Curious...i've heard that you have to do inter-engine work when you upgrade to a turbo kit...is that true?
if it is...what types of mods need/should be done to an engine (in general...or specifically to our boxes/As)?
when a turbo is on...what kind of maintenance is required?

 

A well-designed turbo kit can be made to work with a stock engine, and not require any additional engine fortification or modifications. The Scion's 1NZ engine wasn't really designed for high performance from the start, so that is why you will see that most forced induction kits for it offer minimal power gains, but this is because you also don't want to push your luck by trying to squeeze out so much power that you run the risk of blowing the engine. What you might eventually see is the availability of turbo kits in different stages; a simple one that will just bolt on and offer modest increases of power, to crazier setups that will give you a bigger gain in power, but might require you to rebuild the engine with stronger aftermarket components to handle that power.

 

Anything more than 7 psi is probably really pushing the limits of the stock setup. If you start running major power with a turbo or supercharger, you're looking at having to upgrade your rods, pistons, possibly crankshaft, and possibly your tranny too. You also need a lot of monitoring equipment like boost and a/f ratio guages. Upgraded fuel system too to handle the extra fuel requirement. And it probably wouldn't hurt to upgrade the ignition system too to make sure you're getting strong and consistent sparks.

KiL

 

all of these mods...should they be done before the turbo kit is on...or during...or after? if these mods are done without the turbo kit...could they hurt the engine in any way?
cause i was just thinking about preparing our little engines to the introduction of a tubro...but i'm not sure what mods can be done...thanks....

 

You'd want to do them with your turbo upgrade. Knock sensor, air/fuel gauge (or a/f gauge as mentioned above), possibly a fuel-pressure regulator, some sort of fuel management (perhaps a Apex'i VAFC?) but probably something more dramatic than that. I'm assuming most turbo kits will come with some king of fuel management. Also, a bigger exhaust system to compensate for the increased flow is always a good idea. There's quite a bit to a turbo setup.

 

Wouldn't it be funny if you could control the VVT-i with a VAFC?

If you have never dealt with a turbo system before, I recommend just waiting for a full turbo kit. Trying to piece a kit together without knowledge of how the system works, what your affecting, and fuel/engine management is a receipe for disaster.