Honda Motors and Turbos.

richard h said:
So your cars weight is same as mine. I have a 2d with a 514 r&p and a 165 3rd gear and a 139 4th gear. With 1450x15 dune sport tires I drive all day in 4th gear. When I really kick it I will down shift to 3rd. My motor is stock and I love that I buy 91 oct gas, and that is just for the extended shelf life. Another thing, fuel mileage, I use much less gas than when I had a built 2276.

I want it simple when I go out to play and I truly could not ask for a setup that would work better for me. Now if high speed is what your after than no, my gearing won't achieve that. Around 80 to 85 mph is max.  @Mac you need to ride in mine before you start thinking you need that much hp, bet you would be surprised.
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Went from 2275 too. But using all weddle 091 4.57. I have 1.83 third 1.21 fourth. 
 

I had a 1.39 and it was great in dunes but lousy on flats was revving up just going 50. I have a 13.00 tire and a super digger 33x10 for dirt street. But it measures 31.5. The 1.21 works as a good in between 

 
Mac said:
How is the powerband of a Honda compared to a 2.5 turbo subi/2D combo?  I'm looking for something around 400-500 hp.  I keep bouncing back between the K24 and the J35.  I have an ultra light mid engine car.  I would like to be able to make the swap without too many modifications and try and keep the weight as close to the same as I can.

I currently run 110 in my car.  I'd LOVE to be able to do a motor swap that would give me the same power on pump gas (91).
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4-500hp in anything small displacement would still need some race fuel. 91 at that power is pretty much LS or similar. 

K24 can get into the upper 300s reliably on pump or light mix (5:1 or 10:1) of race fuel. Low 400s with the above and a J-series.

J-series or K will need to be built to make that kind of power. Forged rods/pistons for sure. Not terribly expensive or difficult to build correctly however. 

With the K motor, it might be nearly as fast if you run a smaller turbo/boost and just let it rev instead. 

Buddy of mine had a full-tilt Subie making stupid power. Baaaarely quicker than @Jtmoney714’s turbo JY J35. Not sure what turbo/boost/management he was running, but I’m pretty sure his entire setup was cheaper than a rebuild. 

 
Mac said:
How is the powerband of a Honda compared to a 2.5 turbo subi/2D combo?  I'm looking for something around 400-500 hp.  I keep bouncing back between the K24 and the J35.  I have an ultra light mid engine car.  I would like to be able to make the swap without too many modifications and try and keep the weight as close to the same as I can.

I currently run 110 in my car.  I'd LOVE to be able to do a motor swap that would give me the same power on pump gas (91).
 
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The power band on the Honda with the right turbo is similar to a V8 car. Nice low end grunt and you don't feel a "power band" like you do with higher strung four-cylinder motors. I never really felt the VTec kick in, It was just violent from the time you stabbed the pedal.

I had an SU ultralight four-seater, obviously very similar to your car, a little over 1800 lb wet and I'm not bragging when I say I spanked many a built V8 cars. Granted they were heavier. They would only start gaining on me in after I was into fourth gear doing 85+, so the race was already over...

I could dune in 4th gear, be cruising around at 2000 RPMs and just stab it whenever I need a little extra power. Didn't really need to downshift. It's really all about the tune. (And gear ratio) Dave McDowell set up my trans for a naturally aspirated Honda 3.5 and it worked perfectly for the boosted one. I was always spanking other turbo Hondas off the line. Anybody that drove that car said it was the quickest (not fastest) car they've ever been in, and they weren't easy to impress and were veterans of Glamis. 

Unfortunately, you're going to be doing alot of modifications to change over from a subie so, I think you'll have the same amount of work with any motor you choose. I don't think you're going to get that experience with pump gas 91 but definitely you could do it with 50/50..

 
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LegitDuner said:
The power band on the Honda with the right turbo is similar to a V8 car. Nice low end grunt and you don't feel a "power band" like you do with higher strung four-cylinder motors. I never really felt the VTec kick in, It was just violent from the time you stabbed the pedal.

I had an SU ultralight four-seater, obviously very similar to your car, a little over 1800 lb wet and I'm not bragging when I say I spanked many a built V8 cars. Granted they were heavier. They would only start gaining on me in after I was into fourth gear doing 85+, so the race was already over...

I could dune in 4th gear, be cruising around at 2000 RPMs and just stab it whenever I need a little extra power. Didn't really need to downshift. It's really all about the tune. (And gear ratio) Dave McDowell set up my trans for a naturally aspirated Honda 3.5 and it worked perfectly for the boosted one. I was always spanking other turbo Hondas off the line. Anybody that drove that car said it was the quickest (not fastest) car they've ever been in, and they weren't easy to impress and were veterans of Glamis. 

Unfortunately, you're going to be doing alot of modifications to change over from a subie so, I think you'll have the same amount of work with any motor you choose. I don't think you're going to get that experience with pump gas 91 but definitely you could do it with 50/50..
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I can honestly say your car was the quickest I had driven in the day. Couldn’t shift that car fast enough! It’s the set up I would want if I built a 2 seat duner.

 
1newbie said:
 In my humble opinion; you really need an AEM standalone to tune for the turbo.  It's usually the factory rods that go in the J35.
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AEM doesn't have the Series 2 in their catalog anymore, It doesn't appear any ECU for that matter..  After they were bought out by Holley most of the OEM type integration parts went away.  I used to by a connector for the harnesses I do.  Was $5 forever from just about anywhere.  Then no-one had stock and it was obsolete.  Called Holley and they had a few left.  $37 a piece.

You might get lucky and find someone with one in stock.

 
Kraut_n_Rice said:
AEM doesn't have the Series 2 in their catalog anymore, It doesn't appear any ECU for that matter..  After they were bought out by Holley most of the OEM type integration parts went away.  I used to by a connector for the harnesses I do.  Was $5 forever from just about anywhere.  Then no-one had stock and it was obsolete.  Called Holley and they had a few left.  $37 a piece.

You might get lucky and find someone with one in stock.
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ive heard holley has discontinued the AEM line of ecus.

 
richard h said:
From the searching I've done I don't see they make anything.

What else is out there?
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I'm working on a cheaper adapter pigtail to use the factory harness to run the Fueltech line up.  Still be about $2k by the time you buy the ECU.

 
I just sold an open box Series 2 a couple months ago for $1100.  Shoulda held out for more...LOL

 
Kraut_n_Rice said:
I'm working on a cheaper adapter pigtail to use the factory harness to run the Fueltech line up.  Still be about $2k by the time you buy the ECU.
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To continue on this...I will need to find a R&D guinea pig (preferably local to PHX) that is in the need.  I don't have a ride to test on.  It would be a summer time project that would be worth your effort.

 
Kraut_n_Rice said:
To continue on this...I will need to find a R&D guinea pig (preferably local to PHX) that is in the need.  I don't have a ride to test on.  It would be a summer time project that would be worth your effort.
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You need a turbo car don't you?

 
Kraut_n_Rice said:
Not particularly. Just not something that is a new build with unknowns  I just need to proof out the settings. 
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Well maybe we can figure something out as mine just sits after Memorial weekend until the Fall. Might as well sit somewhere doing some good.

 
Been jumping down the rabbit hole as I just picked up a temporary sandcar that has a J32a1 motor in it. I dont know much about the Hondas other then they are easy to throw some boost at them. It was only getting full power from 3/6 cylinders. new spark plugs in. Injectors are out and being cleaned. New fuel lines (been sitting for over 10 years). 

Anything I should keep an eye out for or know about? trying to get everything ready for a dune trip to St. Anthonys next week. The motor is NA, and stock from my understanding. 

 
I have read on non sandcar forums that the v-tec (sometimes called the spool valve) gasket screen can get clogged with crap and prevent the v-tec from engaging. The part number may be different for a J32IMG_1628.jpegIMG_1629.jpeg

 
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