Eric Hsu Facts:
We're taking a break from the silliness this month and giving you actual Eric Hsu really facts, so you know why he's answering your tech questions each month.
Fact: Eric Hsu is Production Development Manager for Cosworth USA
Fact: Tasked with interpreting data acquired during track sessions, Eric Hsu serves as engine manager for Sierra Sierra's time-attack effort.
Fact: Eric Hsu was one of the original founding partners of XS Engineering, serving as lead tuner and pioneering ECU re-programming in the '90s.
Fact: Eric Hsu is a ninja
Fact: Eric Hsu loves gummy worms.
Send questions, problems, and sob stories to: questionit@importtuner.com
Pissing Contest
I own an automatic '08 Civic LX coupe with a 1.8L R18 motor. The car was a present from my parents for my sixteenth birthday, so I'm kinda stuck with it. Just six houses down from mine lives a kid with a Civic Si. He knows his car is faster and loves to prove it every time I see him. I started modifying my car so I could pull past this guy next time he wants to show off. So far I have added a throttle body spacer, Weapon-R short-ram intake, and iridium spark plugs. Can I beat this guy for $400? What would I need and how much would it cost?
-Thomas Sims
via importtuner.com
You have three major limitations to consider: your budget, your car's weak(ish) automatic transmission, and an OBD 2 system seemingly designed by Hitler that won't play nice with aftermarket power adders like turbo or supercharger systems. I'd recommend a single fogger nitrous system for a quick and easy power gain somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 to 75 hp. Since your car has a dead-head fuel system (lacking a return line), you'll need to use a "wet" system. Check out NOS or Nitrous Express (NX) for more information. After installing the nitrous system, proceed to immediately cruise by the guy's house and power brake your car in front of his driveway. When your car settles on the stall converter, pull the e-brake, hit the nitrous and let go of the brakes, keeping the gas floored and erupting the tires in a cloud of smoke. That might give him something to worry about next time he tries to punk you.
Shift Away
OK, this might seem like a very odd question, but I am re-building a '74 Mini Cooper with custom front and rear sub frames that will house a Honda B20B1/VTEC engine and AWD system out of a Honda CRV. The donor car that I used was automatic, so I ordered a five-speed CRV transmission that ended up not including the cable shifter-and I can't find one for the life of me. I was hoping you could recommend an aftermarket one or perhaps another cable shifter that might fit.
-Tom Sims
via importtuner.com
So let me get this straight: you have the money to buy an engine and two transmissions, but not enough to buy a cable shifter? Short of reaching just past your feet to shift gears, I'm pretty sure you're going to need custom cables due to the shorter overall length of the car. Buy the part new from a Honda dealership (they're not that expensive), then contact Madison Power Systems in Pontiac, Michigan for the custom cables. They can make power transmission cables for virtually any automotive application including shifters, hand brakes, etc.
Damage Control
I just bought an '08 Mazda 6 2.3L and I was wondering what size turbo I would need to get the project moving forward. Fast. As far as horsepower goes, I want to try to make between 400 and 500 whp. I'm just staring this project and I know I need a lot, but can you help get me started on selecting the right intercooler, turbo, wastegate, blow-off valve, etc., as well as ideas as to who makes them?
-Joseph Lee
via importtuner.com
First and foremost, you'll have to build the engine with stronger internals as part of a 400+hp goal. The stock internals of the MZR engine aren't cut out for that kind of power. If you have the budget and want the best, I'd recommend a set of Cosworth H-beam connecting rods and 9:1 forged pistons. If you don't have the budget then run one of the other forged options on the market, but I do strongly recommend you stay away from the made-in-China crap. While you have the engine apart, I also recommend a Cosworth "BVD" CNC ported cylinder head and a pair of Cosworth MZ1 camshafts that work great in both supercharged and turbocharged applications. The guys at Tri-point engineering in Canoga Park, CA, make a turbo system for the Mazda 3 with the 2.3L MZR engine. There's a chance that they can sell you part of their kit, but you will need to fabricate or modify some of the components to make it work with your 6. For 400-500 whp on pump gas, you'll need to use something in the Garrett GT35 or BorgWarner S300 turbo families. There's no such thing as over intercooling, so the bigger the better in the case of the intercooler. Tial or Turbosmart can supply you with excellent quality wastegates and blow-off valves. In reality, this is going to be a pretty expensive project unless you can do a lot of the work yourself.