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- 3 February 2000
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This is not meant to educate people about FI basics (that is another document), it's just sort of a generic checklist of things people should consider when looking at adding any forced induction system to any car.
This was intended to be a handout at NSXPO but it didn't get printed as planned. It is sort of a draft because time was very short between the time this came up and the time I had to leave for NSXPO. It also had some constraints (like wanting to fit it on one sheet of paper front and back). Please tear it apart and I'll revise it based on your comments and add it to the FAQ.
Forced Induction Issues To Consider
1. System Basics
a. What type of turbocharger or supercharger does the system utilize?
b. Who manufactures the unit at the heart of the system?
c. What are the general characteristics of that type of unit?
d. What is the mechanical layout of the system as installed in the NSX?
e. How well does the torque / hp curve match your intended type of driving? It is peaky, flat, linear, low-end, high-end?
f. Is this system a bolt-on-and-drive (stock engine internals) or full engine build?
g. Is this a true kit with full documentation that can be installed by any qualified mechanic, or does it need to be installed by the person selling it?
h. How does the system affect fuel economy?
i. Are you happy with the cosmetics of the installed system?
j. Are you happy with the sound of the installed system?
k. Are there emissions or inspection issues with this system installed?
l. If your NSX is 1995 or later, does this system support OBD-II?
m. What does the system cost? Who sells it?
2. Vendor Basics
a. How long has the vendor been in business?
b. How long has the vendor been in the forced induction business?
c. How long has the vendor been in the NSX business?
d. What other forced induction systems has the vendor produced?
e. What is the vendor’s general reputation in the NSX community?
f. After talking to a number of this vendor’s customers, do you get a good feeling about the way the vendor does business?
3. Installation
a. Who will install the system on your car?
b. If installed by someone other than the vendor, are they an “authorized” installer acting on behalf of the vendor?
c. Is the full installation documentation available for you or your mechanic to review prior to actually attempting the installation?
d. If there is a problem related to installation and tuning, who is responsible?
e. How long will the installation take? Estimated labor cost?
f. What tuning is required after installation?
g. What tuning would be optimal after installation?
h. What components are changed from stock?
4. Support
a. Who will work on the system after it is installed? How many similarly configured NSXs does that person work on?
b. Who will support the system if you move or sell the car out of area?
c. What is the cost for updates to the system?
d. What system components are available from other sources?
e. If the vendor vanished tomorrow, how would you get support?
f. What is the warranty on the system? What exactly does it cover, what does it not cover, how long is it in effect, how are claims handled, what is the typical time for resolution of warranty claims?
5. Technical
a. What is the nominal boost produced by the system? It the unit over-driven?
b. How is excess boost wasted?
c. What fuel or engine management does the system utilize?
d. Specifically, how does it maintain proper air/fuel mixture and timing?
e. How does the system avoid detonation? What is the margin of safety?
f. What safety features are built in, if any?
g. What is the thermal efficiency of the system? How does it compare?
h. If the system is using a higher boost level, how is the intake air charge cooled?
i. Does it respond to RPM or load? Is there lag, and if so under what circumstances?
6. Reliability and Track Record
a. How long has the system been on the market in its current form?
b. How many are installed on customer cars?
c. If your car is 1995 or later, how many OBD-II cars for A and B above?
d. What are the common failures and what is the frequency of failure? Are they isolated to the unit’s components or do they affect the engine?
e. Is it proven on the racetrack? Who races with this unit installed?
7. Maintenance
a. What maintenance does the system itself require? Tools/time/interval?
b. What should regularly be monitored or checked with this system?
c. How does it affect scheduled 30k/60k/90k maintenance?
d. How does it affect oil changes, valve adjustment, coolant flush, timing belt replacement, spool valve/cam plug service, clutch replacement?
8. Upgrades And Complimentary Modifications
a. What other modifications are strongly recommended with this system?
b. What other modifications perform particularly well with this system?
c. What modifications will not work well (or at all) with this system?
d. What is the current upgrade potential of this system? Cost? Downsides?
9. The Future
a. What is the market for used NSXs with this system installed?
b. What is involved in returning the car to stock?
c. What is the market for used systems of this type?
d. What upgrades does the vendor say may be available in the future?
This was intended to be a handout at NSXPO but it didn't get printed as planned. It is sort of a draft because time was very short between the time this came up and the time I had to leave for NSXPO. It also had some constraints (like wanting to fit it on one sheet of paper front and back). Please tear it apart and I'll revise it based on your comments and add it to the FAQ.
Forced Induction Issues To Consider
1. System Basics
a. What type of turbocharger or supercharger does the system utilize?
b. Who manufactures the unit at the heart of the system?
c. What are the general characteristics of that type of unit?
d. What is the mechanical layout of the system as installed in the NSX?
e. How well does the torque / hp curve match your intended type of driving? It is peaky, flat, linear, low-end, high-end?
f. Is this system a bolt-on-and-drive (stock engine internals) or full engine build?
g. Is this a true kit with full documentation that can be installed by any qualified mechanic, or does it need to be installed by the person selling it?
h. How does the system affect fuel economy?
i. Are you happy with the cosmetics of the installed system?
j. Are you happy with the sound of the installed system?
k. Are there emissions or inspection issues with this system installed?
l. If your NSX is 1995 or later, does this system support OBD-II?
m. What does the system cost? Who sells it?
2. Vendor Basics
a. How long has the vendor been in business?
b. How long has the vendor been in the forced induction business?
c. How long has the vendor been in the NSX business?
d. What other forced induction systems has the vendor produced?
e. What is the vendor’s general reputation in the NSX community?
f. After talking to a number of this vendor’s customers, do you get a good feeling about the way the vendor does business?
3. Installation
a. Who will install the system on your car?
b. If installed by someone other than the vendor, are they an “authorized” installer acting on behalf of the vendor?
c. Is the full installation documentation available for you or your mechanic to review prior to actually attempting the installation?
d. If there is a problem related to installation and tuning, who is responsible?
e. How long will the installation take? Estimated labor cost?
f. What tuning is required after installation?
g. What tuning would be optimal after installation?
h. What components are changed from stock?
4. Support
a. Who will work on the system after it is installed? How many similarly configured NSXs does that person work on?
b. Who will support the system if you move or sell the car out of area?
c. What is the cost for updates to the system?
d. What system components are available from other sources?
e. If the vendor vanished tomorrow, how would you get support?
f. What is the warranty on the system? What exactly does it cover, what does it not cover, how long is it in effect, how are claims handled, what is the typical time for resolution of warranty claims?
5. Technical
a. What is the nominal boost produced by the system? It the unit over-driven?
b. How is excess boost wasted?
c. What fuel or engine management does the system utilize?
d. Specifically, how does it maintain proper air/fuel mixture and timing?
e. How does the system avoid detonation? What is the margin of safety?
f. What safety features are built in, if any?
g. What is the thermal efficiency of the system? How does it compare?
h. If the system is using a higher boost level, how is the intake air charge cooled?
i. Does it respond to RPM or load? Is there lag, and if so under what circumstances?
6. Reliability and Track Record
a. How long has the system been on the market in its current form?
b. How many are installed on customer cars?
c. If your car is 1995 or later, how many OBD-II cars for A and B above?
d. What are the common failures and what is the frequency of failure? Are they isolated to the unit’s components or do they affect the engine?
e. Is it proven on the racetrack? Who races with this unit installed?
7. Maintenance
a. What maintenance does the system itself require? Tools/time/interval?
b. What should regularly be monitored or checked with this system?
c. How does it affect scheduled 30k/60k/90k maintenance?
d. How does it affect oil changes, valve adjustment, coolant flush, timing belt replacement, spool valve/cam plug service, clutch replacement?
8. Upgrades And Complimentary Modifications
a. What other modifications are strongly recommended with this system?
b. What other modifications perform particularly well with this system?
c. What modifications will not work well (or at all) with this system?
d. What is the current upgrade potential of this system? Cost? Downsides?
9. The Future
a. What is the market for used NSXs with this system installed?
b. What is involved in returning the car to stock?
c. What is the market for used systems of this type?
d. What upgrades does the vendor say may be available in the future?
