Hey guys. I have not been able to find much detail on the Star Performance turbo systems. I will have my money ready this week to order it, so it's time to make a decision. Hahn on one hand is a proven, well engineered outfit, but costs the most, and has some shoddy parts. Star... well I don't know anything about the star kit except its a T3/T4 turbo. And then theres the newcomer from Motofool... he's going to have his kits finished soon, as is going to include a Vortech SFMU... a very nice addition to the package, and he will be the cheapest of the 3. So lets hear some of the current Hahn and Star owners comments about their own installs and experience with their turbo systems. What parts were good? Bad? Difficult? How is everything holding up over time?


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

i'll say it for everyone else... no offence, but do a search.

i have the HRC kit. i don't like the fuel pressure regulator that comes with the kit, and i don't like the "black box" electronic fuel cut defender. the mechanical "missing link" one is at least 10 times better. i hated the downpipe that comes with it too, the bolt on the bottom is so hard to do. it's not designed too well.

i like the s16g. it spools a little lower than the t3/t4 which means it's more fun for around town driving and better for auto-x.
i also like the organization of HRC. they seem to really know their stuff and i'd say they have better tech support.

for the star kit, i hear the downpipe is almost as bad. supposely there is no "bottom bolt" problem like in the HRC kit, but i also hear that it's difficult to get everything to line up the first try.

the star kit is also a lot cheaper. for the cost of a stage 2 HRC kit with a SMIC you can get a star kit with a FMIC. the star kit at this level definately peforms better than the HRC kit.

i don't know much about motofool's kit. isn't he designing a kit similar to NER's kit with an equal length exhaust manifold? sounds like a really cool idea to me.

I like Hahn, no wait, I like Star, no wait, I like Hahn, no wait....

As stated in the above post, this topic has been beaten to death, and then some (like digging someone up from the grave to yell at them some more, as they paid you no attention at the wake)

I find that no matter what kit you have, you will end up doing some sort of custom work to it, as each kit is not perfect.

The best thing that this board can do is steer you away from what parts to avoid in each kit.

A bolt on turbo kit is a bolt on turbo kit. Hahn is good, as intially they set themselves apart from the rest by providing customer service. But lately their customer service is lagging. They don't return emails, so making me feel like I purchased a Star kit.

I like my Hahn kit, but some days I wish I went with a customed kit and build it according to me.

Do a little search in the turbo forum, and visit the Archives, you'll find what you are looking for dating back to the first Star turbo kit on Thomas Kim's car.

Ok... how about this then... I am curious to know what tools everyone used when installing their kits? How long did it take? What things really pissed you off when putting them on? What advice would you give someone who's planning on buying a kit this week?


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

The only "special" tool you need is a 1 1/16th" oil pressure sending unit remova socket. And, if you have a stock manifold/downpipe, a 6' breaker bar with a 2' extension to get those damned heat rusted manifold -> downpipe bolts off.

Does the Star stage 1 kit come with any gauges and fuel tuning instructions?


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

Nothing in the STAR kit is adjustable. it comes with a boost gauge. it has enough fuel for 5-7psi.

For arguements sake I have a NER kit. It has a really nice equal length header that attaches to a Tial 35mm external wastegate and a Turbonetics T3/T04 S-trim ball bearing turbo. The spool up is great and if you buy the Star kit I recommend the ball bearing option cause this is a pretty big turbo. The kit also came with a 3" downpipe which is a tight fit but flows nice. The only problems I had installingthkit was the damn fuel system which I installd wrong and thats why my shit is blown up right now.

Anyway, I'd go with the Star kit. For the money you get a bigger turbo with options, a fat-ass external wastegate which sounds really nice as it opens up, a true 2.5" downpipe and the ease of an intake fuel pump. Not to mntion the savings a a few hundred bucks.

I am not a Star Kit Owner but here are some of the complaints I have read about. I love my HRC kit and I think there phone customer service is excellent, however, the emails support is lacking. The biggest problems with the HRC kit are:

Plus (+)
- Well designed kit
- Spools earlier than Star Kit although the Star Kit has more top end
- Great intercooler fitment (after some messaging)
- Detailed Instructions
- Tuneable fuel system (even with the Cartech)

Minuses (-)
Shody Downpipe (soon TeamERT may have a fix - whole new downpipe)
- Third bottom bolt on the downpipe is not easily removed
- Simply clamps over stock cut downpipe

Cartech Fuel Pressure Regulator (get the Vortech SFMU)
- Unpredictable results

Black Box (get the Missing Link)
- Unpredictable

Whinning Fuel Pump (replace stock intank with a Walbro)
- Accel Inline Pump is loud

-Expensive

There have been some other problems with the Star Kit that I haven't seen mentioned so here is a few to add:

Downpipe
Pluses (+)
- It is a complete downpipe all the way to the cat. Don't have to use your existing stock downpipe
- More top end with their turbo, increased spool time
- Cheaper

Minuses (-)
- Fitment
Some people say that the pipe lays real close to the oil pan. Others have trouble with the o2 sensor location.
- Flex Section
I have seen many complaints about this and even some people have cracked the turbo manifold as the result of no flex section.
- Manual is a maximum of 5 pages

That's all I could think of. Someone correct me if I am wrong on the Star Kit as I do not own one but did look into it when I was considering turbo kits.


Hope this helps,
Kurt

well to address your issues w/ the star kit the kit itself is really easy to install..i would make sure you have a buddy w/ a welder handy to take care of some easy stuff...first i would cut the flange off of the dp where it meets the turbine housing b/c its not on at the right angle...the o2 sensor will hit the oil pan and cause just a huge pain if you don't..i would also do some re routing of the piping to make things a little more efficent and so you don't have to go w/o the foglights(if you have them)there was a post about this in the past..just run it right beside the radiator through the chassis, you'll have to cut the hole...i would also replace the coupler that meets the turbo to the upper intercooler pipe w/ a mandrel bent piece of pipe, you can get that at jegs for 20 bucks ...other than that the install goes smoothly..i would recommend the missing link...the spool time isn't a huge difference...if thats an issue get the ball bearing

I figure it depends on how high of a boost and performance u want to go... Hahn has been proven to have the best times... with its newest kits... if u are looking for somethin in the mid and upper hp range, go for the star kit, a lil cheaper never hurt.. But if u have the bug like most of us do, i would go for the hahn.... hahn has been hinting at gettin the rs into the 10 second range with the use of n20, then they plan to eventually set into the 9's. If u look on the site u will see its stats and all. Im not sure how far along star is with this but it seems like hahn might be the best choice if u want the top hp, or star if u want to settle for mid range hp
just my 33 1/2 cents

as far as i know the hahn kit still uses a 16g right..a t3/t4 is not a mid range hp turbo, its the exact opposite...as far as customer service i wouldn't even consider getting a kit from wyatt if he is still around b/c the boy is impossible to get a hold of...his cell number and his office number just never gets through...it ultimatley depends on what you want to do w/ your car...you want a monster or just a fast car...your going to have to build your motor for anything over 9-10 anyhow so its pretty much an easy decision for me..i went star b/c i wanted a monster...at 15 psi i'm side by side w/ all the 4g63 guys running 16gs on their car at 17 psi..you get the horsepower at lower boost, this makes things easier for tuning purposes...i'm not going to start some flame here between which kit is better but there is noone on here that will argue that a 16g turbo is going to flow the cfm of a t3/t4 at the same psi..nor will it keeps its efficency at higher levels which is the benefit of having a bigger turbo ...i changed a lot of stuff w/ the star kit, i went w/ the 8 inf setup, upgraded the bov to a Turbo xs rfl, re routed the intercooler piping , went w/ the missing link...so i have changed a lot of stuff around...we are really limited on traction w/ these cars b/c of the size tires we can purchase...kind of like my extra lag time b/c i can get traction a little easier..w/ a dual stage boost controller going from hi to low boost at the flip of a switch its not hard to get good traction on street tires...i dont really like the wastegate on the kit but as i said i have a boost controller so that takes care of it..at 15 psi i'm trapping around 110 mph, my first time at the track and it was cold, screwing everyones traction that day...both kits are nicely developed but if your going to upgrade a lot of stuff on them anyhow i would go w/ the one /w the bigger turbo if you do a lot of highway running...i guess its up to personal preference...good luck either way...don't get the star kit from wyatt, its the biggest headache...overboost.com sells them and they are always there when i've called...don't know of anyone whos had bad experiences w/ them

You say to go for the ball-bearing option... I have been looking at Overboost.Com.. they only have 2 Star options, stage 1 and stage 2. Are they different turbos? Is the stage 1 turbo not ball-bearing?


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

The ball bearing star kit is an extra addon option. it is like $550 more but worth it. I have the star stage 2 etrim ball bearing kit

What is this? Trying to find the stock FPR, this might be it... dunno, never seen one...

Took this pic from under the back of the car, near the passenger side wheel.




1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

ok my friend, this is why the star kit would suck, but thats why we are here. the big black thing to the right with the line running in and out is your fuel filter...if you havnt changed it in a while do so now. on top of that (to the left in the picture) is the fuel pressure regulator, its that galvanized mushroom looking thing.

Now, Im using the star kit, over all i havnt had the need to change as many parts as i think i would have needed to on the hrc kit. Over all its a reliable kit , yes this kit as with the HRC has been proven. how many of us star ppl do you really see complainning ? granted we do, but not that often...maybe this is becuse theres more HRC kits out there, i dont know.
That little comment about hahn breaking into the 10';s and 9's, i think he mentioned that he will be using a s20g and n20. this i think would also be achieveable on the star kit with better fuel and n20.
For an install and go ( dont have to set the fuel pressure, cut lines, wire in a new pump) you can go for the star kit. any questions that the instructions dont asnwer (pretty much all) then ask away,

chamukogs_t@hotmail.com
razorsharkusa on aim. I know the headaches i went through, so i know what you might ask. Ill take pics and try and describe everything to you the best i can. If you lived anywhere near here I would help ya out personally. Maybe you should take pics durring your install and make a write up. would help out alot of the ppl like you who have questions or will have them in the future.
over all, its up to you, best of luck man. oh, btw im going on over 1 year and 10k miles with the star stage 2 @ 7-8 psi. many daily miles, road trips and track runs latter, no huge problems. (results may vary) :thumbsup

edit: i like your original color. looks just like mine :thumbsup

Ran a compression test today...
180-170-190-185

Also, (to the people who have been using the Star kit for a while, and put it on themselves), I know there are lists of parts that come with the HRC kits that people say to "throw away". Obviously, the FPR with the star kit isn't going to do any good beyond the 6-7 psi level, so that will be something I get rid of eventually. Does the Star FPR produce consistant, reliable pressure? Also, what does it use to kill the fuel cut? Should I buy a missing link and scrap the Star part? What about exhaust manifold studs/bolts (with the Star kit)? Looks like it might use factory peices. TIA Guys.


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

hmmm, it'd be better if your numbers were within 5-10 points of each other. that 170 is 20 points away from the 190. if you wanna boost just be ready for a possible rebuild in the near future.

Note... the compression test was done using a 25 dollar unit from Advance Auto Parts, and I did not retest them more than once.
1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

>

Which way does the fuel flow through the regulator? Like, which line is "in" and which is return?


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

the one that goes to the fuel tank is in. Hell i don't know, i have a 95.

My 1G SMIC came in today. Snapped some pics of it, and test fitted it behind my bumper. Thing is going to be difficult, not only to mount but to pipe. FUN!









Some piping he included, might be useful in one way or another...




1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Body Components by Aerogear / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic v2 - More at http://home.insightbb.com/~mgalyan/
Mark Galyan - Greenwood, Indiana

Ok.....after looking at taloniized star kit I was getting pissed off at my car.

First off, my HRC install would have gone alot easier of Hahn would have givin me the right parts!!! 3 and counting and no word back from Hahn about replacement. Granted they were minor parts but I still hate driving to Home depot every 30 minutes.

The whole downpipe situtation on the HRC kit is the biggest PITA, imo. That stupid ass 3rd bolt is the worst. Me and DR1665 had to take a dremel to the nut so it would fit right.

The hrc exhaust mani bolts arent the best. I just hate allen bolts period.

and personally i would rather just put an intank pump and do away with the whole dual pump thing. I just have this peeve with in car wiring.

I dunno, maybe im just bitching.

What I do like is the FMIC. It's so purdy....mmmmmm.....