Turboin a B16a

Hey I want to turbo my B16a but now I'm scared to because I went to a car show and talked to the guys from HKS and they told me that I'll need new rods, pistons, rings. I really don't want to do all that I just got my damn car together. I know I'll need a thicker head gasket but the one from HKS is almost $500 bucks, I was like WTF. Can you put two stock head gaskets together and RTV it together? I want only want to run like 10-15 lbs of boost so help me out here or I'm gonna say screw the turbo and go all motor. Please help, O does anyone know of any where I can get a good head gasket that I'm not gonna pay out the ass for.

what realy matters is how much boosts do you wnt to apply.

Up to ~8 psi you should be ok with stock internals.

for serious boost you need to rebuld the top and bottom end including a strong head gasket rods pistons etc. Upgrade the fuel system and the cooling system.

I don't want to put new pistons and rings, I think my head gasket is blown anyway so I know I'll have to replace that. I am getting a whole new skunk2 top end valves, retainers, springs, cams, cam gears. So I'm not worried about the top, my biggest question is would it even be worth turboing it if I don't put the rods, pistons, and rings in it? That is if I only run 8 lbs I should be ok? Thanks

if youre planning on going turbo at sometime and you will be getting your head work first either dont get the new camshaft or get one that is designated to be used with a turbo. if you get the regualr skunk2 cam that has a lot of overlap you will lose hp with a turbo. and if you keep the shaft stock dont touch the springs either. stock springs are always the best. if i were you i wouldnt waste my money on a turbo cam either. you can make plenty of hp with the stock cam on a turbo motor

Hey thanks a lot for the info

yeah 8 psi should give you roughly 60hp or so and should not be too hard on your engine. But make sure you don't run too lean which is very easy when turbo'ing.

I know this has probably been asked a million times but what would a good turbo be for my engine since I don't what to upgrade the internals, as in lower end internals? The top end should I upgrade to anything I've heard so many conflicting stories about aftermarket valve springs I don't know what to do, what would a good head set up be, as far as Valves, springs, retainer and such. I do have the hook up for skunk2 stuff would you guys recommend skunk2 for turboing? Thanks

If you run 8 pounds of boost you will want a good boost controller. If you have a boost spike it'll blow the motor. I was running 8 pounds on my brothers Si and had a boost spike. It blew it big time.

i guarantee you that your stock head will be perfectly fine for turbocharging. maybe a port and polish job but anything else is just a waste of money. i am so confident that when you tubrocharge your car, if anything goes wrong with the head, i will pay for it. ive seen countless Si's and type r's with insane turbos with fully built bottom ends but running stock cams and valve springs. believe me, dont waste your money

Ok I'll keep that in mind, lol. Well thanks for the info

Originally posted by edman24
maybe a port and polish job but anything else is just a waste of money

Man I agree with you SO much! I've been trying to tell people this for so long, but they insist on believing that they need some kind of bolt-on to increase airflow. A minor port and polish will do wonders for a turbo application!

as i told someone chuck a t25 on it :D

With the T25 will I have to build up my engine or will the stock internals handle it?

you will have to do some internal work my mate has an ek civic with a t25 running 9-10 psi and it handles it fine it is all worth it mate

Does he have a B16a? What set up did he use if he does, if you know?

not sure mate i will find out for ya

Cool thanks

dunno i will find out for you