d16a1 turbo engine swap - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

steelermike27 · 01-23-2010, 12:16 AM

I have an 89 acura integra ls with a stock d16a1 engine. i plan to put in a new, low-mileage d16a1 engine and a t3 turbo. im buying the turbo kit off cxracing.com what are the complonets and steps that go into converting a non-turbo d16a1 engine into a turbo d16a1 engine. i plan to push no more than 8 pounds of boost. what aspects go into the swap?

highmilehatch · 02-01-2010, 05:10 PM

If I were you I'd start here www.honda-tech.com and research through the forced induction archives to learn more about turbocharging. There is a way to convert the car to OBD-1 which is your best bet. I found a thread for you here: http://www.team-integra.net/forum/di...PagePosition=5 Unless you plan on tuning the car with something (Neptune, Hondata) that has full control over the fuel and ignition maps, your playing with fire.

I would personally never install or recommend anything from CX racing. I know the price is tempting, but the quality is sub-par.

Vr-4-Life · 02-01-2010, 05:13 PM

And I quote a famous line from the great john (highmilagehatch) "Do it right or do it twice".

Mr.Crx · 02-22-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highmilehatch

If I were you I'd start here www.honda-tech.com

Before I hit H-T, I'd check out d-series.org!
Great info and lots of knowledgeable folks!

Foolinaround · 02-22-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highmilehatch

I would personally never install or recommend anything from CX racing. I know the price is tempting, but the quality is sub-par.

I disagree,I know not only of me but two other local heads who have run turbo kits from them and have had no problems. Their turbos held up for 40k+ for me until the car got stolen,and i imagine the turbo is still running. Their manifolds just need to re-braced,or replaced with a cast one. Other then that its a solid kit.

Youll need

To tap your pan for an oil return line
access to a welder
new radiator most likely

turbo88crx · 02-22-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highmilehatch

If I were you I'd start here www.honda-tech.com and research through the forced induction archives to learn more about turbocharging. There is a way to convert the car to OBD-1 which is your best bet. I found a thread for you here: http://www.team-integra.net/forum/di...PagePosition=5 Unless you plan on tuning the car with something (Neptune, Hondata) that has full control over the fuel and ignition maps, your playing with fire.

I would personally never install or recommend anything from CX racing. I know the price is tempting, but the quality is sub-par.

I agree %99 percent there's some parts u can get and some I'd never use. I have there fmic kit on my 240 cuz it was cheap and u kinda can't screw up an i/c. But the manifold and down pipe and turbo I wouldn't run. I had a meagan turbo elbow and it broke @ the flange and like he said had to do it 2ce which sucked. If your tryin to save money, I would def go to h/t and d series, I used both when I did my rex and there's SOOOO much info there its insane. Good luck lol

highmilehatch · 02-28-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foolinaround

I disagree,I know not only of me but two other local heads who have run turbo kits from them and have had no problems. Their turbos held up for 40k+ for me until the car got stolen,and i imagine the turbo is still running. Their manifolds just need to re-braced,or replaced with a cast one. Other then that its a solid kit.

That is fine if you use their products and I'm sure they will "work" to an extent. You are lucky that you got that kind of mileage out of those turbos. Not to sound like a snob, but I just have a little more pride in the parts I put on my car and recommend/sell. I will use/sell from the companies who do the R&D and continue to support the growth of the sport compact market, not the companies who copy those designs and rebrand the product out of inferior materials just to make a quick buck. I don't believe those companies care about the growth of the sport compact market and that is why they will not get my money.

The problem is, most 17 yr old kids will buy the $100 manifold that looks just like the $800 manifold and could care less about the reasons mentioned above.

“The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.”

-Aldo Gucci

crazysaywhat · 02-28-2010, 06:06 PM

sombody gave me a cheap manifold for free and i ran it... the wastegate flange broke off, the manifold cracked it was a pos... basically went over the whole thing wit my buddy and re welded and put more support to hold up the turbo and wastegate and havnt had a problem since... although the tubing they use to build them is crap... its half the thickness as a name brand manifold

steelermike27 · 03-08-2010, 11:05 AM

I hear the EBay headers, being the material and being welded, crack at the welds due to heat and the weight of the turbo, so i came to the conclusion to get a Cast Iron Manifold. i found on off ebay w/ a 38MM Wastegate.

420sx · 03-08-2010, 11:09 AM

Before you start buying stuff, PLEASE, do more research and know EXACTLY what youre going to buy beforehand. Set up a "game plan."

List and price out ALLLL of the parts youre going to need. Make sure those parts work in conjunction with one another. Be 100% prepared for what youre getting yourself into before you find yourself halfway done with no budget to finish.

steelermike27 · 03-08-2010, 11:21 AM

I already laid out everything just about, i still need to do a little more research, im well aware of that, I'm def converting it to obd1, i need to look up more about that process. i still have yet to find someone who has done the exact same build as i am. most ppl do d16(other generations). its hard finding someone who has done a d16a1 build. So far im lookin at possibly by the end of july next year. i know these builds takes TONS of patience and TONS of knowledge. I'm ready to start getting myself into it. i do believe ppl when they tell me i rush into the build like theres no tomorrow. I had a gameplan, until things went heywire with my clutch, then the window.

01-23-2010, 12:16 AM	#1
steelermike27 Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2009 Member #14624 My Ride: 90 [H]onda Prelude Si iTrader: (0)	d16a1 turbo engine swap I have an 89 acura integra ls with a stock d16a1 engine. i plan to put in a new, low-mileage d16a1 engine and a t3 turbo. im buying the turbo kit off cxracing.com what are the complonets and steps that go into converting a non-turbo d16a1 engine into a turbo d16a1 engine. i plan to push no more than 8 pounds of boost. what aspects go into the swap?

02-01-2010, 05:10 PM	#2
highmilehatch Tri-State Addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PA Member #929 iTrader: (3)	If I were you I'd start here www.honda-tech.com and research through the forced induction archives to learn more about turbocharging. There is a way to convert the car to OBD-1 which is your best bet. I found a thread for you here: http://www.team-integra.net/forum/di...PagePosition=5 Unless you plan on tuning the car with something (Neptune, Hondata) that has full control over the fuel and ignition maps, your playing with fire. I would personally never install or recommend anything from CX racing. I know the price is tempting, but the quality is sub-par. __________________ 92 SC300 - 2JZGTE 93 Civic Si - 11.3@125 stock block pump gas FOR SALE

03-08-2010, 11:09 AM	#10
420sx Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Member #2811 My Ride: '98 240sx, 98 Impreza L, 00 SV650 iTrader: (5)	Before you start buying stuff, PLEASE, do more research and know EXACTLY what youre going to buy beforehand. Set up a "game plan." List and price out ALLLL of the parts youre going to need. Make sure those parts work in conjunction with one another. Be 100% prepared for what youre getting yourself into before you find yourself halfway done with no budget to finish. __________________ loltst

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steelermike27 Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2009 Member #14624 My Ride: 90 [H]onda Prelude Si iTrader: (0)	I already laid out everything just about, i still need to do a little more research, im well aware of that, I'm def converting it to obd1, i need to look up more about that process. i still have yet to find someone who has done the exact same build as i am. most ppl do d16(other generations). its hard finding someone who has done a d16a1 build. So far im lookin at possibly by the end of july next year. i know these builds takes TONS of patience and TONS of knowledge. I'm ready to start getting myself into it. i do believe ppl when they tell me i rush into the build like theres no tomorrow. I had a gameplan, until things went heywire with my clutch, then the window.