Turbo 97 civic dx coupe

[staticfitment]

Alright so I am really into the fitment and low life scene but after installing my coilovers I realize driving on amish infested roads is not the best idea I.E. oil pans, front lip ect. So I am thinking about starting to do some horse power modification. I know this question is going to be answered with "Do more research bro" and things like that but all the research I did never came up with a straight answer. I was just wondering, how much boost can a stock 1.7 single cam engine handle? I would obviously change my internals eventually but I was wondering if I could install a turbo set up and then build the engine gradually and just add more pounds of boost. Sorry if I sound like a stupid kid but I have never done anything like this before, all I know is suspension and nice wheels. Thanks guys

 

[taluzer45]

If its the d17a1 or d17a2, I wouldn't even consider going boost if you dont plan to build the motor! This is because these motors can't really handle abuse well! If you want more speed I would suggest either a k20 or k24 swap. But to slap boost on one of these, I would say at 6-8 lbs, you may get a month out of it! Sorry, but it isnt easy running a 1.7... I lost mine chasing a STI and M3 one day... I too dabbled with the idea of boost, but its sadly not practical!

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

ummm a 97 with a 1.7?

 

[Failsafe88]

Should be 1.6 and depending on turbo no more than 10 if you decode to turbo it stock still need multiple parts and a tune

 

[TokyoSkies]

A.) As others have said, a 97 DX should be a 1.6.. d16y7 usually.
B.) Boost will require a lot more than slapping a turbo on the car, but that's not what this thread is about.
C.) To the point, anything over 8lbs (relative to size of turbine) will blow that thing quickly. Gotta take into account mileage, condition of motor, whether you DD it, whether you're gonna abuse it etc.

 

[staticfitment]

Alright thanks guys like I said I have never done modifications to the engine or any performance type things. So this is all news to me lol but I appreciate the comments I am deffinetly going to look into the K20 swap, Thanks!

 

[itsmycookie]

i've seen from 160-200hp on stock d16y7/y8

peak hp doesn't matter though you want good balance and to do that will take time researching and reading info.

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

i've seen from 160-200hp on stock d16y7/y8

peak hp doesn't matter though you want good balance and to do that will take time researching and reading info.

on youtube maybe.....

 

[mc360]

idk about the y7 but i know y8 are capable of 220whp on stock internals with a good tune, i have seen them as far as 270whp but they dont last very long in that range on stock rods. just install a turbo and keep it under 220whp and 11psi, go over 11 psi and the ecu freaks out and throws a code from what i hear. your going to need engine management and a good set of injectors and maybe a fuel pump, im making 166whp 149tq on my stock fuel pump though

 

[TokyoSkies]

idk about the y7 but i know y8 are capable of 220whp on stock internals with a good tune, i have seen them as far as 270whp but they dont last very long in that range on stock rods. just install a turbo and keep it under 220whp and 11psi, go over 11 psi and the ecu freaks out and throws a code from what i hear. your going to need engine management and a good set of injectors and maybe a fuel pump, im making 166whp 149tq on my stock fuel pump though

The ECU should freak out plain and simple if you're boosting.. because the car isn't boosted factory..

Also, 220whp on a single cam is asking for trouble. Those motors are notorious pieces of s**t.

 

[CHILD]

It's not that the motor is such a piece of crap, it's the torque they produce when boosted. That torque starts tearing stuff up. Efficiency > strength An engine that can last 200k-300k miles with bad maintenance sounds like a pretty good engine IMO.

If you plan to build the internals later, don't bother with boosting it first. The way I see it is, if you go with a small setup now to work with the weak internals, once you build the motor and raise the boost, you're going to want a better turbo which is the bulk of the cost to boost. If you use a large turbo first, it'll either be so large that you can't get any good use out of it unless you risk blowing the motor.

So instead of doing things twice, just plan out a final setup, fund it all, throw it together, and have a nice ride that'll last and move when your right foot gets heavy.

 

[Failsafe88]

The ECU should freak out plain and simple if you're boosting.. because the car isn't boosted factory..

Also, 220whp on a single cam is asking for trouble. Those motors are notorious pieces of s***.

How dare you we can't be friends anymore

 

[itsmycookie]

So instead of doing things twice, just plan out a final setup, fund it all, throw it together, and have a nice ride that'll last and move when your right foot gets heavy.

we've learned from dragonball that there is no final form. same goes with modifying cars.

 

[CHILD]

we've learned from dragonball that there is no final form. same goes with modifying cars.

Lol then build to your expectations. DragonBall did show us a limit on power though, hell, first gen scouters can't handle power over 9000! Lol

 

[itsmycookie]

Lol then build to your expectations. DragonBall did show us a limit on power though, hell, first gen scouters can't handle power over 9000! Lol

the first gen scouters only exploded when reading over 22,000

 

[CHILD]

That's right, vegata crushed his. Which I think is a malfunction in itself. Shouldve been made out of better materials. Those were Godspeed scouters. Capsule Corp has legit parts

 

[mc360]

The ECU should freak out plain and simple if you're boosting.. because the car isn't boosted factory..

Also, 220whp on a single cam is asking for trouble. Those motors are notorious pieces of s***.

i should have clarified, i was talking about stock map sensor freaks above 11 psi and yes the stock ecu freaks out with any boost.

It's not that the motor is such a piece of crap, it's the torque they produce when boosted. That torque starts tearing stuff up. Efficiency > strength An engine that can last 200k-300k miles with bad maintenance sounds like a pretty good engine IMO.

If you plan to build the internals later, don't bother with boosting it first. The way I see it is, if you go with a small setup now to work with the weak internals, once you build the motor and raise the boost, you're going to want a better turbo which is the bulk of the cost to boost. If you use a large turbo first, it'll either be so large that you can't get any good use out of it unless you risk blowing the motor.

So instead of doing things twice, just plan out a final setup, fund it all, throw it together, and have a nice ride that'll last and move when your right foot gets heavy.

my car is making 166hp 149tq with a garrett t3 60 trim with a very useable powerband, i start making 1psi at 3200rpm and have full 8psi by 3800rpm and i have seen quite a few t3 60 turbos making 270+ hp so i dont really see what your getting at since i have plenty room to grow? i will be building my block with forged rods and pistons soon and i am going to max this t3 60 out and call it good, if it makes 270 perfect but if it makes 310 awesome i dont really care as long as it cant make any more power, then it wont be worth it for me to upgrade the turbo and change the downpipe and wastegate setup or maybe even the exhaust manifold.

 

[CHILD]

my car is making 166hp 149tq with a garrett t3 60 trim with a very useable powerband, i start making 1psi at 3200rpm and have full 8psi by 3800rpm and i have seen quite a few t3 60 turbos making 270+ hp so i dont really see what your getting at since i have plenty room to grow? i will be building my block with forged rods and pistons soon and i am going to max this t3 60 out and call it good, if it makes 270 perfect but if it makes 310 awesome i dont really care as long as it cant make any more power, then it wont be worth it for me to upgrade the turbo and change the downpipe and wastegate setup or maybe even the exhaust manifold.

To me, 300whp isn't very much. Sure it would be a mean street car but that's very low in my opinion. Maybe I'm around too many Ks and bigger motors.

 

[Failsafe88]

To me, 300whp isn't very much. Sure it would be a mean street car but that's very low in my opinion. Maybe I'm around too many Ks and bigger motors.

300 really isn't much not when you look at abunch of stock cars pushing near that already. This is why I am shooting for 400. That's a good bit on a single cam.

 

[itsmycookie]

high horsepower fwd doesn't make sense if you're going to be turning. just silly.