Decisions, decisionsWhat happened to Project RSX? I was expecting something better. With all your extensive research and vast knowledge, why did you go with the products you did? I'm talking about the GReddy turbo system for one and the other huge thing was your engine management choice of the AEM EMS. I was going to follow your project and apply it to my car, which is an '06 Type S, but it just seems something went wrong. From the research I've done, Hondata's K-Pro, along with a Full Race turbo kit, would have been the better route
I understand you were just out to beat the MS3 and not looking for the ridiculous amount of horsepower Full Race kits are known for. A low boost setting fixes that right there. But, for reliability, the GReddy kit doesn't look like it can take the punishment. As a contrast to the Full Race kit, which has a custom manifold that relocates the turbo to the big open space where your NACA duct (which is awesome, by the way) could either: a) cool all the lines being heated from the turbo more effectively, or b) because the turbo wouldn't be smooshed in that little space where heat can't go anywhere, you could have relocated the duct to where the turbo would normally sit and have effective cooling without the danger of melting anything important. All my opinion, of course, since I have no experience with these particular products.
The engine management you chose was kind of crazy in itself. It didn't run anything except the motor. No gauges? That really is a crazy compromise. Even though the K-Pro isn't made specifically for the 2005 to '06 K20Z1 motor and tranny, the only compromise I've seen and had experience with is the speed sensor. The only real problem is, since the speed sensor measures from third gear, after about 75mph, the cruise control acts funny sometimes because it spins about 100 times faster than the 2002 to '04 models.
However, the brake testing was completely awesome. It gave me more respect for StopTech. When I get the kit, I will call them and have them select a kit, because you made it sound like they knew what they were talking about.Kraig Passanantevia e-mail
Project RSX was originally intended to be a maximum-performance pump gas build, with the goal being a reliable 400 wheel-hp (or better) on 91 octane. Hence the sleeved block, increased displacement, low-compression forged pistons, forged rods, upgraded valvetrain and head gasket, etc. At least two other turbo set-ups were considered, one being the Full Race system with a Garrett GT2871R turbo. However, arrangements to make this happen couldn't be worked out. The GReddy system was an available alternative and its popularity made it worth investigating, even though we knew at the outset that its performance would ultimately fall short of our goals. We learned a tremendous amount about the engineering, attention to detail, and all-round quality of the GReddy turbo system, as well as the limits of its performance envelope and what must be done to make it work as well as possible. We hope those things were seen to be reported fairly and accurately.
We would be remiss if we failed to point out that, although the turbo system did not allow the Cosworth-built engine to live up to its potential, the engine surely allowed more power to be developed (and with much greater safety) on pump gas, than a stock unit. Juicy is the only word that really feels right when describing the awesome throttle response, mid-range torque and top-end power when the car was finished. It rocked, even while falling short of what we set out to accomplish.