Can anyone tell what they think is the best turbo kit for the rs? There are so many different kits out there but I want the most reliable kit so that I don't end up blowin my motor right away.
you will get more power and way more reliability with the swap. i am not well versed in how is all making kits now. i have good things about the AVO kit, i know that one come swith a PP6 for engine management.
Go with the swap, it may sound like more money and more work but it really isn't. Here's my price list for turboing my RS (they are mostly estimates, I can't remember exact prices) Turbo Kit (included fuel pump, gauges, turbo, up/downpipe, intercooler and maybe some other random goodies)-2600 clutch/flywheel (including install)-1300 injectors-150 used (got a good deal) engine management (hydra)-1650 before tax and shipping aeromotive fpr-150ish random gaskets and bolts and whatnot-@100 Exhaust 600 I'm not sure if that's all of it, but now we're up to... around $6600 that's a **** load of money when you could have a swap for less and then add some mods
my swap cost me about 2,800 for a front clip, but that was a good deal, no labor costs, did it all myself :lol:
I dropped about $3000 on my front clip. To make the swap work I needed an exhaust ($400) and a front sway bar ($140). Then my clutch went, then brakes, suspension, etc etc... That stuff adds up... But yeah, a swap is definitely the cheaper option.
If I had to do it again I'd go with the turbo kit on the explosion-prone 2.5 8) Yes the swap is easier and will yield more reliable power it just isn't anywhere as unique as a complete turbo build on that high-CR NA plant. And unless you're putting the swap into the old GC body you could just as well just have bought a WRX and save all sorts of time and money. So if you want to be unique and are prepared to spend a lot of time and money on your project then go with the turbo kit. A side note for those who remembered my rough-tuned RS turbo: that thing made torque NOW. Imagine the hard pull you get from that plant right from idle and just imagine it keeps pulling like that almost up to redline (which on that build was 6500 IIRC). And that was with a rough, conservative tune. Certainly quicker than my GT with all its wretched lag.
I'll have to disagree; sure, your higher compression/higher displacement is going to give you a bit more torque up to, say, 3000RPM (my car is making 18PSI by 3100). Then at 6250RPM it dies. At 6250RPM my car is making more power than a EJ25 ever possibly could, and it will carry that power to 8250. It will also run like that forever, since that is the stock tune of the engine, whereas the EJ25 is going to be exploding very shortly if you want to even make stock WRX power with it. More money for a shorter lifetime, less reliable, less power, and lower redline, for torque that you hardly EVER use (how often to you rev below 3000RPMs racing? The idea here is to make a fast car, right? When I am driving fast I tend not to shift below 3000rpms). The only way I would consider a turbo is if it was a lot cheaper. And unique? What is unique about a boxer turbocharged engine? The only difference between a turbo engine swap and a turbo kit on an engine that was never designed to be turboed is going to be how long they last.
that's why i did the swap-Reliability, this will be the 4th year with my swap done with no problems other that a coil pack.
You have to admit that the low end torque of the RS-T is awesome! http://media.putfile.com/RS-T-vs-Sti-swap I looked at it and I had you into 3rd and near the middle of 3rd gear you passed me. So there is some definite power to be had out of a glass ej251/3 engine but you have to be very very careful doing it but... for the most power and speed, the swap is the better deal, if you're into auto-xing and stuff like that, the rs-t is awesome because you never need to shift to get power. But if you're into going really really fast on the highway or draging, the swap is superior.
Absolutely... But damn, I couldn't believe it when I read how much you spent on your turbo kit!!! And that was a used turbo, no? I just can't justify paying more to turbo a non turbo engine when I can get something that was designed for that kind of abuse from the factory... It will all become very clear when your EJ22T goes in :twisted:
Considering my RS-T hit the track all of about 6 times in the 4 years I owned it I wouldn't consider it a race car. Having torque on the low end is certainly useful in the city. And now that I have a factory turbo 2.5 I've realized just what I was missing between both. The GT screams when it gets up into its powerband, but from a stop I really miss being rocketed back in my seat as soon as I put my foot on the accelerator.
In defense of RS-T's though, you can easly replicate what is in these kits for a fraction of the cost. I think that buying an off the shelf turbo kit for an RS seems like a total rip off for what they sell you, and i've seen homemade ones that were at least as good. A link plus and some creative piping and a cheap turbo is all that's really going in there. That shouldnt cost $4k
Another thing; lag on 2L engines is not nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Sure, its no high compression 2.5L EJ25, but I am making positive manifold pressure at 2000RPMs, and flooring a car at 2000RPMs is stupid; you are putting a TON of stress on the engine for absolutely nothing. If I floor mine at 1900RPMs it will shake, rattle (hardened mounts all around) and I can tell I'm putting undue stress on it. It did this before the swap with the stock engine too. At 2000rpm it starts making boost and its past 1 atmosphere before 3000. I can be pushing 20PSI at 3100RPM is there is enough load on the engine. My friend's WRX engine with the stock turbo is pushing 14PSI by 2500RPM. If you want to drive at revs lower than that you should buy a diesel
