lots of turbo questions

[cardinalsfan]

ok...ive been researching and dreaming and i want to turbo my lude...but ive got questions and some things i dont understand.

we are talking about a 1998 auto non sh lude, stock everything with 97k miles

first off, should i even bother with an auto tranny? i want to go to a manual but this is my daily driver....eh, we will see

if i went with a kit, such as a turbonetics kit, here (http://www.turbo-kits.com/prelude_turbo_kits.html), would i need to worry about adding extra fuel thru a vafc controller or similar item?

i also like the idea of just putting the turbo on and controlling the fuel myself...i read about chipping and hondata and such but what is it all? what would it do for a turbo lude? how could i turbo the lude and control everything with my pocket pc or laptop? i love the idea of a wb02 sensor and vafc but is that enough? if i went the barebones turbo kit route, is there a reccomendation? or for a full kit?

basically im asking what the best route for doing this is...i like the idea of having control of the fuel and such but i also would like to just start it up and let a chipped computer take care of everything while i just drive and monitor it....or is that last one even possible? um...i think thats all for now, i know ill come up with more later and feel free to say anything about this topic

i know i have alot to learn but im ready to start...i did the learning thing with my saturn and did a great job getting NA horsepower out of it but now its turbo time i think...thanks in advance guys

[deafy]

First off, you cannot run a chipped ECU in an auto prelude, it just simply wont work. Second, you will DEFINITELY need to adjust fuel with turbo. If you want to turbo the auto, you'll have to use a "hack" such as apexi's SAFC, or I've heard about Greddy's blue box which I'm not sure exactly how it works.
Tuning will be much easier and more effective on a stick lude, also probably more safer as well.
I currently use hondata s300 and monitor/adjust everything through my laptop and I have to say, I frickin love it! I've only used it N/A but soon turbo.
Wideband O2 is definitely a must in order to get an accurate tune.
I pieced together my own kit, as it is probably easier on my not-so-deep pockets, buying parts one at a time.

I think I pretty much covered everything you asked. Any more question feel free to ask some more.

[htswmr6]

haha i know how u feel i was the sameway when i wanted to turbo, but i gotta ask u said u did research...but on what? most of this would have been discussed in whatever u researched.

auto tranny should be fine i have seen many auto turbo cars but a chipped ecu prob not, u will need to get a stand alone ecu (AEM, or APEX). A SAFC or a piggy back wont be enough for tuning and even monitoring.

ur going to need bigger injectors, bigger fuel pump to run more fuel more air means a need for more fuel.

depending on where u get the ecu chipped "chipping"and hondata are about the same they allow for u to go in and monitor and make corrections to fuel maps and ignition tables from a laptop. hondata can do it in real time chipped ecus have to be rechipped with a chipping drive.

wideband is a must have at least for tuning purposes so whoever tunes the car must have a wideband.

i dont know what u mean by a barebones kit or a full kit, ur going to need everything that is in a kit whether u buy it as a kit or piece it together.

u gots a lot of research ahead of you my man. any questions ask, but it is easier to research.

[cardinalsfan]

allright, cool...thanks guys....im gonna keep reading and searching and such. i found an auto to manual swap guide that looks pretty good but thats a big step but building NA power is a hassle, i know....anyone else feel free to add in

[deafy]

with the 5th gen's auto, I don't think standalones will work either, I believe the SS is tied into the ecu and cannot operate without it. Also beware of some manifold designs, as some require smaller radiators or battery relocation (mine's battery relocated) in order to fit the turbo. I'm just waiting on the manifold so I can just FINALLY drive my baby after 2 months.

Also if you purchase injectors separate from kit, make sure its saturated (high resistance) and not peak-and-hold (low resistance).

[95h22a1turbo]

if u want to use an automatic but still boost it, guy u have a lot of researchin, prep time, and also money spending wise. see i never turbo'd an auto b4 but one thing that i recommand that u shouldnt buy an whole kit unless u just want 290-350hp range. for the ecu range and standalone wise, i say go with the apexi vafc but u cant really do much on that. if u want to save ur money up and get an aem(1000-1200bucks) or hondatas300(595bucks) mayb even apexi power fc(not sure on a price) if u know local shop that tunes it. automatic tranny, for hp like tat u def need stall converter and torque converter also(call local shop and ask for pricing). im not to much of a 5th gen turbo fan but i love H series w/ all my heart. like the guys said above, yes u do need bigger injectors and fuel pump. if u want 290-350hp daily driver just go w/ DSM 450's (50-100bucks)and rewire the fuel injector wires. just get an walbro fuel pump(100-150bucks) and u should b fine w/ that. but if u want high mild built i say buy all the turbo parts separte it will be more money but u wont have to spend more money later on. Turbo wise just get the t3/t04b or e and that will give u best spool and the hp that u need and turbo wont die on u in top end. but if u have more questions feel free to ask.

ps- If u want to tune ur car... i say good luck unless u know wat ur doing. and if u want to tune it get a wideband so u know ur airfuel ratio is... otherwise just go to a shop that tunes aem, apexi, n hondata. that would be the best bet.

IM coming w/ gt42r methanol injection H series :-) hondata s300 for now and mo-tech(m-400, 5299+tax lol) in sept mayb evne october :-).

[Preludeshalyn]

i donno how well an auto tranny will handle the 300whp. i think it will wear out pretty quick.

[Rory]

i donno how well an auto tranny will handle the 300whp. i think it will wear out pretty quick.

Sorry to say. but the auto tranny will self destruct at 300whp. lol

[Preludeshalyn]

i figured

[Rory]

i figured

they break enough with no mods. Believe it are not, My prelude use to be a automatic. I still have the auto instrument cluster, Not its a 5speed using the H23 tranny. It helps with the boost.

[cardinalsfan]

how much of a pain was that to do rory? did yo do it or did a shop do it? thanks for all the help guys, i appreciate it

[Rory]

I did it... Its kinda a pain if you dont have all the FACTORY parts. If you do.. everything seems to line up. Its just alot of nic nac **** you gotta do. I say the only thing that really need to be custom is the shift link cables. You gotta drill a hole in your car so they can get to the shifter.

[dillon]

Of topic but quick question.whahts better a turbo charger or a supercharger.I've always wondered about this.Turbo or super super or turbo.If ones better then the other why is that.I thought the turbo gives better power and the super takes more gas but im not sure? please help a n00b out and tell him

[deafy]

Superchargers will get you more power in lower RPM's and launch but it kinda wavers in the upper RPM's. Turbos have lag, takes time to spool up. Smaller turbos spool quicker but have low efficiency. Bigger turbos have more lag but have greater efficiency. Gas usage is undeterminable as there are different sizes of turbos and SC pulleys and such. I choose the turbocharger route because of the BOV and better power in the upper RPM's. Many ppl have their own preferences.

[dillon]

Ow kool.So the turbo is faster in higher rpm's and supercharger in lower rpm's?
Well the way I would go is turbo so I get the boost when it looks like im about to lose ill smoke em!Plus I could waste my Nitrous and then still get the turbo boost afterwards.

[deafy]

Some turbos are small enough to be worse than superchargers, so make sure you get a decent sized one. T3/T4 turbo is probably the perfect "medium" for stock preludes. Its what I'm going to be using. Main thing you want is efficiency. If you're more of an autocross guy, supercharger is definitely the best.

[THE ONE]

aight.....






you can boost the auto. But You've been warned about the SS auto prelude tranny. it WILL break.

For tuning like everyone said.... it's an auto so you can't go the hondata/crome etc.. etc... route. you have to go with piggy back hack such as: VAFC/SAFC, Greddy Blue Box or the Black box. Well go ahead and rule out the black box cause it's completely garbage.

everyone here made some really good points.

TEL.

[Attaus]

eManage Ultimate will work on just about any auto.. it's not cheap to get all of the things you need to make it effective, but it'll work.

Not that I suggest you put your tranny through any more abuse than it's already been through. The only way it could possibly take the extra power is with a cooler and a new TC. A rebuild is also a good idea.

To be honest, a manual swap would be cheaper.

[dillon]

So whats the best bang for the buck?:confused:

[laez]

First step is a manual swap. That sport shifter auto tranny has enough issues without all that torque on it.

That being said, what are your plans when it comes to power? How many PSI are you planning on? The autotranny isn't going to take very much with out malfunctioning. If you are going to push more than 5 or so PSI then you are going to need to lower your compression. Forged pistons, Sleves, new Rods, Ect. are going to add up quick. How much are you going to put in to this?

However, if you must go with your auto, Greddy Emanage will work just fine as it it piggy backs off your stock ECU and only takes control of a few things.


Just some things to think about.

[twokexlv6coupe]

So whats the best bang for the buck?:confused:


its mostly all preference, whether you want instant power or delayed power.
but to make it short, turbo's have MUCH more room to make power, whereas superchargers start getting inefficient at higher amounts of boost.