I have a bone stock AP1 year 2000. I like the car a great deal. I don't intent to run it on the track. It is for pleasure driving only. I have been thinking I'd like a little more HP at the back wheels, but I don't want to step into a mess and screw up a nice car. I need to get some realistic opinions about the plus and minus of boosting the S2k. I am thinking about trying to get an additional hundred horsepower out of the engine through either an SC or turbo.

Does the extra boost cut down on the engine life?
Does it change how tractable the car is under normal driving?
Is a stiffer clutch called for, and does it feel significantly different?
What do most guys notice most about the boosted engine?

Any opinions or perspective will be appreciated!

Bill N.

 

If you search through some of the many turbo vs supercharger threads, you can get a good idea of what each will do.

It sounds to me that a base comptech supercharger is what you want. It's a centrifugal supercharger, so gains more boost with rpms, under normal driving conditions it will be similar to the stock configuration, maybe a little more powerful. At the base boost levels you can maintain the stock ECU and even the stock clutch, stock injectors and still make about 300whp.

Even the base turbo set up consists of a lot of headaches, new engine management, new injectors, new map sensor (if boosting over 10psi), heavier clutch, a ton of gauges and relocate things like the battery and oil filter. And when you go aftermarket ECU like AEM, things like the obd2 and temp gauge quit working (unless you are willing to shell out nearly $2k for a KPro)

If you want to keep it simple and maintain it as stock as possible but just with some extra power, I would suggest a base comptech s/c on 6psi using the supplied esm and RRFPR, and at most a vafc to lower vtec and fine tune the AFR a bit better for safer levels at wot

 

Yes that's a very fair assessment.

OP: I would also endorse a Centrifugal Supercharger for your needs and concerns. I would recommend Comptech if you go used as they are easier to maintain and tune out of the box with their Adjustable rate fpr. they are also carb legal if that's important to you. If Carb not important and you like the idea of new, a really well put together kit which is basically a new gen Comptech kit comes from Science of Speed and is worth checking out. There is also a SOS dedicated thread in this forum you can learn quite a bit from.

 

Boost. Just do it.

 

i also believe a basic centrifugal supercharger kit would be what youre lookin for.. any kit will probably do.. SOS Vortech Comptech. all similar power levels at basic kit.

you could also try the greddy kit... slightly less power and you'll need a tuning solution. but with turbos theres more hoses and clamps etc to worry about as said above.

supercharging would be best for you i'd say though. find a used kit and go from there

 

Based on your questions, my advice is to do some bolts on's and stay away from here.

 

This is pretty much the same boat I'm in right now. I would love to add 100hp to the car without taking away from its character that I love... the problem with that is to do it with FI the right way is $5500 before clutch. It's expensive and there's no way cheaper.

 

Why NOT boost? No. Balls.

 

A Centri Blower setup would be your ideal setup...why most might not NOT boost = Finances.
I have a Vortech with SOS Clutch. The clutch is very streetable and holds 400hp. Vortech has been on my car for 15k care free miles and no issues.

 

New to the FI arena myself.

You gotta watch out for boost. It becomes an obsession. I got bit and cannot stop thinking of everything I need to get, have gotten, and will never get.

It's gonna add up fast! I'm over $5000 already and I haven't installed and tuned yet! Do it right the first time and consider your LONG term FI goals. And as always, do your research. I learned the hard way.