I have been reading posts here for about 6 months and trying to decide whether or not get a turbo kit for my 98 rs. It has under 60k. and i don't really want to rebuild now. But how much would it cost to have the kit that Howell sells for $1099 installed(what about oversized pistons, how much will that add to the price?). Were could i get it done? I live in Ky. Also not sure what stage to get, i'm leaning toward a star stage 2. What boost should i run with stock internal for a daily driver? and if i rebuild what boost could i run? Should i rebuild now or not?

What will i need with a stage 2...

Vf2
boost guage
A/F guage
ETG
oil pressure guage?
boost controller
turbo timer?
BOV?
bigger exhuast?

figure about and extra 1000 for the install, that would include boring .020 over, blueprinting etc...

Stage II kit, same thing I have. I run 9psi when racing and 5psi for normal driving. Lets forget about the rebuild stuff just for a second. The max boost you can go without a upgraded fuel system is 12psi. Ive hit it once but volts on O2 sensor werent as high as I like them. Now throw in the upgraded bottom end and your bottom end will beable to handle 12psi but the fuel system wont. So, having a Stage II with rebuild would basically make you a Stage II.5. With the rebuild kit youd beable to achieve 10psi safely as a daily driver. Add in the fuel system and you can go as much as 30psi depending on how upgraded the fuel system is. So, if you upgrade your internals but not the fuel system you cant go as high as you might like in boost. You will also be losing power until you get the fuel system duel to lower compression and same boost levels.

toykilla how long do you think the motor will last running a stage 2 on 5psi daily and 9psi once in a while? Also will i need an msd ignition?

>toykilla how long do you think the motor will last running a
>stage 2 on 5psi daily and 9psi once in a while? Also will i
>need an msd ignition?
>
>

As long as your not getting detonation and things of that sort the motor should last as long as it would without the turbo.

>How much would it cost to have the
>Kit that Howell sells for $1099 installed

Depends on how much work you do yourself. Just to have your engine bored, honed, balanced, rebuilt (short block) will run you around 400-600 depending on the shop.

>(What about oversized pistons,
>How much will that add to the price?)

Nothing. On the site you will see that you have a chose of stock size or .020 over


>Also not sure what stage to get,

Stage V :-)

>What boost should I run with stock
>Internal for a daily driver? And if I
>Rebuild what boost could I run?

Stock internals + stage 2 = 7-8psi, w/ rebuild it will all depend on your fuel system and timing.

>What will I need with a stage 2...


>boost gauge Comes w/ kit
>A/F gauge Yes
>ETG Yes
>oil pressure gauge? Not needed as much as the others
>boost controller only if you want to turn up the boost
>turbo timer? Yes "in my opinion" but you can live w/o
>BOV? comes w/ kit
>bigger exhaust? It is a good idea

why is the vf2 suggested instead of the fcd that comes with? Does the star stage 2 kit come with a fcd? Is there any tuning to do to the fuel system? if i get a boost controllerand up the psi what adjs. my fuel ratio?

Where are you at in KY? I'm near Florence, and I'm dropping in a Stage 4 motor tomorrow. I installed my HRC kit in my garage by myself, so it's easily do-able. If you're nearby, I can give you a hand if you need it. I would suggest Stage 1 or 2 (depending on how much $$ you have to play with), and when it's time to rebuild, go to stage 3 or higher.

Greg i live in Oldham Co. i think it's kinda far. i don't know.
The thing i am worried about is the tuning and engine life. if i don't go boost crazy how long might it last( i know there is no way to really know, but resonably)
would it be cheaper to get a stage 1 and add an intercooler?

Get the stage 1 and then put a starion FMIC on. I got a stage 1 then spent less than $300 to get to stage 2. I got some mandrel bent piping and a starion intercooler and put it together and there it is ...Stage 2. Its pretty easy to do and a lot cheaper than buying the actual stage 2 kit. I had about 70,000 miles on my car when I turboed it and evrything is running fine and I am at 87,000miles now. Just do a compression test to see how your engine is doing before you get the turbo kit. If your compression turns out OK then turbo that biotch!!! At 7 psi intercooled your engine will live a long and happy life. I am not too worried about messing up or wearing my engine down because I plan on upgrading to stage 3. I think that everyone that turbos their car will eventually be at stage 3. It is hard to stop. You always want more boost. I am a boost addict and I dont think it will ever stop.

what happens when the temp changes? doesn't A/F ratio get lean or rich? doesn't that couse problems when boost'n

Yeah heat is another problem your going to have at higher boost levels. You'll probably have to do the fan mod, buy better radiator, or buy better fans. You can also do water injection, which is like super intercooling, it'll help keep that intake temp much lower than with air to air intercooling.

haha I'll say this as long as oyu got enough fuel your car will probably last forever on 5psi bwahahaa.

HadesOmega do you have that sh*t done. turbo'n sounds like a pain in the arss! Will i run into much trouble if i just get a stage one and get a starion intercooler and up the boost 5psi daily and 8psi racing

Just read a post about catch cans will i need one witha stage 2, what do they do?

You do not NEED a catch can. it just catches the oil blowby that comes out of the valve cover breather. I just have a hosae that runs to the bottom of my car. I am going to make my own catch can soon though.

oil blowby is NO good. When you get blowby, it means that your piston rings are slowly going "bye-bye". Slight blowby isn't really a problem, but with time your rings will eventually fry and cause a buttload of oil spray out from the valve cover stem. After that, you're gonna need to pull out your motor and reseal the pistons.

OK,you all have talked me into turbo'n my biotch(gee that was hard) anyway witch kit is easier to add a FMIC to, HRC or Star?

Dave where did you get your starion FMIC? Where are some places that have good prices on them?

I run 6 psi intercooled daily driven now and once my car is tuned and I had my 370cc injectors installed Ill run 8 psi daily driven and 10 at the track most likely on race gas. Starion IC's are pretty cheap. I think most of the people got theres for under $200 and I got mine w/ Stans kit so Im not sure where he got his from. Dont need a rebuild kit for awhile. i say do whatu can w/ running lower boost then maybe once your getting towards higher milegae a you want more power then think about it. Oil Pressure gauge naw. Fuel Pressure is more important I think. Dont need electronic boost controler really unless u plan on changing your boost a lot. I just have Stans manual boost controller which is fine for now. Make sure you got plenty of $ in case something goes wrong. Heres a good way to look at it. Whatever u put into car at one point you should have that ammount left in bank. You dont have to do that but its safer. Good luck
-Dave

dave i've been wanting to put dual exhaust on mine for a while but didn't think it would fit. where did you rought your piping to the 2nd muffler? under the back axle?

EBAY...I got mine for $160 with zero dents and in great condition.