okay. so im trying to install a turbo on my 96 civic EX with i believe a stock D16Y8 SOHC engine (correct me if im wrong) and i want to pretty much have my engine ready by giving it a new cam, new head, and new bigger rods. What i want to know is what else might i have to do to get my engine ready for the turbo so i wont have to deal with future engine problems and whats the best type of cams, head, rods, etc, to install? I hear some people like to put GSR cams and heads on civics, but is this the best choice? If i do this, how many mpgs and horsepower will i be expecting before and after the turbo installment?

Also, as far as the turbo is concerned, theres a shop selling turbos for $700, i believe he said he wasnt including the fuel management chip, turbo timer and fuel injectors and i guess etc.. Does this seem like a good deal? Also what should be included in a turbo kit? What should i look for?

Heres the craigslist posting
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/1581306899.html
And heres his website (the price of the turbos are $900 but he has them on sale for $700) http://www.norcalautostylez.com

 

I think that looks like the ebay turbo kits, which right now are going for less than 700 shipped...
Im also going down the same path as you with the same car!! except mines a 98.

 

First off, welcome to the forum. Secondly, please read the stickies in the turbo, supercharger, nitrous section.

You shouldn't be guessing what motor you have. Refer to the picture to figure out what you have exactly:


You have one cam, not cams. Hence, SOHC (single overhead camshaft).

You have a D series motor, you cannot put a B series (GSR etc) head on that. You'll gain zero horsepower since it won't work

You cannot "chip" and OBD2 ECU (96+ Civic)

Please.... Do not guess... Being uneducated will not be good, that's why we are here!

That Craigslist posting is junk IMO. It is an eBay kit. If someone cannot give you name brands for the parts, then (IMO at least), it's junk. There are reasons why certain name brand companies make certain parts, because they know how to make the parts properly, devote the time, research, and testing to make sure the product is quality. These no name ebay brands are just copies of the goods...horrible copies that is.

The only thing I would use from that is/are: Intercooler piping, Intercooler (once leak/pressure tested and checks out OK), and possibly the manifold since it is cast.

I hope that was helpful. I cannot stress enough to read the stickies and research. When you're done that, research more. Boosting may seem complicated now, but in time, you will familiarize yourself with everything and will eventually understand it.

 

+1 cvcrcr99

Research is golden, I wanted to turbo my car some two years ago and still havent dont it yet, I started but realized I dont have the cash flow right now. You dont sound like you know what your doing since you thought you could put a gsr cam on a d-series motor. lol. Anyways, the ebay kits arent all that bad, they can be a hit or miss. So if you like to gamble go for it. But again you obviously havent done enough research, you should alteast learn the basic parts you will need to boost your car. Learn them well and understand what each part does, dont just know that you need that part to turbo your car. You also need to know what your hp goals are, doesnt sound like you know these either coming from ur first post. You base your turbo build of the hp and torque you want not the parts you get, because each setup can be tuned differently and smaller turbos offer different benefits that larger turbos dont and vis versa. You dont need a new cam or rods unless you want to make some significant power. Good luck with your build!!!