Daily Driving Forced Induction?
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drives euro trash
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Daily Driving Forced Induction?
Just curious how many of you daily drive a forced induction car...whether it be turbo or blower. Also this is on any car, not just the Focus:
My SVTF is my daily driver. I'd like to give it a bit more spunk to make my daily commute a bit more interesting. However I do not want to sacrifice reliability and driveability. Since it is my only car, it is important I am not stranded on the side of the road on my way to work.
My top three choices for forced induction are: Jackson Racing (roots) blower, Procharger, and custom turbo.
The Jackson Racing is the obvious winner for the reliable daily driver, however this option has the least potential for any of my options. The Eaton blower is arguably one of the most reliable units out there. However no one makes an aftercooler for the Focus and most importantly no one plants to make one. So for future plans, the car would most likely be stuck in the low 200 fwhp range unless I were to have someone fab up an aftercooler.
The Procharger is a great unit. The power output is similar to a turbo. Seems like there would be decent future power upgrades as the unit included in the Procharger kit is supposedly good up to 600hp (well over the needs of any Focus owner). Not sure about reliability. Does anyone have any input on how reliable the Procharger units are?
The custom turbo route would be the obvious choice for driveability and even gas mileage. Future upgrades are a no-brainer. However my main concern is driveability. I drive about 30-40 miles a day for work on the shitty Tampa roads. Given that the turbo and its components were built correctly, the car is properly tuned, and given the car will be driven long and hard...is there anything in particular I'd have to worry about? Not really concerned about blowing the motor. I'm more concerned about turbo components (particularly the turbo manifold) breaking under the stress of daily driving. Would this be a set-it-and-forget-it option, or is this more trouble than it is worth on a daily driver?
Appreciate your thoughts and imput.
My SVTF is my daily driver. I'd like to give it a bit more spunk to make my daily commute a bit more interesting. However I do not want to sacrifice reliability and driveability. Since it is my only car, it is important I am not stranded on the side of the road on my way to work.
My top three choices for forced induction are: Jackson Racing (roots) blower, Procharger, and custom turbo.
The Jackson Racing is the obvious winner for the reliable daily driver, however this option has the least potential for any of my options. The Eaton blower is arguably one of the most reliable units out there. However no one makes an aftercooler for the Focus and most importantly no one plants to make one. So for future plans, the car would most likely be stuck in the low 200 fwhp range unless I were to have someone fab up an aftercooler.
The Procharger is a great unit. The power output is similar to a turbo. Seems like there would be decent future power upgrades as the unit included in the Procharger kit is supposedly good up to 600hp (well over the needs of any Focus owner). Not sure about reliability. Does anyone have any input on how reliable the Procharger units are?
The custom turbo route would be the obvious choice for driveability and even gas mileage. Future upgrades are a no-brainer. However my main concern is driveability. I drive about 30-40 miles a day for work on the shitty Tampa roads. Given that the turbo and its components were built correctly, the car is properly tuned, and given the car will be driven long and hard...is there anything in particular I'd have to worry about? Not really concerned about blowing the motor. I'm more concerned about turbo components (particularly the turbo manifold) breaking under the stress of daily driving. Would this be a set-it-and-forget-it option, or is this more trouble than it is worth on a daily driver?
Appreciate your thoughts and imput.
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If you have a safe/conservative tune, you should be ok. The safe tune can better compensate for weather changes. I don't daily drive my Mustang, but I don't worry about driving 200 miles, either. I usually drive it to Brandon from Clw during the softball season. I drive it to Bradenton, race, and drive it back, with no worries. I would say your biggest worry would be your clutch, if you keep it stock.
John
John
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John
1992 Mustang LX 5.0-Powerdyne BD-11A, 3.73's, FRPP clutch, chrome Ponies, Mac headers, Aeromotive regulator, MSD 6A, MSD BTM, FRPP 42# injectors, Pro-Flow Air Optimizer, Trick Flow Track Heat intake, Edelbrock 75MM TB, AFM Power Pipe
John
1992 Mustang LX 5.0-Powerdyne BD-11A, 3.73's, FRPP clutch, chrome Ponies, Mac headers, Aeromotive regulator, MSD 6A, MSD BTM, FRPP 42# injectors, Pro-Flow Air Optimizer, Trick Flow Track Heat intake, Edelbrock 75MM TB, AFM Power Pipe
I need a helmet.
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My car runs great. I do have a slight surge at 2,000 where it leans out but nothing bad. A better tune will fix that. One day I'll get it over to Sam. Anyway, the car has seen all weather types and altitudes with no issues. I drive it to work everyday.
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SOLD 6-17-06
'01 Silver Cobra #2709
Procharger P1SC w/10# pulley, 3 core IC, Bassani OR X, Steeda catback, 42# injectors, Lightning 80mm MAF, Tri-Ax, Fat Knob, Battery in da' trunk, JMS Tune 432rwhp / 390rwtq 12.54 @ 115 on street radials
SOLD 6-13-03
'98 Laser Red Cobra #634 of 5174
UPR Power Pipe, BBK off-road H, Flowmasters, 4.10 gears, battery relocated to da' trunk, rear seat delete, Cobra R 17x9 rims with Nitto 315's out back, shaved door locks, 13.35 @105
'01 Silver Cobra #2709
Procharger P1SC w/10# pulley, 3 core IC, Bassani OR X, Steeda catback, 42# injectors, Lightning 80mm MAF, Tri-Ax, Fat Knob, Battery in da' trunk, JMS Tune 432rwhp / 390rwtq 12.54 @ 115 on street radials
SOLD 6-13-03
'98 Laser Red Cobra #634 of 5174
UPR Power Pipe, BBK off-road H, Flowmasters, 4.10 gears, battery relocated to da' trunk, rear seat delete, Cobra R 17x9 rims with Nitto 315's out back, shaved door locks, 13.35 @105
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If it were me and my SVTF, I'd do the Jackson racing kit and spray some alcohol in it. The Jackson will be the easiest to work on, and probably the simplest in terms of engineering. Plus the tune will be much simpler since boost is not load dependant like with a turbo.
My nightmares for a daily driven turbo car would be the manifold cracking, oil supply and return issues, underhood heat, etc.
Talk to John on TR about Kurts old Honda hatch. It was an EG hatch with a Jackson Racing kit on a built B18 with custom pulleys (made locally) and nitrous. The car went 10's after driving it from Tampa to Moroso. That was his only car for a while.
The Jackson kit can make some power (with smaller pulleys) but the lack of an intercooler hampers it. With alcohol, you now have an intercooler. You can get a VERY nice alky kit from www.alkycontrol.com (he has the Turbo 6 Trans am at all the TRack days) I think his kits are less than $500 for EVERYTHING. I'm talking nice pump, braided steel lines, nice resevoir, etc.
I know how picky you are Alan, and I know its your only car. What I've suggested would make you happy.
My nightmares for a daily driven turbo car would be the manifold cracking, oil supply and return issues, underhood heat, etc.
Talk to John on TR about Kurts old Honda hatch. It was an EG hatch with a Jackson Racing kit on a built B18 with custom pulleys (made locally) and nitrous. The car went 10's after driving it from Tampa to Moroso. That was his only car for a while.
The Jackson kit can make some power (with smaller pulleys) but the lack of an intercooler hampers it. With alcohol, you now have an intercooler. You can get a VERY nice alky kit from www.alkycontrol.com (he has the Turbo 6 Trans am at all the TRack days) I think his kits are less than $500 for EVERYTHING. I'm talking nice pump, braided steel lines, nice resevoir, etc.
I know how picky you are Alan, and I know its your only car. What I've suggested would make you happy.
Thread Starter
drives euro trash
Joined: Jun 2000
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Originally Posted by Just Dave
If it were me and my SVTF, I'd do the Jackson racing kit and spray some alcohol in it. The Jackson will be the easiest to work on, and probably the simplest in terms of engineering. Plus the tune will be much simpler since boost is not load dependant like with a turbo.
My nightmares for a daily driven turbo car would be the manifold cracking, oil supply and return issues, underhood heat, etc.
Talk to John on TR about Kurts old Honda hatch. It was an EG hatch with a Jackson Racing kit on a built B18 with custom pulleys (made locally) and nitrous. The car went 10's after driving it from Tampa to Moroso. That was his only car for a while.
The Jackson kit can make some power (with smaller pulleys) but the lack of an intercooler hampers it. With alcohol, you now have an intercooler. You can get a VERY nice alky kit from www.alkycontrol.com (he has the Turbo 6 Trans am at all the TRack days) I think his kits are less than $500 for EVERYTHING. I'm talking nice pump, braided steel lines, nice resevoir, etc.
I know how picky you are Alan, and I know its your only car. What I've suggested would make you happy.
My nightmares for a daily driven turbo car would be the manifold cracking, oil supply and return issues, underhood heat, etc.
Talk to John on TR about Kurts old Honda hatch. It was an EG hatch with a Jackson Racing kit on a built B18 with custom pulleys (made locally) and nitrous. The car went 10's after driving it from Tampa to Moroso. That was his only car for a while.
The Jackson kit can make some power (with smaller pulleys) but the lack of an intercooler hampers it. With alcohol, you now have an intercooler. You can get a VERY nice alky kit from www.alkycontrol.com (he has the Turbo 6 Trans am at all the TRack days) I think his kits are less than $500 for EVERYTHING. I'm talking nice pump, braided steel lines, nice resevoir, etc.
I know how picky you are Alan, and I know its your only car. What I've suggested would make you happy.
A company by the name of Powerworks makes a roots blower using the same size Eaton as the JRSC, however it has an aftercooler built into the manifold. This would be the ideal setup, however the $5k price tag is a bit steep compared to the JRSC's price of $2600. The Powerworks setup is the obvious better choice, however it does require relocation of the oil filter and plumbing for the air-to-water intercooler. More complication = more things to go wrong.
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mine is s/c drive it everyday... havent had a problem yet *knock on wood*
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"If your teeth get knocked out... swallow them and get back in the fight!"
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"If your teeth get knocked out... swallow them and get back in the fight!"
--I'd rather be tried by 12 then carried by 6--
Thread Starter
drives euro trash
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Originally Posted by smokeshow
Turbo or go home!
That is the only option in my opinion on a 4 cylinder car. Especially the foci...
That is the only option in my opinion on a 4 cylinder car. Especially the foci...
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