Wes, I'm so sorry. I'm glad you are still trying to move forward. Many have given up and disappeared long before this point. Thanks for the honesty in your post. It gives all us FI people something to really think about.

For those who are despondent about going turbo I must add that I've completed over 17,000 miles with my turbo, 25,000 miles in the car total in the last year and a half. The car is garaged during the winter. I enjoy driving my car and drive it every day during the summer.

 

Wow. It really does amaze me how each person's experience with turbo's are so different. They are either really good or really really bad. I have no where near the capital of you guys so reading about your problems makes me sick to my stomach. I make decent money, but not enough to spend $10,000 on a turbo and repairs. I'm too cheap to buy another set of side strakes because one of mine fell off and I can't purchase one of them for my car without buying the set.

 

Fred, when will you be bringing to car to a club meet? I really want to take a look at it in person.

 

Wes, I second Gile's statement that this entire episode has been rough, and I'm sorry for you. Being on point's an easy way to get blown up. I've felt that way at times (and completely understand the meltdown it causes). I hope that you're able to get the problems resolved and behind you soon.

You're probably reasonably tuned into my trials and tribulations, so I'll not add them here. If anyone's interested, do a search on my screen name and you'll read LOTS of posts related to fuel tuning problems and my ultimate decision (no, not Ultimate Racing, but my ultimate decision) to switch to the EMS.

Thus far, I've been happy with the EMS -- I wasn't happy with my initial Speedcraft kit, but that's no fault of theirs as much as I was one of the early customers, before they, too, switched to the EMS -- but the trials and tribulations continue, seemingly at a less serious pace. I overboosted at the track (PIR) on Tuesday. Who knows whether I caused any damage, and I won't know until I get a leak-down test done. I, too, might be calling Mike Simon.

On a more optimistic note, I'm hoping that no damage was done, and I've passed the last of major snafus and can get back to enjoying my car, rather than worrying about it. In the end, I believe the turbo route is more expensive (by a long, long shot) and more troublesome (also by a long shot) than a supercharger, but ultimately more satisfying. The power, particularly in mid-range, is stupifying and brings a grin to my face every time I transition into boost.

CB

__________________
C. Bender
2001 S2K Silver/Black
AEM EMS, Fuel Pressure Regulator, and Wideband O2 Sensor; RC Engineering 550 Injectors; Turbonetics TO4B 60:1 Ball Bearing Turbo; Tial 46mm Wastegate and 50mm Blowoff Valve; GReddy EGT and Boost Warning Gauges; Upgraded Intake Fuel Pump; Oil Filter Relocation Kit with Stainless Steel Lines; Speedcraft Front Mounted Intercooler, Mandrel Bent Tubing, 3" Down Pipe, and 3" Stainless Exhaust; A'PEXi N1 Mufflers; Clutchmaster Stage 3 Clutch; Toda Lightweight Flywheel; Mugen Radiator Cap, Thermostat, and Fan Switch; Upgraded Oil Bolts; Spoon X-Brace; HeCash Brake Ducting; Competch Stainless Steel Brake Lines; WorkMeister S2R 18" Wheels; Lucid's Front and Rear Speakers; 2002 Stereo Head Unit; Rick's Front Badge; JDM Clear Side Markers; Muz Shift Knob; Uber Cool Nurburgring Decal

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Elistan
Fred, when will you be bringing to car to a club meet?

 

Wes, that is an amazing write up... I decided to stay NA due to fear of impending doom (or severe debt.. ), but much respect for sticking to your guns and riding it out. I really wanted to go turbo, but I don't think I'll be able to afford matainence on it if my experience is to be anything like yours... Theres an old saying in racing, "If you can't afford to fix it, you can't afford to race it." I just keep seeing that scroll through my head...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gilbertg

 

Not to downplay what Wes has gone through, but shouldn't we look at this from a slightly different perspective? If his luck had not been so bad with everything oil related, how much better might his story have been.

Of course most of us realize there will be a lot of tuning involved with a turbo setup. He obviously had a bad run in with the eManage guys trying to figure that one out, and UR never provided him with decent starting maps. He toyed with the maps on the street and probably burned himself because of it. But thanks to him and others, those types of issues are at least known, if not mostly solved for us...thank God.

Shit happens (mostly to me), but I think Wes would be much happier about his trials and tribulations if he hadn't lost so much time due to oil...losing a turbo, having to replace injectors, needing to put the oilpan back together after removing the silicone, broken oil relocator, etc. So Wes, can you confirm/deny that your outlook on turbos might be different if you hadn't had such bad luck?

I'd love to do it, but there's no way in hell I'm touching my engine like that until I can assure myself that I have plenty of reserve money and plenty of time. I'm just hoping I've learned enough from the pioneers when it comes time to put my baby on the chopping block.

 

One of the points that's not been made but arises from our collective -- and clearly crisis-filled -- experience is that the stock S is very well balanced by engineering design. That's in part responsible for the variety of problems we've encountered. Add more power, and you'll have to budget for a new clutch. Some have had to buy new driveshafts, differentials, and axles. Add what would be considered modest levels of boost for any other car, and you'll be pushing the limits of 11:1 compression and putting the internals at risk. Am I happy with the outcome? Sure, but only if I don't start breaking more pieces. Would I do it over again? Honestly, probably not. That's not to say that others shouldn't go the same route, but (i) they'll have the benefit of the experience of CJB80, ChrisD, me, BlackS2000Turbo, GilbertG, Wesmaster, and others and (ii) my needs have migrated since I started down the garden path. Were I to do it over again, I'd probably keep the S bone-stock (save Lucid's rear speakers and some other minor stuff) and buy a Spec-Miata racecar. But that's hindsight.

CB

 

I think that I've accepted that most of the problems I've run into were just bad luck and quite bizarre issues that most people don't run into. But, that doesn't change my opinion that a turbo on an S2000 should be reserved for those who can accept that they are increasing the points of failure in their car at a much greater degree than with a supercharger or simple bolt-ons. When you add that many parts (turbo, wastegate, BOV, fuel management, etc) that are incremental in the running of your motor you are undoubtedly increasing the opportunity for problems, whether or not you ever experience one. It is something that must be accepted. The fact that I slowly stepped up from bolt-ons, to supercharger, to turbo has probably helped me to understand that what I'm experiencing is part of the game.