if you've got 10-15 grand to spend, why not do both? (Don't take me too seriously)

Check out this twin-turbo super-charged Skyline engine.

 

A supercharger is more cost effective than a turbocharger. A turbo is capable of achieving very large gains of horsepower, much more so than a supercharger. A supercharger is considerably more reliable than a turbo.

You have probably heard the saying "open up a can of worms". That's what will happen when you start a turbo project. You see, it's involves just a little bit more than installing a turbocharger. You need to have the right pistons, intake manifold, wastegate, exhaust and a tuneable ECU to make the thing run right. It will have to be tuned by a professional tuner. There is a bunch of $hit you would need to do to make this thing work. First, you will have to lower compression, which is what the pistons are for. The bottom end on the S2000 might not be strong enough to handle the forces generated by the turbo charger. You will need new rods and bearings to rebuild the bottom end. Basically, your going to have to rebuild your whole engine. This will cost thousands and thousands of dollars just to get started, not including the turbocharger. There is a long list of $hit you will need to do to make it work properly.

You are also going to need somebody that knows what the heck they are doing If you know how to do all of this by yourself, that is great, more power to ya By the time your car is done, you could have up to 20,000 dollars invested. Keep in mind, this car stock has about 200 horsepower to the rear wheels. It wasn't built with the intentions of being hammered with over 500 horsepower to the rear wheels. You are going to break $hit. This will cost you more $$$

You will need a high performance (race only) clutch assembly. After you replace the clutch, the differential may be the next thing to go, unless the tranny gives up the ghost first The average street driver will not like the feel of a FULL BLOWN racing clutch. They are just not practical on the street.

Also keep in mind that turbos have what is known as turbo lag. It takes some time for the turbo to spool before it makes power, then BAM, you be having power. Not a good thing to have in the rain. Face it, a turbo setup is just not practical for this car especially if it is your everyday driver. Unless you got 20-30k dollars and a LOT of time and energy to burn, it may not be for you.

On the other hand, the supercharger is more user/street friendly. It is also a LOT less of an investment than a turbo setup. You car will be a lot more reliable with the supercharger than it would be with a turbocharger.

Oh yea, I almost forgot to mention, turbochargers are illegal on the S2k in California.

 

ugh.... if you are going to do auto-X, you need neither. most likely, you'll be in 2nd gear in vtec all the way. for that purpose, install beefier suspension components and take a class.

 

^ True, very true.

 

Depends on what you want the "speed" for....

Stoplight racing?
Low end grunt?
A little more power throughout?

They are different modes of power delivery and are suited (or not) to different things.

There are a few supercharged S2000 in the SCCA doing well (Dave Kennedy and others).

Does anyone know of any turbo'd S2000s racing (honest question, not a challenge) besides on the drag strip?

 

Most definately NOT in the rain

 

I can't even hit VTEC in rain at WOT without slipping... can't imagine what Turbo would do.

 

I'll do over a buck if the water isn't standing.

 

I would highly suggest looking at the top mount S2000 turbo kit thread on honda-tech and also at www.lovefabinc.com and www.a-spectuning.com (both are using excellent manifolds and small GT series turbos for great spool)

Tim

 

Thanks for all of your advise. Since my car is new maybe I should just wait awhile (only 800 miles). Is there something else I could do that would really improve performance outside of Turbo/SC????