I have a '98 Eclipse GS with 31k miles on it. Would a stage II be alright for a daily driver? I've heard some horror stories of blown engines and such with the stage II and no other internal mods. So would it be viable (for engine longevity) to have a Hahn Stage II is the car was a daily driver?

Also, what should I do before I get the kit (if I'm going to), besides compression check, premium fuel and possibly a high-flo cat & turbo timer?

Any help greatly appreciated
Thanks
-Jason

Running a stage II at 6 psi makes a good daily driver. You'll get enough power to make it fun, the security of the intercooler, and few worries about blown engines. Definitely do the compression test and make sure everything else is working perfectly. Buy an EGT and A/F meter. For the EGT, ask for some recommendations from the group (I like my Autometer # 5765 & 5244). As for the A/F meter, get a numeric one from me (ahem) or Jumptronix. Numeric ones give you much more detailed information than the blinky LED ones. You can imagine that a readout of ".946V" is more informative than "9 LED's lit".


Corbin
'95 ESI-T
HRC + FMIC

>Running a stage II at 6
>psi makes a good daily
>driver. You'll get enough
>power to make it fun,
>the security of the intercooler,
>and few worries about blown
>engines. Definitely do the
>compression test and make sure
>everything else is working perfectly.
> Buy an EGT and
>A/F meter. For the
>EGT, ask for some recommendations
>from the group (I like
>my Autometer # 5765 &
>5244). As for the
>A/F meter, get a numeric
>one from me (ahem) or
>Jumptronix. Numeric ones give
>you much more detailed information
>than the blinky LED ones.
> You can imagine that
>a readout of ".946V" is
>more informative than "9 LED's
>lit".
>
>
>Corbin
>'95 ESI-T
>HRC + FMIC
>
>

Corbin, I have been told many times that if u have a Stage 2 theres no point in running lower then 7-8 PSI. Some say running 6psi non intercooled is better performance wise then intercooled although it probably is safer but more $. You agree with that?
Im looking into getting Star or HRC Stage 1 or 2 kit but Im reconsidering Stage 2 because I worried about stock internals and Stage 1 I dont think Ill be happy w/ after a month or 2 and Ill want more power so Im stuck on what to do. I drove my friends turbocharged/intercooled Miata (11 psi) all yesterday and it was insane except for the stock clutch which was the only problem w/ the car when it slipped in 5th every now and then. After driving that I doubt having a Stage 1 will be good enough. Plus to make things worse my other friend has worlds fastest Stealth and 3000GT both running 9-11 secs at 25-30 PSI and 3000GT being his daily driver but I guess its almost impossible to compare w/ that. I have gone from Cyclone swap, to GST swap, to Stage 1/Stage 2, to custom twin turbo (dont try it), and now I dont know what to do. Any ideas?, although I have a feeling most of u will just say go w/ Stage 1 or 2. Thanks

www.hidden-images.com

> Corbin, I
>have been told many times
>that if u have a
>Stage 2 theres no point
>in running lower then 7-8
>PSI.

Speaking of 6 psi intercooled or 9 psi intercooled. 9 psi is going to stress every part of the car more than 6 psi. With stock injectors, 9 psi uses the most fuel pressure you would ever want to put behind an injector (110 psi!). Pressurizing the air more should increase its temperature more (vs 6 psi). That will bring you closer to the detonation zone. 9 psi will likely be fine, but 6 psi leaves that extra margin of safety thats important with a daily driver.

>Some say running
>6psi non intercooled is better
>performance wise then intercooled although
>it probably is safer but
>more $. You agree
>with that?

Adding the intercooler does increase lag time. So transient response suffers. The intercooler will cool the air some, so you should see more power with the denser air. I would much rather pay some more up front with the intercooler and feel safer everytime I boost. I personally can't afford a rebuild now.

>I drove
>my friends turbocharged/intercooled Miata (11
>psi) all yesterday and it
>was insane except for the
>stock clutch which was the
>only problem w/ the car
>when it slipped in 5th
>every now and then.
>After driving that I doubt
>having a Stage 1 will
>be good enough.

Thats a tough act to follow. It will take time and money to compete with that safely. I still suggest a stage II at 6 psi. Drive it, get used to it, learn about it. Then start building a faster car. Work on the fuel system, internals, etc. If this stuff is new to you, start slow and work your way up. .

Corbin
'95 ESI-T
HRC + FMIC

Monitoring AF and EGTs and general maintenence is all thats required but there are no garuantee's despite the 100's of people that will say its perfectly safe. You may last for yrs and you may blow up in 3 months but if your really worried about it that much dont bother with it. BTW stage 2 should be safer than stage 1. If your life will end as it is today if it blows you'd probably be nearly as happy with $3000 worth of top end work and should be nearly as fast (if less powerful) as a stage 1 kit.

Too many "it was my fault" "I should have" "It wouldn't have if". IMO the stock internals are simply unpredictable and because one bottom end lasted 2yrs doesn't mean the next engine will. Either that or you have a 50% chance of making a fatal mistake once your turbo on stock internals (more if you have a neon hehe since no one on their board can seem to keep a turbo/stock bottom end running more than a few months).



http://stan2gnt.homestead.com/home.html
Stan2gnt
Stan2va@aol.com
95 Talon 420A-Turbo
Former and future nitrous user

Spark plugs and ignition wires are a good thing for the turbo also. You will be amazed what a really get set of plugs will do for you turbo and performance

I've been driving my car hard with the turbo for the past 8 months without any problems. It makes a great daily driver...especially above 3500rpm.

While there are a lot of instances where people make mistakes and blow their engines, there are also a few success stories about people who are religious in the maintenance of their cars and are still running strong. Jason_ESi-T is a good example, as well as Corbin. Both of these guys have been running a really long time on the stock bottom end. Whenever there is a post asking about the safety of the kits, etc, you will always find these two guys bringing up the same points- "Monitor very closely with the proper gauges", and "FUEL, FUEL, FUEL!!!".

I honestly feel that as long as the car is taken care of properly, that the engine should last a long and healthy life.
Granted, it will be shorter than a stock 420a lifespan, but a lot more fun:)

As I step on the gas and am pushed back into my seat, the thought of blowing up my engine doesn't even cross my mind. EGTs are below 1500 and A/F is above .92. The engine can't be happier.

-Jeff
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T'd and HRC'd

http://gs.dsmpower.com

Thats all true but its you same few guys (you, corbin, jason, dsm1 ect) who manage to live a long happy life turbo'd on the stock bottom end. But for every one of you there are two who wont make it a yr. Its also no coincidence that you are all convservative with the boost. Jason stayed at 5psi nonintercooled (not sure what now), Corbin runs 6psi with 440cc injectors and a big ole Apexi FMIC, dsm1 low 5/high 7 with a stage 2 and you whatever your exhaust is allowing these days hehe. Every day before my 1rst drive I check my oil level. If my car idles even a little funny or its been over a few weeks I pull the plugs (iridiums at that). I open my hood EVERYDAY just so I know everythings in place. I look for loose oil drain/hose clamps at least weekly ect. Everybody by now has the essential gauges and knows to monitor fuel supply but I dont think its the fuel thats blowing half the people up, its watching the fuel alone and thinking its gonna save their ass. How many times do we hear "...but my EGTs were fine". For me inspection time went WAY up once turbo'd


http://stan2gnt.homestead.com/home.html
Stan2gnt
Stan2va@aol.com
95 Talon 420A-Turbo
Former and future nitrous user

I usually check my catchcan and oil levels 2-3 times a week. If the car ever feels odd, I get out and check on it. It is usually just my head playing tricks on me though...

I'm running 7psi right now...well between 7 and 8 depending on how cold it is outside. The 3" thermal works wonders...

-Jeff
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T'd and HRC'd

http://gs.dsmpower.com

how do you check you road race catchcan besides draining it? any does the filter because oily or ? thanks
michael 99gs-t'd

LAST EDITED ON 12-Nov-01 AT 02:46 PM (PST)

Yeah, I'm just about to hit my 20k mile anniversary with the turbo (and stock bottom end). For about 13k miles, I've been stage 2 with the lil ole' starion IC. I'd say for most of those stage 2 miles, I've been where Jeff is, as far as boost amount, and that's at 7-7.5 lbs. of boost.

Like others have said, I open my hood at least 3 times a week, check the oil, look at the fuel pressure, and change the plugs about every oil change. Fortunately, the only leak I can speak of is a slight oil condensation issue at the turbo drain line. I also get blow-by on some occassions. Otherwise, the car seems strong as ever, and running the car hard is a religion.

Sometimes I really do wish she'll blow so I can get a forged bottom end, and take my car tot he next level. It just seems that it's not going to happen. Every time I jump on her (even this morning as I took her to the dealership for the ball joint recall) she roared as willingly as ever as I boosted down the parkway.

I honestly think that if you keep the boost "conservative" and watch out for fuel problems in gremlin FCD's or FPR's, you can go indefinitely with a healthy engine. It always seems that there is some accountable mistake that's human-related when a blow-up happens. _Almost_ every time. (i.e. the over boost of Ray's car, the over boost of Wyatt's car, seemingly constant overboosting in BIG Garrett turbos to 10 lbs, the spun rod bearings of many other people due to oil starvation...etc.)

I honestly believe that blow ups occur almost exclusivly to people who have limited knowledge about turbosytems, people who've intentionally overboosted or occur to people who admitted they've overlooked something really obvious. I get very concerned about some people who've asked me, what I think, are very simplistic questions about these turbosytems and then do some substantial modifications to the system.

This to me is my advice to someone who is considering an install: If you didn't install the system yourself, and don't have a very keen understanding of all of its components and how they work, don't touch anything without someone who does. Otherwise, sometimes, bad shit just happens...

But we all have our own opinions and observations. I just really liked that post a long time ago from Stan that basically said, if you start adding high HP mods to your car, you better be ready for the risks attributed to those mods and not cry when they happen.

Jason
98' Eagle Talon ESi-T
Mitsu Super 16g Turbo(HRC)/Custom FMIC

http://springfielddsm.homestead.com/JasonsPics.html

Preach it, Brother Boltz

I blew mine becuase i had a subconsious death wish for my bottom end. Intentionally tuned it lean because i wanted my gas milage back ;-)

All good now. 650 miles on my baby, one oil change already, driving it as easy as i can.

Jason: Wanna blow it? I can help you.

_____________________________________________
-Dino Yancey
Hello me, it's Me Again!


For Mitsubishi Technical Manuals, INCLUDING the 97-99 electrical and service manuals, click HERE:
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Somehow, the Proud Owner of not-your.biz

I have had my turbo kit on my car since June and have driven about 10,000 miles. About half of it was stage one at 5 psi. The other half was with the starion intercooler at about 6.5 psi. I still have the stock exhaust piping with a different muffler on it so I think I might hit 7 psi if I get a new exhaust. I look under my hood about twice a week and make sure everything is ok. And I also check my oil atleast twice a week. And I always am listening and feeling for something unusual. I do plan on getting my engine rebuilt next year though with my tax return money. I can't wait to run 10+ psi.

DAVE_FL
97 T-GS
HRC stage 2

Orlando DSM www.orl.dsm.org
DAVE99@cfl.rr.com

>Jason: Wanna blow it?
>I can help you.

I can help too (but I cant help with the upgrades)!



http://stan2gnt.homestead.com/home.html
Stan2gnt
Stan2va@aol.com
95 Talon 420A-Turbo
Former and future nitrous user

LOL...thanks for the offer guys!

Unfortunately for me...my wife needs a new car and there's like a couple of other toys that need to be bought first. (finished basement, home digital theatre upgrade components, home office furniture...ETC, etc.....way too many etcetera's! :-( )

Jason
98' Eagle Talon ESi-T
Mitsu Super 16g Turbo(HRC)/Custom FMIC

http://springfielddsm.homestead.com/JasonsPics.html

I've ran my turbo kit for about 4,000 miles now....haven't had a problem since I put the kit in....I'm probably not smart but have been running about 8-8.5psi on my kit daily....I ran my car with only 5psi for the first 1,000 miles then the last 3,000 i upped it slowly. I just hit the 8-8.5 about 1,500 miles ago. I haven't had any problems and have been running good so far. I am about to change my oil for the 3rd time this weekend. I do also check under my hood quite often just to make sure everything is hooked up correctly. So far everything is good and running clean. I have been lossing oil frequently though but always add a quart if it looks low. Well other then that haven't had any problems and wish that i don't....I do have stock bottom end and stock injectors....I want to up the boost but from what everyone has told me I'll just hold off for now until i get my bottom end done up and my fuel system upgraded....

Star Stage 2 turbo kit w/Greddy Type S BOV
Turbonetics Manual Boost Controller
SkunkWorks Cam Gears
5Zigen Cat back exhaust
NGK spark plugs
Nology Spark plug wires
Full body kit
17" Konig Imagines

What is ur ET 1/4?

If your talking to me which i think you are....I shall know this weekend if everything goes fine....Bakersfield here I come...

Star Stage 2 turbo kit w/Greddy Type S BOV
Turbonetics Manual Boost Controller
SkunkWorks Cam Gears
5Zigen Cat back exhaust
Cat. Bypass
NGK spark plugs
Nology Spark plug wires
Full body kit
17" Konig Imagines

Thanks for all the input guys.

What other mods do you think would compliment it the most? (assume its a stock GS)

Thanks
-Jason