37 replies to this topic

[SEEKERone]

My Straman CRX convertible recently underwent some interesting modifcations in the name of more speed.
More pictures and writeup coming soon


TEASER PICS

[Screech]

Is that a K-series block?!?!

[CRXfanatic]

Holy crap! Are you going to add more chassis braces? I'm very interested in mounts, wiring, hood clearance, etc.

GL! Should be badass!!!!!!

[1goldteg]

Holy crap! Are you going to add more chassis braces? I'm very interested in mounts, wiring, hood clearance, etc.

GL! Should be badass!!!!!!

+2!

man I need to see that in person! I guess the Turbo project is on hold... dagg what if a Turbo K series on a g1 !!!

[rollz87civic]

k-power me likey

[projEKtjokes]

looks like a ep3 k series. . .

[D Jaws II]

My Straman CRX convertible recently underwent some interesting modifcations in the name of more speed.
More pictures and writeup coming soon
TEASER PICS

Holy crap, that is going to be a screamer.


Now please tell me, that isn't your garage at home is it? If it is, you are a garage slut!
Yeah, I'm jealous, very.

Looking for more than a teaser on this one. Nice ride man.


Donnie

[zakats]

psh i bet it isnt even his

[E-AT_me]

pimp. i like it and i can't wait to see it done.

[SEEKERone]

Sorry for the delay... here is more to see.

First of all a little info.
No, that is not my garage. That location is LHT Performance (LHTPerformance.net)
this part of the project was taken care of by them.

And about the teaser pics...yes that is a K20 motor.
From a 2005 RSX TypeS.
Completely stock.
And it is NOT going in my car (=teaser)
That is the powerplant for another LHT project car that for which I did a bunch of wiring. That motor just happened to be hanging on the hoist next to my car as I was taking pictures. (sorry for the letdown)

So what is my car doing there? TURBO!


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



B16 in 1st Gen CRX
Stock airbox, exhaust manifold, and radiator(<----these must go!)

Edited by SEEKERone, 27 August 2007 - 07:03 AM.

[SEEKERone]

OK...turbo is gonna need some room.
Stock radiator must go.
Search through RPR and you will find that there USED TO BE a dual core HF width radiator available from the aftermarket.
No longer a viable option.
Old posts show people using EG/EK radiators but needing to cut the upper support or install strangely.
This is due to the fact that the radiator cap mounts on the top of the tank, which in turn needs to sit under the support.(=clearance issue)
I thought that this was how my would end up.
Searching through EBAY for aluminum EG radiators showed me a blurred picture of something I might be able to use.
A company called BeCool (becool.com) produces a EG/EK radiator witjh an interesting location for the radiator cap...3 1/2" inward from the top tank.




Standard EG width and height, this radiator has a core 1 1/2" thick with 1 1/4" hose inlet/outlet.




I pulled the stock radiator and test fitted...IT IS GONNA WORK!!!
I needed some radiator mounts. (off to the JY)
Found some...
the one on the left is upper mount for 86-89 Accord
the two on the right are lower mount from 88-91 Civic (model may vary)



Time to drill some holes



the lower mounts were screwed into the lower support area, thick side up.
The upper is screwed down with flat screws and retaining clips

Edited by SEEKERone, 27 August 2007 - 11:36 AM.

[SEEKERone]

OK mounts done....a few more logistics remain

a SPAL fan mounts up with ties



And I even repinned the fan to the OEM connector to plug into the stock wiring




Next, need to make a little room for that filler neck
Trim part of hood latch support ( but not the actual latch)
The part on the left used to be the mount for the old radiator, but now it is in the way so trim it off.



Reinstalled with the original vertical brace



look at the clearance now



The issue of radiator fan switch was next. There were three options.
1.) Drill hole in new radiator and have bung welded in for switch.
2.) Extend existing wiring to use radiator fan switch on B16 block
3.) Add inline fitting for fan switch

I opted for #3...due to being the easiest.

I found that the early 240SXs used such a device (off to the JY again)
looks like this (and yes that is the stock CRX fan switch)....



after clean up and paint



At this point all that was left was trimming the hoses to fit and securing all the pieces into place....




Now it is off to LHT Performance for turbo installation

Edited by SEEKERone, 27 August 2007 - 11:37 AM.

[SEEKERone]

LHT Performance www.lhtperformance.net is located in Pinellas Park, Florida ( think 'near Saint Petersburg'). The shop opened about 10 years ago and has been located in the same place for all that time. John, the owner, started with doing mostly bolt-on upgrades. But his desire to install a B16 into his own 2nd Gen CRX led him to create his own mount system at a time when mount kits weren't readily available. What made his setup different was the use of OEM engine mounts instead of solid urethane. Custom made to each car, his setup would feel just like stock without the vibrations common to other kits. His quest for more power steered him to boost using a Jackson Racing supercharger on GSR engine in that CRX. Oscar Jackson himself actually had to see that car when at the NOPI Nationals (he didn't believe it could be done). The JRSC system has an issue with adding alot of heat the the intake charge which limits the amount of boost (and horsepower). John was not willing to accept that so he redesigned the maniflod for the blower to include an air-to-water intercooler.(cooler intake=more dense air=more power possible). That CRX then had the blower removed and turbo installed. As he started making even more power, he found the drivability limits of that chassis. Enter a 2001 Integra TypeR(his current ride). A bigger car gave him the ride he was looking for and the lastest dyno chart for that car is 600+HP. Full interior including A/C...look for it in one of the mags soon (Turbo magazine?)

history lesson over...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 camr 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.