What major problems can a Stage 1 turbo cause me? My engine only has 6k miles on it...compression was over 200 on each cylinder. I am just wondering cause of course....my dad is yelling and screaming about my engine not being a race engine and thats what im trying to make it..yada yada. So assuming i just put on the stage 1, boosting at 5psi....what problems AND what are the chances of problems i would have? This is assuming i dont race the car at every stop light or anything. But you know...normal driving....sometimes floor it.


Has anyone here had good compression numbers with a low mileage engine...put a stage 1 on and the engine just blows up simply because of the turbo?

I need to know this....HONEST TRUTH.....because if i go turbo...my dad is not gonna help me nearly as much if something goes wrong with my car.


ALSO, what would u guys recommend I get also to be ultra safe that nothing bad will happen to my engine. So assume i bought the Stage 1 kit from Hahn. What else should i get besides that? And could you please list what each thing will do/help because I am not very turbo/engine literate. Thanks alot.

HEY! tell your dad that the head on your engine was developed by lotus and uses the same crankshaft design as porsche & ferrari. Why do you think people race neons? Because the look good? Hah.

This is all coming from a guy who blew up he car yesterday.. Get the Hahn kit and set aside at least a week to properly install the kit. Don’t cut any corners. Never run over 6 psi!! I really think a 420a @ 6psi would last a long time. But what do I know. I blew a piston ring land yesterday.

Your only problem is this. once you get the thing installed your going to want more. your going to get the bug, the monkey on your back. I must admit installing a turbo system on my car has been one of the most rewarding / funniest things i have ever done on a car. But now I am getting out of control! I’m blowing the car up and dropping a new engine in it. I think its fun but some people my not, like your dad. It all becomes a very rewarding experience if you have a 2nd car so that you can get to work after you blow up your car. You have to get to work to make money to buy more stuff for the car that takes you to work. It’s a vicious cycle. But I like it!
:thumbsup :+

I'm with etx. I have 60,000 more miles on my engine than you do (little less than 3 years more of driving) and the only problem you should really have is wanting more boost. As long as you stay at the recommended boost and fuel levels you should be good to go.

Your engine is still new, and the compression is high which is a good sign that your engine can probably handle some boost safely. As stated above, dont go above 6psi. If you want to be extra safe, run only 5 or 4 until you rebuild. When you get the kit, opt for the SMIC, its better to intercool. Make sure you upgrade the crappy cartech FMU to a vortech, and get a missing link because people have had the "mystery box" that comes with the hahn kit mess up. Make sure you get an accurate A/F gauge, boost gauge, and EGT gauge to watch over your engine.

However, I wouldnt recommend doing the install yourself if you want to be safe. Have a knowledgable shop with a good record do the install for you. That way, if they screw up and something goes wrong you can blame them for it.

I agree with everyone, seriously though, I would NOT turbo a car with out an intercooler of some sort, seriously its worth the extra money if you want the engine to last longer, its prob cheaper ifyou buy a used intercooler and a stage 1 then buying stage 2 right away, then also you stay at 5 psi

>I would NOT turbo a
>car with out an intercooler of some sort, seriously its worth
>the extra money if you want the engine to last longer, its
>prob cheaper ifyou buy a used intercooler and a stage 1 then
>buying stage 2 right away, then also you stay at 5 psi

If I could've gotten an intercooler at the time I would've but I'm a stage oner and no problems yet (knock on wood). I wouldn't scare him into spending another $800 right away if he can't afford it. Hahn Racecraft has put a lot of time into dyno testing and producing a kit that is proven to work for our specific cars. So running a stage 1 will give you a safe daily driver as long you always stay within the specs and watch your EGTs.

To Run safe:

1) Stage1 kit @ 5psi (Safe boost level)

2) The Missing Link (Replaces the HRC FCD and smoothens vacuum/boost transition) www.group5motorsports.com

3) Vortech SFMU (Replaces the HRC Cartech Billet FMU and hold much more stable fuel pressures)

4) Gauges:
Boost gauge (Make sure you dont over boost)
EGT gauge (Make sure you don't exceed 1400 degrees)
Digital Air/Fuel gauge (Make sure you are a tad rich)

All of the above will ensure safe boosting. Rich = less chance for detonation and lower temps. Lean = Higher chance for detonation and higher temps. Just tune off of that using your EGT and Air/Fuel gauges. Don't drive it into the ground, but have fun and just keep an eye on everything.

HEAT your engine bay will get very hot without that intercooler.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Some are saying i need an intercooler...but doesnt stage 1 come with a side mount?

And also...say im turbo and i look at my AF and im running to lean. WHat would i do? Would i shut the car off for a few minutes or what?

is this the correct missing link? http://www.group5motorsport.com/cgi-bin/GRPstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=SE-MissingLink

and where could i purchase the vortech sfmu

Yeah, you want the 003. Im not sure where to get the vortech, I got mine brand new off ebay. But ebay is not always the best place to get car stuff. If i were you I would work out a deal with hahn to get some cash off the kit and not send you the *fuel defenser or the carcrap fpr. But if you can afford it get the front mount intercooler. It just looks sexy! If you dont want to rebuild your engine never ever ever go over 5 psi of boost. But i know once you have the kit in your going to want more boost. I did and look what happened to me! boom. cartech fpr killed my car. pos.

If you want to intercool, just get a stock 1G or 2G turbo SMIC. You might have to modify your pipes a little bit, but I think its a better idea to run an intercooler. Better safe than sorry. Also, intercoolers dont cost that much. You dont need a FMIC, a used stock sidemount will work. Someone on the NYCCDSM site (http://www.nyccdsm.com goto message board and then trader, its on there) is selling thier used 2G SMIC for 50$. Or, go to a local junkyard and pick one up. They arent that expensive.