Drag Strip

Me an my friends are having a lil bet. We are all going up to the tracks here soon. We get to use any car we wont to fix up, but it has to be a 1.8 an nothin larger. I wont to no if i am able to turbo a 1.8 Eclipse? An if so would put any damage towards the motor or not. An is the 1.8 eclipse really that bad? I mean people dont like them for some reason.

Turboing them is possible, but in most cases impractical. The 1.8 is a SOHC which is sbustantially less efficient than a DOHC setup and the engine just plain isnt built for boost. Selling the car and buying a already turbo DSM will get way more bang for your buck. If you do a search (might even be a sticky) there is a guy that did a pretty good writeup on turboing a 4g37 so if you really want to do it you can.

Like I said, I would just start looking for a 1g turbo car. A decent running 1g AWD can be had for like $1500 and less if you are willing to do some work and FWDs are cheaper than that (get an AWD though, way cooler ;)). Also, Talons are generally cheaper than Eclipses and Lasers are cheaper than Talons. Good luck which ever way you go.

Thor's right about the impracticality and all but I think you missed the point. The car has to be a 1.8. In that sense, if your going to do the ecplise as your drag car I think you would have much more to gain from weight reduction then adding horsepower because it would just be so hard. Obviously anything is doable and heck I kinda want you to so I can see what numbers you put down.
So in conclusion I say get that 1.8 rip it apart and then see what times it can do then gauge how fast your friends car is going and factor in how much you really want to spend and then and only then think about turboing it.
Good luck man.

Me an my friends are having a lil bet. We are all going up to the tracks here soon. We get to use any car we wont to fix up, but it has to be a 1.8 an nothin larger. I wont to no if i am able to turbo a 1.8 Eclipse? An if so would put any damage towards the motor or not. An is the 1.8 eclipse really that bad? I mean people dont like them for some reason.


If you can't go over 1.8 best bet is to build a honda motor. You can make a good low 13 sec car for pretty cheap and it'll be a 1.8

Ahhhh, I missed that it has to be a 1.8. Well in that case, get a Honda. *gasp* Yes, I would definately get a Honda for this one. I just plain dont have any faith in that 1.8 SOHC. Is there any money or time constraints for this bet? Heres what I would do:

Get yourself a CRX, they can get pretty cheap. Or if you can get a chassis with no engine in your area, that would be even better. I would imagine a CRX shell could be had for quite cheap, probably $300-$600. I would then get a B18 engine (came in Integras, maybe something else). If you can find a B16 head, snag that up too. B18 bottom end + B16 head = LS Vtec, a Honda combo I can respect. Couple that with the close ratio tranny out of a vtec Del Sol (may be in other cars too, I can find out for you if you need me to)and you will be set as hell. I woud strip and gut the hell out of that CRX, IIRC when stripped and gutted, they can be like 1800 lbs without the driver. Then you can go one of two ways with that LS Vtec, either NT or boosted. If you go NT, I would get some good cams, Eagle rods, higher compression Wiseco pistons (I hear 11.5:1 is the highest you can go on pump, you could get 12.5:1 and run race gas if you wanted). If you decide to go boosted you will be able to make more power, I would suggest that route. I would rebuild the engine with some good turbo cams and probably 8.5:1 - 8.8:1 compression ratio pistons, and a big 16g or a Evo III 16g. Remember, 350 hp in that little CRX is going to do a lot more than it would in a DSM. Oh, dont forget Hondata, its like the DSMlink of the Honda world. Then all you should need is an LSD and some wide/sticky tires up front and bam, you will be fast as hell. If you can get that FWD to hook up on the launch, 350 hp in a 2000lb car should get you into the 11's pretty easy I think. Hope some of that helps....

Time.....Yes there is a time limt but i allready pick the eclipse so i am stuck on that one.

I have a 1.8 Eclipse......SLOW!!!
All I can say it floor that bitch and hope ya win.
go find ya a honda hatch back and tweak it out.
Good luck:icon16:

I would then get a B18 engine (came in Integras, maybe something else). If you can find a B16 head, snag that up too. B18 bottom end + B16 head = LS Vtec, a Honda combo I can respect. Couple that with the close ratio tranny out of a vtec Del Sol (may be in other cars too, I can find out for you if you need me to)and you will be set as hell. I woud strip and gut the hell out of that CRX, IIRC when stripped and gutted, they can be like 1800 lbs without the driver.
:1: seen it done... and got my ass handed to by one... :nono: thats one fast set up right there!

yep im building a fully built and stroked ls vtec for my buddy ron at work. he plans to also turbo it. its a older integra like a 90 or 91. he got no interior but one seat, skunk 2 coilovers and every adjustable suspension part you can buy and crazy wide slicks.

hes going to spank me like a bitch, and it sucks cause i built the motor

If you can't go over 1.8 best bet is to build a honda motor. You can make a good low 13 sec car for pretty cheap and it'll be a 1.8


Yup get a crx get rid of the 1.8 eclipse lol

I have a 1.8 and it doesnt like to move. I think the volumetric efficancy is only around 75% or so, so its wasting alot of power. Stip weight off the sucker, as much as you can. Ive noticed a differance with and without passengers.

Id also do in a quick portmatch job, some headwork, and alot of praying.

Im going to build up my 1.8, not for speed, but just because I like how it sips gas and because Its my first ground up motor, no biggie if it blows up.

+1 on just getting a Honda.

Me and my friend built his LS/Vtec motor, Took us about 3k including the cost of the car. And we put Type-R pistons and cams in there. After that we threw a 75 shot on there and wala a nice low 13 high 12 sec car.

We just put it in a 91 hatch. Things fast as crap.

:werd: Done right, Hondas are a force to be reckoned with. My buddy is going to be building a CRVtec (2.0 block B16 head) for his Del Sol. That thing is already pretty quick, I cant imagine it with 25% more displacement, 11.5:1 pistons, some nitrous, and some wicked cams. Also, my buddy has a stripped and gutted older hatch slammed to the ground and a D16 (SOHC Vtec). Even though its not much and all it has for performance parts in I/H/E, he still manages IIRC like 13.6-13.9's in the 1/4.

Have you figured out what you are going to do with that mitsu 1.8? Going to run a turbo setup in there or ditch it for a Honda 1.8?

LS v-tec swaps are Not relieable and the motor does not last long. Unless you put some serious money into the motor. I do alotta honda swaps in my area and there all BS. No matter what you do to it...its still gonna be slow unless you got 15 grand in your pocket

LS v-tec swaps are Not relieable and the motor does not last long. Unless you put some serious money into the motor. I do alotta honda swaps in my area and there all BS. No matter what you do to it...its still gonna be slow unless you got 15 grand in your pocket


While I tend to agree that they are not reliable. As long as you don't beat the hell out of them they will last a while. My buddies motor has 30k on it and is still going strong.

Yep, I have to say that I have heard of reliability issues with the LSVtec, however, I cannot imagine them to be anything but builder/operator error. Granted no rebuild will last 200k+ like the original Honda motors, but I think as long as you take your time building it or have it professionally done, break it in properly, and dont beat on it every chance you get you should be fine.