Speaking of ENG conversions

[dirty sanchez]

I have an SR20DET (red top) in my starion. I originally had a Dash engine running with a Wolf 3D ver 4, full 3 inch mandrel exhaust with no cat, no resonator and a high flow strait-through 3 inch muffler (very loud), HKS TD06 and huge FMIC. In various states of tune and at various boost levels that engine made a reliable 135kw at the wheels but was quite peeky in nature.

The SR20 is running a standard computer (including the very restrictive factory airflow meter), 3 inch exhaust, 9psi boost and a smaller FMIC. It's currently making 135kw at the wheels but has a huge amount of midrange grunt. When I upgrade the turbo and intercooler, fit the wolf computer and increase the boost I should get an easy 170kw at the wheels in a reliable state of tune.

Note that all the power figures are real, measured power figures from a (lossy) dyno dynamics dynamometre, not from someones imagination.

In addition to the above, the SR20 fits in to the engine bay as though it was made to go in there. It sits on the standard engine mounts and you just re-drill the gearbox crossmember. The turbo sits on the opposite side so it keeps heat away from the braking system but unfortunately the exhaust system must swap sides further back. This is a much easier conversion than a VR4/EVO engine and you get a strong, reliable gearbox that was designed to handle the torque.

Thera are a huge range of options to bolt on to the SR20 including S15 silvia variable valve timing, full NEO variable valve timing, factory ball bearing turbos, etc. You can even get an off-the-shelf mandrel exhaust manifold brand new for $300. Bottom line is that both a 4G63 and an SR20 can be made to make similar power, but the SR20 does it cheaper and with a stronger midrange.

Note: for anyone who's interested www.autospeed.com.au have an article on the design and development of the SR20

[SpidersWeb]

My favourite thing about the SR20 is the stock quad throttle setup, and stock there is no need to run an air pipe OVER the engine head.

The benefits of the turbo/exhaust being on the opposite side can also be found in any EVO4-EVO6.5 engine, although these motors tend to be quite expensive, and I'm not sure how that compares to an SR20DET.

I just tend to be one of these people that backs my car and brand real strongly. For me using the SR is kind of like putting a Holden V8 in a Falcon. But as far as logic goes, the SR20DET sounds like one of the best choices for the Starion until a VR4->Starion kit is made and is cheap (which I hope to do myself)

[StarionChef]

you can't expect too much from the stock SR bottom end, as with many standard 2lt motors, they're only built to handle what the manufacturer hangs off the exhaust manifold.
why is this guy going from what sounds like being a large T3/4 down to a small o5/16G? maybe he should have a suitably matched rear put on his turbo

[quest]

Thats odd that the sohc would have a peaky nature, but must be a mis-match on the turbo, as 135kw not that high at all.
Seen folks hit ~380whp on chipped sr ecu + z32 maf
The starion is one I'd stick with mitsu powerplant for sure as I've seen what the vr4 and 2.6 is capable of.
I'd have to prove to myself what a sohc 4g63 can do and I don't see it as any more of a challenge than the 2.6 sohc... and those have gone 11s in 3000+ lb widebodys, one on a 20g NO spray, ran 11.22s! - yep, fast as fck. Some street 2.6s put down well over 400 ft-lbs to the wheels with simple inexpensive mods, so 2.0 should be capable of a proportionate amount, and not far behind the vr4. When u get into pricing cams for SRs, topend mods to keep the valvetrain from 5hittin' the bed, timing chain starts to rattle, etc... it will add up quickly. As the motors get older, rod bearings failure is also pretty common. Only the gtir has the quads. There are quite a few u.s. guys pushing stock sr bottom ends with dyno firues ~500-550whp. Will they last in a harsh drag racing environment? nobody expects em too. 2800 lbs + slicks = gbox death too.
I turn to mitsu power in my rolla because toyota left me empty. 3sgte is same kinda hassle as vr4 and motor leans to side. Turbo 4ag is nice, gze is milder but either would be too $$$ and peaky for 400whp, which is pretty much proven plug n play on 100k mile stock vr4 motors.
We have left hand drive vehicles in the west, so I can surely understand having exhaust not tangled with brakes and steering - a BIG plus for the sr (and rb, fe, ka) imo. Add fr layout and the swap make perfect sense. What I find tho, is most that do the vr swap is quite crafty - adapts gbox, tunes himself, makes header, etc... and not long after, the newborn swap collects 12 and 11sec ETs.
For mild street, sr and vr4 are even match. For the higher hp ones, dynos show vr4 torque stay up close to hp, while the sr torque falls off when u start making lotsa power - dragstrip proves this also. I've seen no sr in any form, come close to the dollar value/results/torque of the 2.4/vr4, should anyone wanted to take it to that extreme.

U can miss the mark with any turbo.. pretty common with t3/t4 on small displ motors. When u do its not fun. Often folks will grab whatever the can get their hands on or concentrate on peak hp capability or flow numbers, then drive the car and discover what "area under the curve" means and how much it contributes to the driving experience.
My buddys 3200 lb dsm (vr4 motor) runs a t3/t4 with nitros, that beat ford mustangs on slicks spraying 250hp shots.... on the street the car is a dog. He says when he took off his 16g, the fun (on the street) went with it...but he had bigger fish to fry. ahhh the turbo compromise

[4g6beat]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there in describing the difrerence between srs and 4g6's srs are peakier when chasing the big numbers but are more sensible for a midrange performance conversion price wise :)

[SpidersWeb]

This guy is changing from the T3/T4 which was intended for high power drag use, to the TD05 because while it generates a little less power, it spools up much faster, and he wants to use the car for Targa tarmac rally as well, having a big turbo and turbo lag is not good for Targa.

Although I think Quest answered it for me anyway!

On another note, heard a story via forums from NZ, 4AGZE running a TD08, they had to leave the supercharger on there as well so the poor 1600 could spool the Mitsi truck turbo. Without the s/charger, it apparently just didn't even spool. Would be interesting to use a a smaller exhaust housing, and keep the enourmous compressor housing though. mmm fun fun.

[Camotec]

Oh and the Sr20det dosen't come with Quad Throttles standard, only the GTi-R did, however you can buy bolt on kits.

[SpidersWeb]

Yeah someone mentioned that earlier in a huge post. The only SR20DET I've seen up close, and modified, was in a '92 Pulsar GTiR :D Which will be one extreme bugger of a car when its finished, everything from Tein adjustable suspension through to an intercooler larger than the HKS replacement for the GT-R skyline.

It was phsyco before he started playing with it, will be one very violent car when its finished.

[Camotec]

nice :)

I saw a really nice s14 today while in bankstown picking up some parts from the airport. Blue one but its growl was somthing else, very smooth when he put his foot down. But i didn't race him cause i was still running in my engine in, but come tomorrow when i put the new oil in and run a few cleaners through.

Oh thanks for the BOV too charlie, works nice. speaking of lag i have none heheh, those little tc05's hehe

[sirius dash]

i have a siruis dash 2 engine and am in the processes of transplanting it into a 1977 mitsubishi lancer coupe i think this should be a serious contender with every commodore wanker around on the street.

[Cam]

i have no trouble fucking up most comodore's with my mums '99 Magna Advance. its FWD ffs

[Cookiemonster]

Who, in their right mind, would admit to driving a Magna!?

[Cam]

me. hell i dont give a shit, i also drive around at times a VS statesman

[4g6beat]

I've had people accuse of driving a magna while in the vr4 (usually an SS/XR8 driver before he gets choped) so we usually play along

I don't really think thats the same as admitting to driving a magna though hehe :D

[Camotec]

Cookie drives a magna with a starion zorst tip on it! heheh mine actually lol, did you get that on there yet cooks? if you need help fibreglassing that bumper cutout let me know we can make it round again, otherwise i would be thinking a square zorst tip hehe.

Cheers