LHT build...1st gen CRX with B16 needs turbo

[SEEKERone]

I recently had the pleasure of dealing with LHT Performance
My car is a 1985 CRX with convertible conversion



Previously I had pulled original carburated motor and installed B16 and changed to fuel injection.
Later I rewired to use OBD1.
Now is time for the next upgrade...boost.

I had consulted with John from LHT about this and he assured me that it could be done. Lets see the process.

Where do we start...oh yeah. BEFORE PIC


Thats a stock B16 including stock exhaust manifold and intake tube.(not for long)

Just before going to LHT I installed a EG radiator to help make room.

[SEEKERone]

we need turbo

I arrived early Monday morning. I had previously shown the car to John and described how I wanted things arranged.
Two days before he had built most of the custom turbo manifold. Because I wanted the turbo to sit differently from a typical setup, they hadn't finalized the turbo location and no downpipe had been started. If this were any other car (EG, EK , or Teg), the manifold would have been completed and downpipe fabricated. I guess I am just difficult, huh?

We began by me removing the front pieces. Off came the bumper, front mask, the radiator (damn I just got that in there), and finally the stock B16 exhaust manifold.

They bolted up the partial manifold/turbo assembly and formed the plan





John (on the right) and Paul (on the left) went to work.
The manifold and turbo placement were perfect.

John started up top, cutting and fitting the charge pipes at the intake...






and Paul began building the downpipe

[SEEKERone]

after some welding, cutting, more welding...






...and that leads to the finished downpipe





The routing of the charge pipe out of the turbo needed to be directed to the driver's side.
Instead of installing a 90degree silicone coupler to the turbo, they remove the housing and modify it like this...

[SEEKERone]

The next major step is to decide the location and mounting of the intercooler.
They decided to use the bolt holes usually used for the a/c condenser mounts...







Once the intercooler location is decided, the piping can be completed.
By the time I got to the shop on Tuesday afternoon, they had completed the piping.
Notice that they made the pieces as big and few as possible to limited silicone connectors and even added a lip at the end of each pipe to ensure the connectors stay connected.

[SEEKERone]

Checking downpipe clearance with radiator...
It looks alot closer in the pictures than it actually is.
I was assured at the time that it shouldn't be an problem(and it hasn't been an issue ).
The downpipe could be heat-wrapped later if necessary.




Next comes fitting everything before final assembly...





misc detail points addressed including...
running water and oil lines for turbo
vacuum hoses to blow-off valve and wastegate
modding existing exhaust to downpipe
fabricating new vertical brace for hood latch
installing new injectors and removing resistor box


John installed the HONDATA ECU to control the newfound power
(LHT Performance is an authorized HONDATA dealer and tuner)

time for assembly...

[SEEKERone]

So what does it look like when it is dressed....I thought you would never ask









The car is an absolute blast to drive. currently the wastegate is set for 10 PSI and the street tuning done by John has been fantastic. There are no drivabilty issues, hiccups, nothing...just good fun. Dyno numbers coming soon...

[SEEKERone]

To answer a few question from PMs

The build time for the turbo install was roughly four days.(radiator installation was done by me prior to going to LHT)
They had prebuilt the manifold, but everything else was done in that timeframe.
That includes the extensive street-tuning that John did. I could feel the changes everytime he updated the tune. The drivability is absolutely fantastic.

The turbo used is a Garret GT2871R....(what all that means I don't know)
This turbo was chosen because of the drivabilty goals and to suit the engine displacement
While street tuning, we acheived boost as low as 2700RPM...it spools quick.
I am told that the flow mapping for this turbo has the capability of 350-375HP...I am not going quite that far.

Questions about overheating...there has been no issue with this.
Proximity of the downpipe to the radiator has concerened a few people.
But in the 2+weeks I have been driving it, there hasn't been any temperature issue shown.
And there have been a few good runs/exchanges that took place.
If this were for extended race type driving, then maybe wrap the downpipe or maybe even add a heatshield.
The open area in front of the turbo may be helping keep underhood temps under control too.

Horsepower questions have not yet been answered.
Dyno time could not be arranged the week my car was worked on but when the chance comes up I will be there.
The "goal" horsepower is in the ~250HP range but there are possible needed upgrades (exhaust may need to be upsized)

The goals I had were simple...
Stock battery location
Air filter placed high up, in area near timing belt cover
Stock bumper kept as intact as possible(very minor trimming was needed)
Stock hood latch needed to remain(only minor modifcation to upright bracing)
Needed to drive like normal if not boosting, and be smooth through the range.

Everything I asked for was met or exceeded. I am thankful that they let me stay (and photograph) as much as I did.(I am an insider)
Thanks for all the kind words as to how clean the install has been done.
LHT did a great job.

[goodguy0488]

Thats sick. rep for you

[MrLHT]

That's a great post, I felt like I was there....lol

[MrLHT]

See this car as well as many other LHT cars at the NOPI Nationals in Atlanta 15th and 16th.

[EgLaOsBoI]

wow... you cant even tell it has turbo just by looking at it

[The Fast Acura]

cleanest first gen rex ive seen,sleeper much haha nice car and the turbo install looks great.they did a really nice job

[89crxsir]

awesome

[h22forme]

wow.. looks great another awesome job.

just asking how much?

[ZCCRX]

That's really amazing work. Everything I've seen from LHT is nothing less than amazing for that fact. Steve you gotta give me a ride in this truly one of a kind CRX. Hats off to ya'll.