Safe Engine Enhancements

BCO said:
How reliable are aftermarket turbos? Let's say we're talking relatively low boost here, not for extereme performance, but just an overall power increase.
Click to expand...

Depends on the engine, the guy from Motorcade.co.za ran his Corsa 1.4 up to 160kW with just a MLS head gasket and ARP rod-bolts and when he finally fried the engine (actuator got stuck it boosted to 2.5 bar and bah) he took everything out, only the connecting rods were broken, the rest still looked perfect.

Sorry I know I use Opel as example alot but I don't really know VW/Ford all that well.

You're best off asking guys from a forum or something similar that'll know, all engines have their weaknesses, on Opels it's the head gasket, rod-bolts and eventually the connecting rod and pistons (With boost > 2 BAR), the rest can be left standard even for excessive output. The same will be true of any engine, some might have more/less parts depending but overall Ford/VW/Opel and especially Honda usually make very strong engines.

I'll say one thing about Turbo's tho, you get 2 types of setups A) the guy who wants to sell you a bolt on kit and get you out of there and B) the guy who sells you a decent kit.

There are plenty of people who run Corsa's low boost and break their engines because it's a cheap POS and the map is badly setup. On the other hand the guy from Motorcade had a oil cooler, the turbo was properly cooled by engine oil and the map was done to perfection, running 1.5-1.8 bar boost on his daily drive car with no problems.

That's why I generally like going for a engine transplant, you take out the old, you slap in the new, and in case of many car you just run it with the new engine's management, off you go. Just like it was sold from the factory that way.
 
Last edited:
Gnome said:
Depends on the engine, the guy from Motorcade.co.za ran his Corsa 1.4 up to 160kW with just a MLS head gasket and ARP rod-bolts and when he finally fried the engine (actuator got stuck it boosted to 2.5 bar and bah) he took everything out, only the connecting rods were broken, the rest still looked perfect.

Sorry I know I use Opel as example alot but I don't really know VW/Ford all that well.

You're best off asking guys from a forum or something similar that'll know, all engines have their weaknesses, on Opels it's the head gasket, rod-bolts and eventually the connecting rod and pistons (With boost > 2 BAR), the rest can be left standard even for excessive output. The same will be true of any engine, some might have more/less parts depending but overall Ford/VW/Opel and especially Honda usually make very strong engines.

I'll say one thing about Turbo's tho, you get 2 types of setups A) the guy who wants to sell you a bolt on kit and get you out of there and B) the guy who sells you a decent kit.

There are plenty of people who run Corsa's low boost and break their engines because it's a cheap POS and the map is badly setup. On the other hand the guy from Motorcade had a oil cooler, the turbo was properly cooled by engine oil and the map was done to perfection, running 1.5-1.8 bar boost on his daily drive car with no problems.

That's why I generally like going for a engine transplant, you take out the old, you slap in the new, and in case of many car you just run it with the new engine's management, off you go. Just like it was sold from the factory that way.
Click to expand...

Hmm... I wonder how the Subaru 1.5 boxer handles a turbo... :cool: :o
 
I wanted to get a low boost turbo just to take my RSI up the 17% it lost at altitude.

Alpine quoted R50,000.00 fully installed :/
 
Branch, free flow, sports filter, otherwise dont waste your money.
 
ALFAHOLIC said:
LOL N20 ftw!!!yep NOS is considered a quiters way to win...but hey, so is chip modding!

Ja, try NOS, but nos is instantanious, kinda like a lapdance from a stripper, its cool that 1minute...what then? The OP wants more power continuously I suppose...so NOS aint viable, becuase he WILL succumb and use it when he must go buy groceries!
Click to expand...

Trust me, you won't understand until you've had a car with nitrous. It is the most addictive thing in the world. The best thing is that, when you switch your kit off, the car behaves just like it came from the factory. No lumpy idle, no stupid noisy air filter, no droning exhaust. But at the flick of a switch that thing becomes a rocket.
 
kevinswan007 said:
I read alot about guys modding their 2.5 turbo engines, and diesel engines etc, but what about us 1.6 engine guys?

I have a stock standard 1.6 Ford Focus (2007) and once my warranty is over (another 15 000km's) I would love to safely enhance the engines power output.

I have heard horror stores of guys upgrading their engines, only to have it seize 6 months later.

Could someone explain the steps needed (first step, 2nd step etc) and explain the advantages/disadvantages of each step.
I will want to upgrade my engine in steps every few months and hopefully gain +- 15kw is possible (safely)
Click to expand...

2 steps:

1>visit http://www.fordstownerssa.co.za/ awesome forum, helpful guys

2> if you are in CT, try Motorcade or Steve Wyndam Racing (SWR) or up in JHB, Duigan Brothers.

but all the details advice is on the forum. I have a 2004 focus 2.0, got uprated discs and pads from Duigan (for the same price a factory pads,front and rear + fitment) and have never looked back
 
Yep Boston Jap tech even get's FD RX7 Mazda engines...they import it...they have a great variety!
 
blaaislaai said:
Thats a ripoff!! They quoted a high boost turbo for my car R22 000
Click to expand...

Alpine too? That everything - installed and fitted?

They also mentioned as it had done over 100,000km, they'd need to strengthen things
 
I was at HOPS racing and they quoted me R60 000 fitted, now whether this means stronger internals or not...I don't know...he said I should expect over 200kw...I'm not so sure!
 
Gnome said:
:rolleyes: Rather buy a better car for that price. Some of these places really live in their own reality.
Click to expand...


Nah...I'm selling my car anyway...;) Oh, no HOPS is much respected, had tons of cars in SnS...esp Subaru!!!
 
Dolby said:
Alpine too? That everything - installed and fitted?

They also mentioned as it had done over 100,000km, they'd need to strengthen things
Click to expand...

Not sure if it's alpine or whatever. R22 000 for everything yes, installed and fitted. This was about 2 years ago. Went to a private mech
 
Where is Alpine anyway? I know they used to push out Alfa 145's/146's with turbo's in 98/99 if I'm not mistaken...those cars were quick...

I can remeber people used to sell them and the add said something like - Alpine turbo fitted...this was when the cars landed in SA, it went straight to them...anyone has contact details?
 
ALFAHOLIC said:
Yep Boston Jap tech even get's FD RX7 Mazda engines...they import it...they have a great variety!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't recommend Boston Jap Tech to even my worst enemy!
I once went to have a look at the 13B rotaries they had and was disgusted. They're bashed to pieces on the outside so unless you just want the internals I'd steer clear of them.

Rather try Japan Auto Trading - they're near Jetpark.
I picked up a Mazda Series 4 13BT engine there for R4950 a little while back and it was in pristine condition. It even had the alternator, power steering pump, aircon compressor and turbo still attached.
 
Paul_S said:
I wouldn't recommend Boston Jap Tech to even my worst enemy!
I once went to have a look at the 13B rotaries they had and was disgusted. They're bashed to pieces on the outside so unless you just want the internals I'd steer clear of them.

Rather try Japan Auto Trading - they're near Jetpark.
I picked up a Mazda Series 4 13BT engine there for R4950 a little while back and it was in pristine condition. It even had the alternator, power steering pump, aircon compressor and turbo still attached.
Click to expand...

I'm sure at Japan Auto Trading you'd find bashed up engines as well? :D

Just know that's where drifters buy the spare engines and engine parts from...
 
Paul_S said:
I picked up a Mazda Series 4 13BT engine there for R4950 a little while back and it was in pristine condition. It even had the alternator, power steering pump, aircon compressor and turbo still attached.
Click to expand...

That seems cheap. What did you use the engine for?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X