Looking for tips on my KA-T build

[DaniMike]

Okay, I need to first state that I read alot into these forums and do alot of searching.

This is what I have so far:Rebuilt KA with less than 1k break in miles. Supertech 8.8:1 pistons, and new OEM everything else. FelPro head gasket, ARP 10mm studs, polished crank. ACT Stg 3 clutch. 248/248 cams

I just bought a Garrett GT2860R turbo, new for $400 with the correct 5-bolt elbow.

This is what I plan to purchase to complete the build:Down pipe $60N62 MAF $100Ebay FMIC $160HKS SSQV recir BOV $150Ebay 3" catback $120550cc injectors $350S13 Walbro fuel pump kit $100Emance rom tune $170

I plan on running between 12-16 psi and hope to get close to 300hp. I am looking for a quick spooling DD/weekend warrior.

Any suggestions, information, input, etc? Anyone with a similar setup? I am all ears/eyes for fresh info. This is my first time ever attempting to turbo a vehicle.

Thanks for reading, and all comments are welcome! Michael

[Chris28]

That turbo is ball bearing, so you will want to run water lines. Read the info here and you'll learn a lot.

No offsite linking Chris

And as far as the turbo goes...300hp is around the max power you will get with that turbo. The t2 flange is too small to flow anything past that. That turbo will be great for your intended use, but if you ever want to go bigger you should look into a t3/t4 setup.

Edited by WD

[DaniMike]

I really appreciate the info. I plan on using the oil and water and I need to get a restrictor for the oil feed from what I have read. I don't plan on going over 300hp for atleast a couple of years so this should suit me perfectly!

Any more helpful information would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael

[Chris28]

Good deal.

Here's some info that I didn't know until after I boosted my car.

Run the oil return line over the engine mount bracket, not under it. Over the bracket you get a nice downward flow the whole time, under it not so much.

Exhaust leaks pre-wideband sensor will cause it read lean. This might be common sense, but I was trying to troubleshoot a bunch of things at once and I didn't think about exhaust leaks.

Radiator hose works as IC couplers when you are in a pinch to get the thing on the road or have to get a weird bend in the piping.

Don't use rubber plumbing couplers, they will blow.

Boost makes existing problems 10x worse, so start with a fully functional engine haha. You seem to have that part down, but I didn't and it made troubleshooting really hard.

[DaniMike]

Woot! I love helpful tidbits!!!

Thanks,

Michael

[WDRacing]

Your list is solid...EXCEPT the Emance part. Stay away...nuff said there.

WD

[240dx]

Dont buy EmanceI got one, ITS SUCKED. now my car wont run without itI have an AEM FI/C Wired into it for my mistake

[DaniMike]

Thanks for the heads up!! How about EFI Specialist? It is only around $300.

[WDRacing]

I've only heard good things about them so far.

[zerepdivad]

Yeah stay away from the emance tunes..... i made that mistake. now i just got my car running again and am temporarily still using my emance tune but i don't get into boost for fear of messing up my engine. I'm waiting until i get paid to order myself an efispecialists tune as well. Hopefully they turn out better than jason at emance...

[Chris28]

Sorry WD, didn't realize we weren't allowed to link to other sites.

[trackslut240]

all have great advice, tried and tested. I just read more than I post, but dont forget WD's hair spray for ic couplers . Also I would agree with chris28, t2's are great but u will be pushing too much heat at 300hp,(inefficiency), they will be fun( yet to experience). If I didn't have the t25 manifold and turbo, i would have started with t3/t4, that way i can ease the power band up and still be efficient thermally. Danimike are you using stock rods? why not forged? I did the mistake of emance, , but i am not going to say its bad right off the bat. I will try it, hopefully with good results... . I also have the bikirom too but the board is being sent back to australia for some gremlins. This is a humble request from posters, give some time and please update status. thanks

[DaniMike]

Well I got a good deal on my engine which has been recently rebuilt with all of the forementioned goodies. The rods are new OEM ones, so I will be fine with it b/c I don't need more than 300hp. It came with a brand new T2 manifold so I am going that route. I also got a good deal on the turbo. I plan on going EFISpecialist, instead of Emance due to all the info I have received.

Any more useful information would be gladly appreciated.

Michael

[Chris28]

I run an EFI Specialist tune, car idles and drives great. First startup it idles arouond 15-16 AFR, but after I've been driving it for a while it tends to stay around 13. I've left my car running for about 10 minutes then come back to it and it was right back at 14.5 Boost is around 11 to 12.

I haven't heard any complaints about his tunes so far. Seems like a nice guy, and he has the cheapest prices I've seen for a good tune.

[WDRacing]

I may have him burn me a custom chip. If he can do that and get it close the first time then I'll give him my

[koukiFC]

just say no emance tunes!

efi or enthalpy is the way for rom tunes....unless you write your own lol

i have personally seen emance tunes go to hell

[1mansho]

+1 emance tunes are soemtimes either good or bad, MOST of the time they are bad. If i were to get a rom tune, id try out the efi specialists they seem to have a good rep so far. Im running Nistune and its a AWESOME real time ecu tune. I was also very new to tuning but with research and playing around with it its pretty easy. Id highly recommend it since you gain lots of knowledge in tuning.

[DaniMike]

Well, it seems the turbo I got is off of a rb26dett... but it has no shaft play. My issue now is in order to bolt it to my manifold I need to either buy another T25 flange and use it as a spacer to lower the turbo or clock the compressor. If I clock the compressor the outlet will be pointing down, will this be a problem connecting FMIC pipes? The outlet right now hits the manifold so it won't bolt up. Any suggestions? Also the O2 elbow has a two bolt exit. A basic 2-bolt exhaust flange will bolt up to it, I'll just need a custom down pipe welded together.

Thanks for looking,

Michael
Modified by DaniMike at 6:32 PM 8/30/2009