hey everyone:

Im just starting on my turbo endeavor for my 99 RS and I have been reading this and pleanty other sites for quite some time now, trying to put together everything I need. Ive made use of the search function, but im hoping to get some answer more based on exactly the issues i am having right now.

I wont be buying ebay knock parts, but always up for any options of used good parts :)

1. First problem is my engine from the block up is brand new (broke timing belt while driving >< ) but for some reason It still didnt get rid of my mystery oil leaking down the back of the block. The head gasket is brand new, all the stuff was replaced still leakin >< I read a thread about the bolts not being long enough, Im going to look into that,

but will this oil leak cause a problem for the turbo set-up?

2. My friend that has turbo'd his RS told me not to get the vortex 12:1 FMU because they aren't very reliable, and are hard to tune, and is suggesting I shell out 1200 bucks for a hahn racecraft portfueler system. Im sure it works great, but is the FMU really that bad a place to start off?

3. (edit) came across an un-related thread answering my own questions about the safc

4. Ive also recently came to light about the FCD i hear people around here sell them, Its on my list of things I need :)

5. Finally im concerned about where to pick up a manifold. I also read people around here make them, and I would trust that more than some of the cast's ive seen floating around on the net. Its really hard for me to gauge what is good for this, and at the same time, i dont have 500 bucks for this part either. Also in this aspect Im not certain which turbo I am getting right now, so I dont know how necessary a external waste gate will be, and having a port for it on the mani either.

thanks for reading, i appreciate the wealth of knowlege available on this site, and any info you guys could throw my way.

Originally posted by lunareklipse
1. First problem is my engine from the block up is brand new (broke timing belt while driving >< ) but for some reason It still didnt get rid of my mystery oil leaking down the back of the block. The head gasket is brand new, all the stuff was replaced still leakin >< I read a thread about the bolts not being long enough, Im going to look into that, but will this oil leak cause a problem for the turbo set-up?

First thing's first, maintenance. A turbo isn't going to help that leak out at all and things will progressively worseon. As for reading about the bolts not being long enough, it's actually that the bolt hole on the driver side rear of the block seems to not be deep enough and therefore the actual bolt is too long. People either cut a few threads off the stock head bolts or switch over to ARP head studs

Originally posted by lunareklipse
2. My friend that has turbo'd his RS told me not to get the vortex 12:1 FMU because they aren't very reliable, and are hard to tune, and is suggesting I shell out 1200 bucks for a hahn racecraft portfueler system. Im sure it works great, but is the FMU really that bad a place to start off?

Don't listen to your friend. A vortech 12:1 fmu would be perfect on stock injectors and running 7psi or so. It's not that it's hard to tune, there just aren't any tuning capabilities with it. The portfueler would definitely be your better option as far as tunability (or better yet Megasquirt) however both require a decent learning curve, MS more than the portfueler

Originally posted by lunareklipse
4. Ive also recently came to light about the FCD i hear people around here sell them, Its on my list of things I need :)

A couple of our members here make/sell them. Either velocitapaola (one of our sponsors, symtech labs) or eclipse982nrRST

Originally posted by lunareklipse
5. Finally im concerned about where to pick up a manifold. I also read people around here make them, and I would trust that more than some of the cast's ive seen floating around on the net. Its really hard for me to gauge what is good for this, and at the same time, i dont have 500 bucks for this part either.

Nothing wrong with a cast manifold that you can pick up off ebay for $200. Try to find a used star manifold, or look to see if treadstone is still selling theirs either on ebay or directly off their website. You'll have more options with a cast manifold (star/treadstone) as far as turbos you can bolt on when compared to the hahn manifold and will have the option to run an internally or externally gated turbo whereas the hahn does not allow for an external gate. Getting a custom tubular will run you $$$$

hey thanks for all the great info, you put some of my worries to rest :)

Im not certain the bolt is why the thing leaks oil, it has leaked for umm years, lmao.. never been able to figure it out, had different mechanics look at, all the could say that it looked like the head gasket. But now that its replaced, I can only think it might be the bolts, but I dont want to throw un-needed parts at the thing. Maybe choppin that driver side bolt down couldnt hurt to try diagnosing the problem. If it works, the arp head studs couldnt hurt.

I figured that the vortec fmu was a good solution for my base line set-up, he is trying to tell me it was dumping to much fuel for him, but I also think he may have been using bigger injectors. I also found a used one on ebay for 50 bucks shipped so I dont see how that could be a bad thing :)

As far as the manifold is concerned thats cool that I can just pick one up off ebay, I was kinda concerned that they might be prone to cracking or something :)

and that leaves me with trying to pick out a turbo. I am on a budget, but I dont want to skimp on the important stuff, so I want to find something reasonable, but not glued together either, lmao.

only other thing im curious about is how to handle the down pipe, and all the IC piping. I know ill need to get a piece for the Tb with a place for the bov, but I dunno if there is anything that doesnt require bending the pipes, or welding since I dont have either of those. while i do have a daily driver and I can goto a shop and stuff I would figure they would need to see the car the stuff was going in if they had to bend crap, lol.

Thanks again for the reply, helps me out a ton!

As for the oil leak, check the oil pressure sending unit.

Mine used to leak and no one could figure it out, finally cleaned it up and replaced it, not a drop since.

Originally posted by teklein
As for the oil leak, check the oil pressure sending unit. Mine used to leak and no one could figure it out, finally cleaned it up and replaced it, not a drop since.

huh, I never even thought about that :P we'll have to check that out once I start the tear-down in acouple weeks here.