Hey All,


My uncle is trying to upgrade his single turbo setup on his RHD 2001 FD3S. He's had it since new (it's not located in the US) and has had a single turbo setup since 2006, and the turbo is leaking now. He wants to get to the 400 whp range, currently making low 300.


This is the current setup and please let me know if any other pieces of information is necessary. Here's what he sent me

Turbo: Garrett 42 Ball bearing Turbo

Manifold: HKS Cast Iron

Wastegate: 50mm external wastegate

ECU: Autronic ECU

Fuel Injectors: Autronic 1000cc injectors


What options are out there to reach this power goal, trying to keep what good parts he has already, if possible.

 

depending on the manifold, he can just swap the turbo and be done. not sure of the specs or fitment of the current turbo or manifold but thats all he would need. a gt35r and a little more injector than 4x1000 and thats 400hp all day

 

A GT35R might require a new downpipe( slight fab work), and will require two turbo cooling lines added.

If you want a direct bolt in replacement, we can make, run around $1095. We will however need an actual picture of the turbo, as it is definitely NOT running a Garrett G42 of any size, probably a Garrett TO4E...

 

Unless Mr Aubert has been beavering away at a secret project, there's no such thing as Autronic injectors. Bit bigger than a T04E turbo installed, but when we ran 4x1000IDs on a SM4, 98Ron , somewhere around 260kw was available at 1 bar - using a DD.....which probably is approaching the usual 400hp US figure.

 

Bolt in solution with modern turbo:

SPECIAL SET UP KIT：RX-7 (hks-power.co.jp)

 

just a light 4500+shipping.... you know, something for the boys lol

there are much more economical routes homie. thats a huge flex. definitely the modern version of what he has now though and it is really nice

 

4500 for Turbo, Mani, wastegate, recirculated downpipe, feed and drain, etc. Pricing is very similar to the other complete options and comes with the benefit of having the wg recirculated and fitting in the exact same envelope as his existing setup saving fabrication costs. Depending on what OP is after, I'd say it's an option worth evaluating.

 

I imagine it is very likely a GT42 turbo, posting pictures helps. That turbo will make the power easily if rebuilt by you local turbo service, however if budget allows a smaller more modern turbo will have a much wider powerband. If you can identify the injectors, fuel pressure regulator and pump you may find you have capacity, even if you have to lift base pressure slightly. Note that flow capacity will rise not linearly but with the square root of new/old fuel pressure)

 

thanks so far for the options! I have asked for pics of the engine bay, and hopefully can identify what's in there. I do believe he would like to just replace the turbo if possible aka the cheaper option, but I will see if he's open to the something more like an entire kit.

Say something like the HKS kit above, can the autronics ecu that he has now work for the tuning?

 

The autronic is capable and changing it would likely need a substantial rewire. If you were starting from scratch, it probably wouldn't be a first choice now. On one hand, it's pretty rock solid stable compared to the latest and greatest features every 2 years type of ecus, the fail safe, diagnosis, staging and logging capability are quite deficient compared to current boxes on the other hand.

Assuming it's an early SM4, an updated chipset may be worth a small investment though if he keeps it. Biggest problem now is the tuning base is declining and rotary specific tuners - at least ones you'd trust, smaller again. Depending on where he's located, that may be the deciding factor on whether to retain or change.