI has a different outlet than most other turbos.
CAI - possibly some of it but positioning and size of the compressor intake is unlikely to match.
Exhaust manifold - probably needs to be changed, like the dump pipe, the connection is different to most turbos.
Intercooler - new hotside pipework most likely required due to positioning.

So to answer your question, errrrrr....... No!

[NitroDann]

So the manifold and turbo will need to be swapped which changes the position of all of the inlets and outlets to the turbo, and the shape and style so everything connecting to it needs changing, from the front of the exhaust to the start of the intercooler piping and the intake.

Almost no one with an SE upgrades to a big enough clutch or injectors or exhaust first time around so usually they get swapped out also.

So that leaves the 150 dollar intercooler core itself, and the ECU if it has all the features youd want at 20psi and 250+whp.

Dann

[SKYHI]

Ah yes, didn't really think that through did I

Thanks for the info.

[ManiacLachy]

If you don't think you'll be happy with what the IHI can deliver, then you'd be best to buy a standard & cheaper NB and getting all the work done to turbo it - because you'll be replacing all of the existing SE turbo parts if you move away from the IHI and spending far too much.

So, is 220 rwhp enough for you? Then you could get the SE and upgrade bit by bit as time/money allows. Otherwise, buy a clean NB for thousands less, and when you're ready send it and the saved thousands to Dann and get a 250-260 rwhp beast. But you might want to find yourself a torsen with a longer ratio than the standard NB's diff.

Oh, you could upgrade the IHI, search for BNR or Blouche and you'll see they can do some work to the turbo to get more from it. This way you'll retain the positioning of the manifold and intercooler piping, and any upgraded bits such as the DP, intake.

[SKYHI]

Yep, original plan was to just do the upgrades for 220rwhp, and be done with it. Anymore than that and you then have to consider engine internals and drive train stresses etc, and it can be a very slippery slope. For me the other things that make the SE worth considering are legality, insurance and resale (as I don't have a good record of keeping cars for long ). I know that some "upgrades" won't be completely legal but easier to get away with being a factory turbo car.