So about 6 beers deep I decided eveyone else has a turbo thread why not me Actually I felt that there was no in depth coverage of a SFR turbo on the boards. I recently aquired a SFR turbo kit used and over the past few weekd have been ordering all the parts for the install.

Heres what I have sofar.
- SFR turbo kit
- RC 550cc primary injector upgrade
- InterceptorX
- AP midpipe
- defi and autometer boost gauge (I got the defi after buying the autometer)
- AEM wideband
- Loteck Pod
- Extra Stock Oil Pan
- Greddy Boost Controler and Turbo Timer

Allready Installed
- Borla Exhaust
- MS CAI (Comming off )

Still Needed
- Thinking about Defi Fuel Pressure Gauge

I have 2 friends who are good mechanics and it sounds like we will do the install next weekend if xmas shopping doesnt get in the way.

My impressions sofar.
Kit looks really well made. Tim from SFR has been really helpfull. He has responded to any question Ive had within a day. He shipped me new gaskets, heatwrap and a bung for the oil pan. The only downside I have seen from the kit I bought is the size of the battery box. The stock battery didnt fit and there is no chance for an optima. Though to SFR's credit the install instructions showed a bigger battery box and since I bought the kit used it may not be the one shipped with the kit in the first place.

Done Sofar:
This past weekend I completed the battery relocation in preperation for the turbo install. This week I will install the gauge pod and wireing setup.

 

look forward to hearing how you get on - good luck

 

Gl

 

Thanks man. Really sorry to hear about your car.

 

just a suggestion, for weight reasons, mount your battery on the other side of your car.

you are in the front drivers side corner of the car. so mounting the battery on the rear passenger side helps balance things out. thats always the lightest corner.

 

Brettus can i suck on those **** for christmas? Well good luck with your install , PLEASE post videos after your done? Like exhaust sound , flybys and what not. Theres like almost no videos like these. Basically only mysql all over youtube lol.

 

Good Luck and keep us informed

 

Good luck, remember when your done Im going for a ride...

 

Have fun!

I should have done a turbo install thread. Darn. Too busy wrenching I guess, haha

 

Haha, well I dont have a garage or I would of had everything off the car by now. Plus the last parts dont get here until friday. So this weekend I hope to get my gauges installed. Ill get to WOT and watch my boost go to 0

 

here ya go,,, heres the link to the craft shop at Aberdeen...
http://www.apgmwr.com/recreation/auto.html

 

Rotr8, thanks a ton for the shop info it looks like were going to do the install there. Beats the hell out of doing it in a garage.

Question for the crowd, after spending most of the day working on getting my gauges installed I seem to have hit a snag. I ran the boost gauge to one of the nipples right on the side metal part of the intake manifold. I ran the vac line from there to a hole i drilled in the firewall then up to where the gauge pod would be. When I finished and started the car the gauge barely moved. I unhooked the gauge and could feel the vac and hear the suction. Im almost certain there is no kink in the line. Since this gauge is mechanical i dedided to try and use my house vacume on it. It did the same thing. Is it possible the gauge is bad and wolnt read vacume? When i blow on the line it does read about 2-3psi boost.

 

^I use the nipple under the UIM right behind the throttle body...try that. Don't know if that matters or not...but that's what the majority uses

 

my boost guage is the same - barely moves in vacuum . Should be fine under boost

 

Let me know when you'll be up there I''l swing by and help out...

 

What gauge do you have? I actually wanted to see my vac

Rotr8 If work lets me I would like to try for friday.

Here is where I replaced the nipple. Like I said i can feel the vac. I think its something to do with the gauge

 

I'm going with that in naturally aspirated form there is not enough pressure to give a reading on your mechanical gauge. If you want to be able to read vac even out of boost I'd suggest a electronic boost gauge like the AEM.

I installed mine prior to installing turbo and I was able to get vac readings -18 - 19@ idle

 

better still - get a boost controller and read vac off that .

my boost guage is an autometer 0-30 psi and displays vac as -psi

 

Most Boost Controllers are not accurate in vacuum. You need a good electric boost gauge for vacuum.

OP - Don't use the nipples on the lower intake mani. Use the one on the bottom of the plastic upper intake mani just behind the throttle body on the drivers side. This is where the VFAD was connected when you were using the OEM air intake system.

 

Well it turns out the boost gauge was bad. I hooked it up to a hand pump and the needle would not move. My friend had an old beat up boost gauge I put in the pod for now. Started the car and immediately went to -20. I guess I will have to deal with autometer in getting a replacement

 

As a little update once the car is warmed up vac seems to hold around -14 at idle. This sound about normal to you guys?

 

seems a bit on the low side...I see between 16-17...and I don't premix....but I will be in the spring after my car is out of storage.

 

If im not mistaken the manual reads -16 thru -19 @ idle...

You may have a vac leak or gauge needs calibrating...How is your idle?

 

Im not going to rule out the gauge because it was an old pos, but when its cold the vac sits at around -20 at idle. When it warmed up it seems to sit at about -14 to -15.

Ohh the idle seems fine, every once in a while it gets a little rough but bounces right back up.

Also when im cursing im seeing greter then -20 on the vac. Should I get a compression test on the engine before going boosted?

 

wash your mouth out boy


You should see a higher vac at cruise - normal .
As far as the compression test goes - if you are still under warranty yes . Otherwise just fit the turbo and have fun ...