Boost Designs Turbo kit review

[Ohio Drifter]

Ok guys, just finished the installation of the boostdesigns kit ('93 S13 hatch). And I had a bunch of problems...

1- The shipping was super slow. It took 2 months to have all the parts at my place.
2- There were no bolts, clamps or gaskets at all.
3- The kit suppose to come with FMIC pipes for the S13, none of the pipes were right, we had to modify all of them to fit.
4- The FMU is a piece of crap, came with the vacuum line fitting clogged. So it didn't work untill we found the problem. (and I'll remove it, cuz I don't trust it)
5- The turbo is a rebuilt, but is working fine so far.
6- The wastegate came with a super stiff spring (for 21 pounds or so), I had to order another one in order to make my Profec e-01 work properly.
7- After the installation of the new spring the car was still over boosting. The problem: the wastegate dump in the downpipe was too small. We had to cut it and drill a bigger hole.
8- The downpipe was actually a half downpipe. We had to custom built another segment from the downpipe to the cat.

But after all the work was done and some parts added (Profec e-01, Walbro 255, Nismo fuel pressure regulator, gaskets, clamps, hoses, bolts), the car is now producing 249 whp at 10 psi. Which is pretty good for a KA24DE with stock internals.

[timmybgood]

that is a lot of problems, how much was the kit btw? and where in ohio are you?

[fastpace]

good to hear that you got it runnin. I had some of the same problems when I did my ka-t project, but all of it was custom. What kind of turbo is it?

[kandyflip445]

Go to ka-t.org and leave them that review in their forum. I bet they can fix the problems for future kits. For the IC piping. You think they were designed for a s14?

[Ohio Drifter]

I am in the Akron area. The price of the kit is U$ 1,899.00. The turbo is a Garrett T3. And yea, I think the pipes were designed for the S14.

[Inland180]

got any pic?

[mellojoe]

decent! Glad to see someone come back to the KA side. 250whp is a trip. What did it cost you? A speck over $2,000? Over a 100% return! Excellent work.

[SimpleS14]

Go to ka-t.org and leave them that review in their forum. I bet they can fix the problems for future kits. For the IC piping. You think they were designed for a s14?


Yea I would like for them to resolve any issues before I consider buying from them.


Also on their site they say it will take weeks for the kit to arrive.

[Jeff240sx]

The downpipe isn't a half segment of downpipe. It mates to their exhaust. If you go to KA-T.org, look in the customer support and suggestions section, and read my "What does the downpipe bolt to" thread.
-Jeff

[Jeff240sx]

1- The shipping was super slow. It took 2 months to have all the parts at my place.
2- There were no bolts, clamps or gaskets at all.
Does it say there was? I don't remember this.
5- The turbo is a rebuilt, but is working fine so far.
I've always assumed this. Because at $1800, a new turbo would be a full 1/3 the cost of the kit.
7- After the installation of the new spring the car was still over boosting. The problem: the wastegate dump in the downpipe was too small. We had to cut it and drill a bigger hole.
I don't know what you mean here. Can you please elaborate?
But after all the work was done and some parts added (Profec e-01, Walbro 255, Nismo fuel pressure regulator, gaskets, clamps, hoses, bolts), the car is now producing 249 whp at 10 psi. Which is pretty good for a KA24DE with stock internals.[/QUOTE]

These are my thoughts on these issues. The others, that sucks to hear about. #8 I just replied about.
What other mods to the car? Exhaust, tires/wheels, ect.
Please answer on the bold question.
-Jeff

[Mr. Spool]

When I have ordered stuff from him. it takes no more than a week to recieve it. The turbo I just recieved from him has some rub marks on the inside of the comprssion housing, and this from only driving it alittle bit. not sure what it means but it cant be good.

[Ohio Drifter]

What I meant was that the hole there was in the downpipe was too small, smaller than the wastegate dump tube. The same thing happened with the manifold, the hole (the one before the tube that goes to the wastegate) was really small, but we noticed that before the installation.
My car has a RS-R catback, I would never exchange it for the one they sell. I think this is a smart move from them in order to sell their system but... I think they could have made a downpipe that would fit a SR downpipe, to make our life a little easier.
My car also has 17x7.5 and 18x8.5 on 225/45-17 and 235/40-18, Kaaz 2 way LSD, Tein tension rods and upper mounts, Greddy strut tower bars (F+R), Eibach Sportline springs + KYB AGX shocks (I'll exchange it for Tein HEs soon). Bomex body kit, VIS invader CFH, sparco hood pins, G-Force camlock harness, Nismo shift knob, Cusco e-break knob...
BTW Jeff, I don't trust that FMU. Since I have a Profec e-01, I'm thinking about an e-manage. What size of injectors do you think I should get?
Thanks!

[Jeff240sx]

What I meant was that the hole there was in the downpipe was too small, smaller than the wastegate dump tube. The same thing happened with the manifold, the hole (the one before the tube that goes to the wastegate) was really small, but we noticed that before the installation.
My car has a RS-R catback, I would never exchange it for the one they sell. I think this is a smart move from them in order to sell their system but... I think they could have made a downpipe that would fit a SR downpipe, to make our life a little easier.
BTW Jeff, I don't trust that FMU. Since I have a Profec e-01, I'm thinking about an e-manage. What size of injectors do you think I should get?
Thanks!

Injectors should go by power, however, their t3/4 won't make much more than 350rwhp I believe, so 50# injectors would be perfect.
The downpipe issue, if you read that thread: Here (http://ka-t.org/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1500), you can see that I tried, and he got really pissed about the fact I was telling him how to run a business.
About the wastegate pipe, mine seemed good, but I'll go double check it tomorrow.
-Jeff

[Drunk Bastard]

I want to get this turbo kit, and I like my stealth looking (not cop-attention-gettin loud either) exhaust. It seems like if I get the kit I HAVE to get his exhaust at the same time. Yes, I know it will make more power than the exhaust I currently have, but I drive my car on the streets so I dont want un-needed attention from the cops. So what do you do if you only have enough money to buy the kit and not the exhaust? Run open DP till you get their exhaust??? :axe:

[mellojoe]

Nah, you can swing by any competent shop and have them make you a downpipe to mate to your exhaust.

[Jeff240sx]

Just because they say it makes more power, doesn't mean it does. For all the "time and effort and research and flowbenching and dyno testing" they do, I've yet to see hard numbers. And their claimed horsepower increases for things like the pulleys and intake manifolds are insane.. especially with no dyno sheets to back it up.
-Jeff

[SimpleS14]

The downpipe issue is the only thing that works me, but I guess I'm going to have to drive to an exhaust shop with an open downpipe. :rawk:

[Equinox]

If someone owns a exhaust or machine shop, maybe they should make some "downpipe" adapters so people can use the boost designs kit with whatever exhaust they are running.

Side note: Does this mean that the boost designs exhaust kit will bolt on ONLY IF you also have their entire turbo kit?

[Jeff240sx]

Yes. This is one of those "if this than that". Conversely, it's also "if that then this". Their exhaust bolts directly to the downpipe, making is 2 feet longer than any other exhaust system, and ommitting the mid-pipe (sr20det downpipe for most ka-t guys).
-Jeff

[Id-]

Ok guys, just finished the installation of the boostdesigns kit ('93 S13 hatch). And I had a bunch of problems...

1- The shipping was super slow. It took 2 months to have all the parts at my place.
2- There were no bolts, clamps or gaskets at all.
3- The kit suppose to come with FMIC pipes for the S13, none of the pipes were right, we had to modify all of them to fit.
4- The FMU is a piece of crap, came with the fitting for the vacuum line clogged. So it didn't work untill we found the problem. (and I'll remove it, cuz I don't trust it)
5- The turbo is a rebuilt, but is working fine so far.
6- The wastegate came with a super stiff spring (for 21 pounds or so), I had to order another one in order to make my Profec e-01 work properly.
7- After the installation of the new spring the car was still over boosting. The problem: the wastegate dump in the downpipe was too small. We had to cut it and drill a bigger hole.
8- The downpipe was actually a half downpipe. We had to custom built another segment from the downpipe to the cat.

But after all the work was done and some parts added (Profec e-01, Walbro 255, Nismo fuel pressure regulator, gaskets, clamps, hoses, bolts), the car is now producing 249 whp at 10 psi. Which is pretty good for a KA24DE with stock internals.

249rwhp good for stock internals? huh? maybe i'm missing something

i hope you're running a T25 or something... because i've seen T25s and T28s make that kind of power at 10psi on a KA

[Ohio Drifter]

I am running the Garrett T3 that came with the kit.

[2forty]

where you running on stock injectors? also did u order the turbo kit all at once or did u just buy it separately? i was going to buy this kit but if it has all these problems then...