FMAX turbo kit or Hotshot turbo kit?

Both kits seem to be similar, but priced differently, which one is better for quality and reliability etc etc. My UK Primera has 10:1 compression ratio which i have to drop to 9.5:1 (same as US) in order to fit either kit.

first of all, you'll save more money if you get a DET motor...and since you are in europe, i know you can find one for cheap.
if you want to get the turbo kits...FMAX is more for drag..lots of power, if not too much for regular street driving, Hotshot is less powerful yet, in my opinion too expensive for what you get.

Originally posted by G22DET
first of all, you'll save more money if you get a DET motor...and since you are in europe, i know you can find one for cheap.


Huh? What makes yo0u say that????

i heard from my friend that it's really easy to find a DET motor in europe? dont know if that's 100% correct or not but i do know a number of people in europe get non-DET pulsars and swap the DET in...?

Originally posted by G22DET
FMAX is more for drag..lots of power, if not too much for regular street driving

I don't know about being for drag racing but, yes indeed, it's really easy to end up with too much power for a street car. I know of one prominent SE-R owner who built a wonderfully powerful turbo SE-R, but putting the power down was such a problem, and worries about breaking the gearbox being very real, he just couldn't enjoy it like he should have been able to.

I think with turbo engines there is a serious tendency to get carried away after hearing about all the SR20s putting down 330+ hp to the wheels.

This is just IMHO based upon things I've read on the SE-R list. I haven't experienced it personally, and I know there are prominent members of that list who would disagree with me. :)

Originally posted by G22DET
i heard from my friend that it's really easy to find a DET motor in europe?

I would say it's even harder than in the US. Maybe the Britts have them, but not so much the mainland...

Originally posted by G22DET
inon-DET pulsars

Sunnys!!! :) :)

You can never have too much power (evil laugh)!

Im sure Kevin could get one from a smashed up 200 sx (Sr20DET engine).

if you're refering to installing a GTi-R engine, definately out of the question, cos firstly, its quite a big job, and no one around heres gonna want to attemp it, and secondly, like ppl have already said, getting the power down onto the road, from a 4WD 220BHP engine, into a FWD chassis aint gonna be easy. Beside, i'll have to uprate the clutch, gearbow, drive shafts etc. Ive been assured that the Primera can handle upto 200BHP but anything over, and some serious mods are needed.

Originally posted by P11GT
if you're refering to installing a GTi-R engine, definately out of the question, cost firstly, its quite a big job, and no one around heres gonna want to attemp it


What's wrong with doing it yourself? Lot's of people here do. I just got done installing a Bluebird SR20DET in my P10.

Originally posted by P11GT
and secondly, like ppl have already said, getting the power down onto the road, from a 4WD 220BHP engine, into a FWD chassis aint gonna be easy.


Not true! That kind of hp is nothing! :D My car is probably putting out that right now and I haven't even installed a larger exhaust yet. Putting down 220 bhp is fine. Even 250 bhp is fine. I think the problems really begin to manifest themselves as you get above 300 bhp. We have people here in the colonies who are putting down 400 hp to the wheels. Those are the people who are having trouble putting power down. But 250 bhp is easy enough.

Originally posted by P11GT
Beside, i'll have to uprate the clutch, gearbox, drive shafts etc. Ive been assured that the Primera can handle upto 200BHP but anything over, and some serious mods are needed.

Yes, you would need to upgrade the clutch. Halfshafts are fine up to 500 hp at the wheels! :eek: That is the most we have anyone putting down right now. Zero halfshaft problems. Gearbox is indeed a right difficult problem! Even 250 bhp is enough to break third gear. We have some folks getting Quaiffe to make a set of gears for the Primera/G20/SE-R gearbox. Should be good for 400 bhp or more. Not cheap though. $3k US :eek:

:jump:

I realise what you're saying, i suppose, different people, different advice, but its too much of a big job, especially for me to undertake. Im self employed and cant spare the time, or the car being off the road, as even though ive been modifying my Primera, it's still the business car.

Originally posted by P11GT
I realise what you're saying, i suppose, different people, different advice, but its too much of a big job, especially for me to undertake. Im self employed and cant spare the time, or the car being off the road, as even though ive been modifying my Primera, it's still the business car.

Oh, I understand completely.

I think mainly you've been given some not so good advice. But, you've come to the right place (this forum). :D

P11GT, i will be putting the blue bird DET motor in my P11 Primera in a couple of weeks, so i'll let you know the process..however, it's not a difficult one but your concerns are well understandable

;) Thanks guys, still, i would like to know how you get on with the installtion. I look forward to seeing it.

where the hell do you guys get the tools to do it? :confused: well i understand Luke would have one cause hes a shop owner, but P10DET you have a motor lifter (rack)?

Originally posted by AznVirus
where the hell do you guys get the tools to do it? :confused: well i understand Luke would have one cause hes a shop owner, but P10DET you have a motor lifter (rack)?

I have an engine hoist on semi-permanent loan from one of the Houston SERCA folks. He bought it to swap and engine in another car of his and never used it. I've used it 3x and about to use it again in a month or two.

None the less, hoists are not that expensive. They can be had for less than $200. I've sure gotten my money out of this one. :silly2:

As for other tools, I have a compressor and air tools, but I hardly used them at all on the swap. And my first two swaps were done strictly with hand tools.

I don't have a car lift and don't need one. I just use a 3 ton floor jack and a pair of jack stands to get the front of the car up high enough to slid the engine underneath. It's actually easier than it sounds and sure beats trying to do it from the top.

Back to tools, I've been wrenching on my own cars since before many of you were alive. I bought my first socket set 22 years ago and was wrenching on my cars before that using my father's tools. Twenty-two years is a long time to be collecting tools. Also, I used to race karts, and there is no quicker way to accumulate tools than to go racing. :D

lifting it up w/ jack stands???

mine only go up 14"


lol.. how'd you fit the engine in underneath...

Originally posted by b-b00gie
lifting it up w/ jack stands???

mine only go up 14"

lol.. how'd you fit the engine in underneath...

I'm a stud. :p

Actually, I lift the car in two steps. first I raise the car enough to get the jack well back on the cross-member. Then I crank the jack up as high as I can and place the stands where the control arms attach (at the back of the control arms). It usually gives me about an inch of clearance.

or, if you guys check with your local pepboys, they actually rent out hoists (or cherry pickers), engine stands and really cool hydrolic jackstands that lifts the car about 25" off the ground or so. it's pretty cool!

okay, so back to the original question.. other than the price.. hotshot vs FMAX? pros / cons

:rolleyes:

They look to be about same...I'd say the hotshot is a more stealthy install but the turbo that comes with the f-max will support more hp.

After speaking to Hotshot, they told me that their kit was designed to fit and run on standard internals and gearbox, clutch, etc, whereas the FMax kit, as you say, can produce more HP, will inevitabaly require more mods to run reliably. I still dunno, but to me, the Hotshot sounds a bit better, due to the fact that its cheaper, and i dont really wanna go beyond 200BHP if i have to start uprating everything.

Any opinions on this are most welcome and may sway my decision.

OK maybe a little confusion here. The F-max stage I is a little more expensive than the Hotshot. Both will run with stock internals, both will need upgraded clutches. Both will eventually need upgraded/new motormounts depending on how rough you treat you new power. If you're going to upgrade or want more power in the future get the F-max if you think you'll be happy with what the hotshot gives you now, get that. :)

do you have a website or phone number for hotshot?

Here is Hotshot's website addy http://64.38.203.52/temp/hotshot/products.asp

L8R
G20er

thanks g20er. they list applications for nissan, but no g20's. offhand, do you know if their kit will apply for a '99 g20?

Read this http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t3926.html


L8R
G20er