Which Car?

Im planning to buy a car this summer and i have narrowed it down to three choices: 94'+ Integra LS, 94'+ Integra GSR or 97'+ prelude. Im going to be spending up to 6.5 to 7k tops and depending on the car, i will decide what kind of performance mods im gonna install --(ls/vtec, supercharger, turbocharger). My fwhp goals are in the area of 230-250. This car is going to be a daily driver and has to be very reliable. Im leaning towards the prelude with a supercharger kit from jackson racing. Please post your opinions/questions. Any info is apreciated

by the way http://www.importreview.com/ has many different sample setups for honda/acura. Check the one for the H22A w/ jackson racing supercharger. The hp/torque curve is so refined it almost looks factory!

I'd go for the LS or the GSR. The LS can handle up to 12psi of boost on sotck internals, the most of any of the Honda motors. The H22 can handle the least, due to thin cylinder walls. If you get the GSR, don't boost in above 8psi. That should still get you 220-230HP or so. The 12 @12psi can get you upwards of 250-275HP....depending on turbo choice, tuning, etc. I'd go one of the 2 Integra's, GSR @ low boost like 8psi or an LS @ up to 12psi depending on your needs...I personally hate Superchargers. For one, I hate the parasistic power loss. Plus, on low boost, turbo lag won't be much of an issue with a turbo. If your shooting for 250HP, check out the Garrett GT28RS (better known as the Disco Potato turbo). It's a good, responsive quick turbo, and it's finally avaible to by...it was a prototype for like 3 years before they finally released it this year.

i voted ls also but was too lazy to explain y i chose it.

The LS can handle up to 12psi of boost on sotck internals, the most of any of the Honda motors.

Are you sure that the LS can handle 12psi on stock internals? THis is going to be my daily driver and i want to keep it as reliable as possible. Can the boost of a turbo be regulated electronically? Id be happy if i could run 8psi on stock internals so i wont run into any problems and id change it to 12 for the track :iceslolan

so would it be better to have VTEC with a turbo or would it just hinder the turbo?

Are you sure that the LS can handle 12psi on stock internals? THis is going to be my daily driver and i want to keep it as reliable as possible. Can the boost of a turbo be regulated electronically? Id be happy if i could run 8psi on stock internals so i wont run into any problems and id change it to 12 for the track :iceslolan

the ls can handle up to 12 psi, but why are u going to have it on 12 all the time? for a daily driving have it on 10 and 12 on occasion or at the track

so id need a boost controler from A'PEX for example and i can change the pressure on the fly?

so id need a boost controler from A'PEX for example and i can change the pressure on the fly?

Yes, you need a boost controller to change the boost pressure. An electronic boost controler will allow you to change boost to your desired level at the "press of button" so to speak, or as you said "on the fly." You can set the controller at 8 or 10psi for daily driving, and change it quickly to 12psi at the track. Then when you are done, just change t back to 8 or 10psi. It's relativly quick and easy to do once the contrller is installed.

Also, get a turbo timer, it will help save your turbo. You should always let the motor idel for a few minutes before you shut it off. A turbo timer automatically takes care of this, and should have safty features built in so no one car drive the car away while it is cooling down. You park the car, shut it off, and the turbo timer handles the rest (it will have an option to shut it off if you don't want to use it too).

so would it be better to have VTEC with a turbo or would it just hinder the turbo?

You just touched on a raging debate here at AF...If you want my 2cents, it's better to not have Vtec. Now you CAN boost a vtec motor successfully, Robbie Potts has a 500HP LS/Vtec. However, vtec is a high lift cam lob, and high lift doesn't always mix well with bost at high rpms, it can strave the turbo of air higher in the rpm band, which results in a turbo not running to optimum effieceny. High lift is god for N/A and high rpm power, lower lift is good for lower end-mid rpm power and better suited for boost. Now, there are also more maps to tune with a vtec motor. If properly tuned, you should be fine, but it takes more time, etc to tune it. Basically, you don't have to worry about all this with a non-vtec motor like the LS, it has no high lift cam lobe, etc. The above s a basic discription of why some people (like me) feel that a non-vtec like the LS is better suited to boost. Add to the fact the LS has lower cmpression pistions (meaninf ess prone to detination, which will kill the motor), and there you have a very brief rundown on why the LS is considered by many to be the best stock Honda motor to boost.

that is exactly what i was looking for. ive been planning the whole thing and just needed alittle bit better explanation. thnx.

that is exactly what i was looking for. ive been planning the whole thing and just needed alittle bit better explanation. thnx.

No problem, I'm always glad to explain things and help out.

Yeah i got to agree with eckoman_pdx. The only thing that bothers me about getting an integra is that damn front end. Ill change it to the jdm when i get some more money. Since the LS is the cheapest of the three, ill get one with low miles and invest in a boost controler and turbo timer. Im thinking of going with a greddy turbo kit. Do you guys think thats a good idea for a reliable setup?

Yeah i got to agree with eckoman_pdx. The only thing that bothers me about getting an integra is that damn front end. Ill change it to the jdm when i get some more money. Since the LS is the cheapest of the three, ill get one with low miles and invest in a boost controler and turbo timer. Im thinking of going with a greddy turbo kit. Do you guys think thats a good idea for a reliable setup?

A Greddy kit won't gain you the most power when it comes to turbo kits, that's for sure. There is more power to be made with other set-ups. However, I have never heard of a reliablity issue with the Greddy kit, and it is CARB exempt, so it should pass emissons fine wherecer you are at. When it comes to a reliabile set-up, greddy won't be that bad, you'll have to invest in an intercooler and a BOV (the Greddy kit doesn't come with them) beside a boost controller and turbo timer. It should be a fairly reliable set-up. It may not produce as much power as a different kit, but it should be reilable (as far as turbos go).

Yes, you need a boost controller to change the boost pressure. An electronic boost controler will allow you to change boost to your desired level at the "press of button" so to speak, or as you said "on the fly." You can set the controller at 8 or 10psi for daily driving, and change it quickly to 12psi at the track. Then when you are done, just change t back to 8 or 10psi. It's relativly quick and easy to do once the contrller is installed.

Also, get a turbo timer, it will help save your turbo. You should always let the motor idel for a few minutes before you shut it off. A turbo timer automatically takes care of this, and should have safty features built in so no one car drive the car away while it is cooling down. You park the car, shut it off, and the turbo timer handles the rest (it will have an option to shut it off if you don't want to use it too).



You just touched on a raging debate here at AF...If you want my 2cents, it's better to not have Vtec. Now you CAN boost a vtec motor successfully, Robbie Potts has a 500HP LS/Vtec. However, vtec is a high lift cam lob, and high lift doesn't always mix well with bost at high rpms, it can strave the turbo of air higher in the rpm band, which results in a turbo not running to optimum effieceny. High lift is god for N/A and high rpm power, lower lift is good for lower end-mid rpm power and better suited for boost. Now, there are also more maps to tune with a vtec motor. If properly tuned, you should be fine, but it takes more time, etc to tune it. Basically, you don't have to worry about all this with a non-vtec motor like the LS, it has no high lift cam lobe, etc. The above s a basic discription of why some people (like me) feel that a non-vtec like the LS is better suited to boost. Add to the fact the LS has lower cmpression pistions (meaninf ess prone to detination, which will kill the motor), and there you have a very brief rundown on why the LS is considered by many to be the best stock Honda motor to boost.


Alright eckoman_pdx.......so ur friend has an ls/vtec......and it has 500hp.....so considering the fact that i am doing an ls/vtec w/ a GSR HEAD(fully bulit, p&p, milled and skunk2 valve springs&retainers) then i want to T/C it....maybe w/ a GREEDY.....then what should i run it at?....8psi...or 12psi? keeping in mind that the block can handle 12 and the head(cam lift) can handle 8 and reving it only at a safe 8000rpmMAX due to the ls/vtec conversion rules. and how much HP due u think it will produce w/ the above facts in mind? also what kind of camshafts should i get? considering that i cant rev the ls/vtec so high. and what did Robbie do?----all replies r highly appreciated!

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