SC vs Full Engine Build

[palerider]

So I wish there was a poll option I could find and optimize for this..... but on our turcks if there was an general opinion on which way guys would go which way would it go?

I once had the highest hp Mazdaspeed3 on the planet and made about 100whp more than anybody had ever posted on the platform after i slapped a BT on that thing before anybody else ever had. Ended up getting sponsorship and then transitoning into selling parts. Sold over a million bucks of go fast parts for those things from 2008-2010. Blew freaking two engines....we couldnt tune it properly...then gave up suddenly. Car maybe was on the road 3 months of the almost 3 years I owned it after the turbo. Turning to the boost darkside makes me gunshy after that experience.

Other thing is the extra power made the car virtually undriveable. To some degree too much HP screws a car up. Just became a dyno queen and story but the entire vehicle was kinda wrecked as far as practical use after that thing went on?

My pivot was a freaking honda civic all motor build of all things. Overbored 2.2 sleeved high compression 10000 redline all motor jdmed out sweetest little treat any ricer would have dreamed of. Got rid of that because my tall giraffe looking butt couldnt fit in it and I had started having dreams I was gonna die in the commute home the one day a week i drove it. Another car that power outsourced comfort but I adored the all motor aspect. I cant imagine driving these things with turbos on them in anything other than a straight line.

Parted it out around 2012 and have been done since.

Fast forward 13 years after being out of the game. Kids all grown. No worries about sardine cans or practical budget in the new one...

Im really torn... do I go to the boosted darkside SC on my new toy? So easy and so quick? Or just build an absolutely vicious all motor version?

If money was no real object....or lets just say there was 20ish in the equation..... would the majority of guys go SC or is that the cheap easy way out? If money was no object is the all motor version the more fun way for guys that may have lived this? Is it more rewarding?

A big baller truck.... with a vicious V8.....all motor....mid 500s maybe even more?
Thats what speaks to me.
But the SC. Relentless limit on a a platform like this where everything has been done. Cheaper. Easier. Less challenges?

If you took all the guys that post here over a year and cost was no issue whats the route you figure? What percentage would do the all motor route? Love to hear arguments either way for guys that drive these things everyday

 

[Bigburb3500]

So I wish there was a poll option I could find and optimize for this..... but on our turcks if there was an general opinion on which way guys would go which way would it go?

I once had the highest hp Mazdaspeed3 on the planet and made about 100whp more than anybody had ever posted on the platform after i slapped a BT on that thing before anybody else ever had. Ended up getting sponsorship and then transitoning into selling parts. Sold over a million bucks of go fast parts for those things from 2008-2010. Blew freaking two engines....we couldnt tune it properly...then gave up suddenly. Car maybe was on the road 3 months of the almost 3 years I owned it after the turbo. Turning to the boost darkside makes me gunshy after that experience.

Other thing is the extra power made the car virtually undriveable. To some degree too much HP screws a car up. Just became a dyno queen and story but the entire vehicle was kinda wrecked as far as practical use after that thing went on?

My pivot was a freaking honda civic all motor build of all things. Overbored 2.2 sleeved high compression 10000 redline all motor jdmed out sweetest little treat any ricer would have dreamed of. Got rid of that because my tall giraffe looking butt couldnt fit in it and I had started having dreams I was gonna die in the commute home the one day a week i drove it. Another car that power outsourced comfort but I adored the all motor aspect. I cant imagine driving these things with turbos on them in anything other than a straight line.

Parted it out around 2012 and have been done since.

Fast forward 13 years after being out of the game. Kids all grown. No worries about sardine cans or practical budget in the new one...

Im really torn... do I go to the boosted darkside SC on my new toy? So easy and so quick? Or just build an absolutely vicious all motor version?

If money was no real object....or lets just say there was 20ish in the equation..... would the majority of guys go SC or is that the cheap easy way out? If money was no object is the all motor version the more fun way for guys that may have lived this? Is it more rewarding?

A big baller truck.... with a vicious V8.....all motor....mid 500s maybe even more?
Thats what speaks to me.
But the SC. Relentless limit on a a platform like this where everything has been done. Cheaper. Easier. Less challenges?

If you took all the guys that post here over a year and cost was no issue whats the route you figure? What percentage would do the all motor route? Love to hear arguments either way for guys that drive these things everyday

SC. Not even a question. It’s not only “easy” but it’s reliable and these engines are GREAT for boost applications.

Add in any component for a built engine and you are probably going to reach the limit of the trans not the engine or platform itself!

Ok I’m glad you are near by - I need to be the reckless devil on your shoulder telling you “Do it.”

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I went with the SC option, though I did rebuild the top end of the motor before installing it. I also put a new transmission in it, and I'm in the process of rebuilding a 14 bolt rear axle and a front differential with 4.10 gears. The smiles per mile are unbelievable.

Interesting that you mention working on a Honda Civic. Way, way back I had a 1975 Honda Civic that I installed a RayJay turbocharger on. It was an insane little 1728 lb. beast for a while, before I melted a hole that you could drop a penny into on one of the pistons. I could go from 55 to 85 in less than 3 seconds with 15 lbs. of boost.

 

[Bigburb3500]

I went with the SC option, though I did rebuild the top end of the motor before installing it. I also put a new transmission in it, and I'm in the process of rebuilding a 14 bolt rear axle and a front differential with 4.10 gears. The smiles per mile are unbelievable.

Interesting that you mention working on a Honda Civic. Way, way back I had a 1975 Honda Civic that I installed a RayJay turbocharger on. It was an insane little beast for a while, before I melted a hole that you could drop a penny into on one of the pistons. I could go from 55 to 85 in less than 3 seconds with 15 lbs of boost.

Why does it seem like we all had Civics at some point in time? I used to have an Si but wound up in this land yacht lol

 

[Dirty looks]

From my experience nothing makes heads swivel around my like a nasty cam chop. It triggers something primal.
But bang for the buck and ease of living with on a daily basis a SC wins hands down.
It's mother GM's choice from the factory..

 

[ReaperHWK]

To each his own but this is a very large SUV. Your going to need massive power to be “fast” and then your tranny, rear, suspension will break. It’s the wrong platform IMO.

lots of cash to burn to be beat by a stock TRX or Durango hellcat.

 

[Marky Dissod]

If money was no real object ... or lets just say there was 20ish in the equation ... would the majority of guys go SC or is that the cheap easy way out?
If money was no object is the all motor version the more fun way for guys that may have lived this? Is it more rewarding?

Jay Leno money? DuraMax turbodiesel, plenty of money left to beef up everything else to withstand 1,050ftlb @ 2000RpM.
Might wanna invest in improving the DuraMax V8's firing order, frame & suspension upgrades ...

$20,000? To be unique, try an LSA supercharger on a 6.6L L8T. Again, the rest of the money is to beef up the rest of the vehicle to take what the L8T dishes out,
which will be easier than withstanding DuraMax power, especially off the line. A Tahoe 2500 - V, if you will.

From my experience nothing makes heads swivel around my like a nasty cam chop. It triggers something primal.
But bang for the buck and ease of living with on a daily basis a SC wins hands down.
It's mother GM's choice from the factory.

This, exactly. A lopey cam sounds sexy, at idle. A supercharged 6.2L V8 will make you so much happier at normal throttle angles.
Use the rest of the money to make it stop and handle as well as it accelerates, make sports cars look dumb.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Why does it seem like we all had Civics at some point in time? I used to have an Si but wound up in this land yacht lol

I've had Hondas since 1975, other cars/trucks too, of course. They are virtually indestructible (unless you turbocharge them without a waste gate), cheap, and easy to work on. And, they are fun to drive, IMO.

Between my wife and I over the years:

2 Civic
3 Accord
2 CR-X
3 Fit
2 CR-V
1 HR-V

Mine had cams, headers, lowered and beefed up suspensions, etc. etc. etc.

 

[gat0r]

i'd say SC (w/ ECM & trans tune) first
then cat back exhaust

....if you need more:
then upgrade driveshaft
then built engine/trans w/ converter

 

[palerider]

Also...

SC. Not even a question. It’s not only “easy” but it’s reliable and these engines are GREAT for boost applications.

Add in any component for a built engine and you are probably going to reach the limit of the trans not the engine or platform itself!

Ok I’m glad you are near by - I need to be the reckless devil on your shoulder telling you “Do it.”

we will get to know each other soon pal. finally got my car in the driveway today and took an extended test drive with all the work done and it would have been cool to have a wrench turner that knows these things with me.

the afm seems so much more discernable with the intake and borla exhaust with flaps. it was the first time i felt the clunking and transitions and i thought wtf is that

 

[palerider]

I went with the SC option, though I did rebuild the top end of the motor before installing it. I also put a new transmission in it, and I'm in the process of rebuilding a 14 bolt rear axle and a front differential with 4.10 gears. The smiles per mile are unbelievable.

Interesting that you mention working on a Honda Civic. Way, way back I had a 1975 Honda Civic that I installed a RayJay turbocharger on. It was an insane little 1728 lb. beast for a while, before I melted a hole that you could drop a penny into on one of the pistons. I could go from 55 to 85 in less than 3 seconds with 15 lbs. of boost.

honda are great for guys that want to learn to turn a wrench and dont want to spend a fortune.

i like your truck. your mod list is something im already studying

 

[palerider]

From my experience nothing makes heads swivel around my like a nasty cam chop. It triggers something primal.
But bang for the buck and ease of living with on a daily basis a SC wins hands down.
It's mother GM's choice from the factory..

Exactly!!!! thats why the motor build option has appeal. plus youre not pushing the envelope so much on all the support mods. its not all about power for me. theres always somebody faster. theres something about making 100+whp over stock all motor that has me mezmerized

 

[palerider]

Jay Leno money? DuraMax turbodiesel, plenty of money left to beef up everything else to withstand 1,050ftlb @ 2000RpM.
Might wanna invest in improving the DuraMax V8's firing order, frame & suspension upgrades ...

$20,000? To be unique, try an LSA supercharger on a 6.6L L8T. Again, the rest of the money is to beef up the rest of the vehicle to take what the L8T dishes out,
which will be easier than withstanding DuraMax power, especially off the line. A Tahoe 2500 - V, if you will.

This, exactly. A lopey cam sounds sexy, at idle. A supercharged 6.2L V8 will make you so much happier at normal throttle angles.
Use the rest of the money to make it stop and handle as well as it accelerates, make sports cars look dumb.

20 grand seems reasonable...and not all at once at once. the hobby is what is attracting me?

SC is the easy....boom way.... right now im like 70/30 with the sc kit on top. but if thats the case then its almost like what other power modifications would you even do?

its like it would be over at that point lmao

 

[palerider]

i'd say SC (w/ ECM & trans tune) first
then cat back exhaust

....if you need more:
then upgrade driveshaft
then built engine/trans w/ converter

ive had the truck 35 days and ive done....

corsa cai
strutmasters full replacement for blown oem magnarides
brembo bbk on front
powerstop kit on back
hellwig front sway
borla exhaust
full corrosion correction and treatment underneath

waiting on hellwig rear sway and range afm in the mail....

what next after that?

besides figuring out which direction i go for power im kinda stalled. figure id get a tune. i have a hptuners guy or maybe get a canned tune module but if i start building then whats the point of tuning now

 

[palerider]

I've had Hondas since 1975, other cars/trucks too, of course. They are virtually indestructible (unless you turbocharge them without a waste gate), cheap, and easy to work on. And, they are fun to drive, IMO.

Between my wife and I over the years:

2 Civic
3 Accord
2 CR-X
3 Fit
2 CR-V
1 HR-V

Mine had cams, headers, lowered and beefed up suspensions, etc. etc. etc.

here was mine. made almost 300 to the ground in that little tin can

best part about going all motor in that thing was i could retain AC lmao

after about 2-3 pulls at 10k rpms it wouldnt blow real cold and i lost power but no freaking way im driving around without it

 

[Bigburb3500]

Also...

we will get to know each other soon pal. finally got my car in the driveway today and took an extended test drive with all the work done and it would have been cool to have a wrench turner that knows these things with me.

the afm seems so much more discernable with the intake and borla exhaust with flaps. it was the first time i felt the clunking and transitions and i thought wtf is that

I have several tools I can always lend. I have an EFI Tuner if you go with Blackbear we can work with together and a bidirectional scan tool if needed.

 

[Marky Dissod]

20 grand seems reasonable ... and not all at once at once. the hobby is what is attracting me?
SC is the easy ...boom way ... right now im like 70/30 with the sc kit on top. but if thats the case then its almost like what other power modifications would you even do?

its like it would be over at that point

If you're a family man, if it's the family vehicle, the ONLY vehicular projects that get finished before duh misses starts flappin 'er gummz
involve a supercharger, or a crate engine. Engine builds take too dang long.
A 6.6L L8T, with the LT4's supercharger on it, that's da dream - and it'll get done quick enough that your significant will not be able to use the downtime against you.

 

[Dirty looks]

Exactly!!!! thats why the motor build option has appeal. plus youre not pushing the envelope so much on all the support mods. its not all about power for me. theres always somebody faster. theres something about making 100+whp over stock all motor that has me mezmerized

LS2 with a Truck Norris cam, mission accomplished with ease. 350hp/354tq at the tire.
Proforma-built heavy hauler tranny, 2000 rpm stall, it gets with the program quick.

 

[palerider]

If you're a family man, if it's the family vehicle, the ONLY vehicular projects that get finished before duh misses starts flappin 'er gummz
involve a supercharger, or a crate engine. Engine builds take too dang long.
A 6.6L L8T, with the LT4's supercharger on it, that's da dream - and it'll get done quick enough that your significant will not be able to use the downtime against you.

mental note to self with that recommednation of "the dream"

but not my daily... i run around in a caddy xt5 sport and girlfriend has a porsche cayenne s i hooked her up with so we arent a two car family my any means. i pay all the bills she is not one to be insubordinate to my household leadership and she aint the mrs yet lol.

just got rid of an alfa romeo quadrafoglio this week that had been my toy car. the tahoe is replacing it

dont call me a fool. the stelvio was badass to the bone but kind of above my paygrade as far as working on it. 20k is like tires and brakes on that mfer

 

[Joseph Garcia]

ive had the truck 35 days and ive done....

corsa cai
strutmasters full replacement for blown oem magnarides
brembo bbk on front
powerstop kit on back
hellwig front sway
borla exhaust
full corrosion correction and treatment underneath

waiting on hellwig rear sway and range afm in the mail....

what next after that?

besides figuring out which direction i go for power im kinda stalled. figure id get a tune. i have a hptuners guy or maybe get a canned tune module but if i start building then whats the point of tuning now

Is that all??? What did you do for the other 20 days?