I've read everything I can, corbin's fuel information, and i'm still confused. I think i'm still too amateur at this stuff to come to my own conclusion. I have a non-restrictive exhaust, so my Stage I is reaching 9 PSI at redline. I've only done it a few times. My fuel system is a confusing mess. I don't have the right fittings to test my fuel pressure under boost, so I am relying on idle pressure to directly correlate to boost fuel pressure. Today while reading I learned of the Vortech S-FMU. I was overcome with more confusion. I know "you"'ve probably explained this a thousand times, but is upgrading Hahn's FPR worth it. I'm out of money, and have no way to monitor my EGTs or, not even my fuel pressure (besides at idle). My fuel pressure at idle varies from 55 to 45psi, and according to anyone who follows me, i'm running safely rich. I have an intercooler from a stock GSX sitting in my garage, waiting for some piping from Hahn. I'll probably still keep the 4psi wastegate on. I'm open to any suggestions. I have 1500 miles on my motor. Is my fuel situation alright, or, if not, what is my next step? Thanks for the advice!




Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con!

whoever invented the cartech fpr needs to be shot. jk, but really, i've had tons of problems with it. it works for me, but not much past 3psi. technically it's working, it's creating pressure, but it's doing it a way too high a level. i can only test my idle pressure b/c i don't trust the lines to say on there when i'm driving. i've got an ss line on there now, and when i tested it the other day i got it "between" 40 and 50...it sucks. i think it's been acting up more lately b/c of all the rain we've gotten in my area.

ps i dont think my little speel helpd much b/c you aren't really having a fuel problem yet, but i wouldn't run over 4psi much w/o an intercooler. the air is too hot, it doesn't have to do with your fuel. that will come into play later.

pss scratch that, you have a built engine w/ a stage1? interesting, did you rebuild first i'm guessing? either way i'm in the same boat. upgrade to the vortech unit or go w/ corbins setup. i also need an egt...i should* have it on the car in a few weeks.

Yeah, same as I. I think i'm going to go with the 52mm GReddy EGT, sounds like a great package for 150! Well, not to give you my entire life's story, but in January my dad paid some idiot mexicans (no offense) that were his buddies to do a timing belt/head gasket swap. My car had 107000 miles on it. I figured it was about time. I really should have done it myself, but didn't fin dmyself with the time. When I got my car back, it ran terribly, I couldn't keep my car running at idle, barely. My engine was flawless before they got it. One day I came off the freeway (2000 miles later) and my car shook violently and died. Later investigation told me that the timing belt tensioner pulley bolt had sheared off the bracket, and all went to hell.
(Let's not forget that as of this time, I knew nothing about engines). I had several routes to take, i could total the car out from mechanical malpractice or suck it up, take the blow and get to work. A few visits to the bank later and 7,000 dollars, I had new pistons, rings, rods, oil pump, stage 1 Hahn kit, CM stage 1, not to mention a new cylinder head (still have my old one sitting in the garage). I read up, did ALL that i could to research engines and turbochargers, and 3 months later, i have my baby back. I hired one of my buddies with a 12-second GSX to do the majority of the engine build. He did an EXCELLENT job and i was very proud of the work. I broke it in one week ago today (hit 1000!) and had him take it out for its first spin with boost. Everything ran great, except for the ever-climbing boost (it doesn't climb past 4psi until 5500 rpm), and the only conclusion we could come to was the non-restrictive exhaust Hahn warned us all about. However, the guy told me that since my engine had a lower compression and basically bulletproof, singular 9 psi runs were alright, as long as I was getting fuel delivery, and not repetitively boosting. So, yeah, i'm basically a beginner at all of this. But it's all mind-boggling, especially for the average homework-until-2am college student with no money! Damn, now that i've looked back at what i've written, i've given everyone my life story. Sorry about that.



Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con / CM Stage 1

Oh, and by the way, I added the turbo at the same time as teh engine build, so basically I leanred how to drive a turbo during a break-in period. but managed to do well. Sorry if I didn't clarify that.



Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con!

It seems like there have beeen LOTS of people with Hahn's kit have problems with the cartech FPR. I am one of them too! Idle pressure fluctuates, and the boosted fuel pressure rises way to fast, so i run too rich at each psi of boost. It holds at max boost ok, but still rich. I'm getting the Vortech SFMU in next week hopefully..I've never heard one bad complaint about it. A little pricey of almost 300 bucks, but well worth it IMO, for a rock solid, steady, constant, reliable fuel pressure regualator. IMO, its the most important part of the turbo system. Your fuel pressures are key to a proper, powerful running engine. If you monitor your fuel pressures, and are ok for now, save up for the sfmu..I bet you will need it eventually..
And another thing, you NEED to get a fuel pressure gaguge,and an EGT gaguge!!!!! These are essential items to keep a close eye on your engine and its safe operating. I would spend the money on those right now! I could't even imagine boosting without being able to glance over at those gagues..Way too important IMO.

Get a EGT gauge please, it will save your motor if you know how to read it.

It's the next thing I am getting. I like the greddy one, and 150 is a pretty good deal for everything. I haven't ripped through the gears yet on my own, i just let the guy who built it rip through them once.






Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con / CM Stage 1

the greddy one comes w/ everything? i was looking at the apexi one, which i can get ahold of for a lil over 200$...probe and all?

I have a 52mm greddy egt gauge. paid like $165 from roadrace. It came w/ EVERYTHING....the probe all wiring and the gauge. I didn't even have to lengthen any wires. The harness that it came with is also covered in stainless mesh, it looks like a brake line. I'd reccomend it as an alternative to the autometer gauge/westach probe route. justin

Right. MVP Motorsports sells the 52mm GReddy EGT for 150 plus shipping. I think that's a hell of a deal, but there's one on eBay right now i'm bidding on.





Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con / CM Stage 1

Lovely. Checked my fuel pressure today, it's sitting at an excellent 38psi. I can't stand this shit anymore!! It's so annoying! That damn regulator is as tight as it'll possibly go, there's no reason for it to keep losing fuel pressure! Sometimes my fuel pump is louder than other times, i dont know if that has anything to do with it.




Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con / CM Stage 1

>Lovely. Checked my fuel pressure today, it's sitting at an
>excellent 38psi. I can't stand this shit anymore!! It's so
>annoying! That damn regulator is as tight as it'll possibly
>go, there's no reason for it to keep losing fuel pressure!
>Sometimes my fuel pump is louder than other times, i dont
>know if that has anything to do with it.

My fuel pump is loud as all hell. I know exactly when my fuel pressure is to low at idle, because it whines like a bratty 5 year old :) When i get the pressure to stay steady at 50-55 psi(haha yeah right), it sounds quieter. The pump quiets down when the pressure rises because there is less fuel being forced back on the pump. So at idle fuel pressures, the FPR is keeping all that high volume fuel pressure that the pump makes, held back, and makes the pump very noisy. When you boost, the pump sees less backpressure, so its quieter. In a way its kinda nice to be able to hear it, makes me aware to get the gauge out on the windshield to keep an eye on the pressures..And get the idle pressure up from 38 psi..too low there..My car seems to idle the smoothest at about 48-50 psi..

Yeah, I set it at 55-60 psi :) and wake up the next day to 45, and the next day to 40.




Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con / CM Stage 1

Hey Jon, Greedy makes a good set of gauges no doubt, but if money is an issue you can try auto meter, I have the phantom series guages in my dash, and all up my pilar, and i just looked up the price for there pyrometer kit and it is $121 from summit.......

I think that's what I'll end up doing if I don't win the auction on eBay. Who sells the 60mm pods, anyway? I have the gauge cluster bezel for my boost gauge, with an empty pod on the left. But the 60mm wouldn't fit.





Jon

1997 Eclipse RS

MODS: 8.8:1 JE Pistons / Eagle rods / Stage 1 Hahn turbocharger / Melling Oil Pump / Autometer 5" tach / 2 JL 12" W0 subwoofers / JL Audio 500/1 amp / Clarion 230w amp / short shifter mod / GReddy EVO exhaust / custom 2 1/2" downpipe / no cat con / CM Stage 1

i think you can open it up w/ a dremel a little bid, just enough for the gauge to fit. i've got a friend w/ a turbo teg and thats what he had to do. he's got the apexi gauges