How to Install a Turbo Kit on Vehicles

The Vehicles is a fast car when naturally aspirated, but adding a turbocharger to the mix makes Vehicles a Vehicles that is not only a blast to drive, but practically unbeatable Vehicles the drag strip. With proper tuning, the Vehicles can not only be made to run fast, but run reliably, consistently and efficiently. Don't try to piece together the parts necessary Vehicles a turbo install yourself, however. These cars respond best to the addition of a turbo kit, complete with everything you need Vehicles a quick, stress-free install.

Under The Hood:

• How to Install a Turbo Kit on a Civic
• How to Install a Turbo Kit on a B18
• How to Install a Turbo Kit on the RSX

 How to Install a Turbo Kit on a Civic

Drain your Honda Civic's engine oil and radiator fluid prior to turbo installation, as oil and coolant lines will need to be rerouted into the turbocharger unit.

Remove the stock exhaust header by removing the header bolts from the engine head, as well as the exhaust bolts holding the header to the catalytic converter. Bolt in its place the turbo exhaust manifold and exhaust downpipe from your Civic turbo kit. Hook all stock sensors into the modified exhaust.

Bolt the turbocharger onto its designated flange on the exhaust manifold. Route all custom oil and coolant lines into the turbocharger. As this process will vary depending on year and trim of your Civic, refer to vehicle-specific vacuum diagrams.

Remove your Civic's front bumper, and bolt the intercooler unit into place in front of the radiator. Attach the intercooler J-pipe by securing one end to the turbocharger's compressor wheel, and the other side to the intercooler inlet. Secure with supplied clamp rings.

Attach the intercooler up-pipe between the intercooler's outlet and the throttle body. Secure via clamp rings. Attach all vacuum lines and sensors to their designated plug-ins on the intercooler piping.

Install your turbo kit's blow-off valve onto the designated flange on the intercooler up-pipe. Install the air filter and/or intake pipe onto the turbocharger's inlet.

Cut a rectangular segment out of the rear of your Civic's front bumper with an angle grinder, such that the bumper will fit over the intercooler unit. Reinstall the bumper, and replace engine oil and radiator fluid.

Tune your turbocharged Honda Civic's engine via engine management software. A standalone tunable ECU is ideal, as they allow all engine parameters to be fully edited and refined for the turbo system. A cheaper and simpler alternative is an ECU relfash, which edits the stock ECU's fuel tuning to allow turbocharger use.

 How to Install a Turbo Kit on a B18

Drain the engine oil and radiator fluid prior to installation. Remove the front bumper and fender liners by unscrewing and unfastening all bolts, screws, and plastic fasteners.

Remove the stock intake by loosening the throttle body clamp ring and removing all mounting bolts. Detach the exhaust header by removing the bolts securing it to the cylinder head and catalytic converter.

Bolt the turbo kit's exhaust header to the cylinder head with the stock bolts. Connect the exhaust downpipe to the manifold with the supplied bolts. Bolt the downpipe's other end to the catalytic converter using the stock bolts. Be sure to install a new exhaust gasket to avoid leaks.

Bolt the turbocharger to its designated flange on the exhaust header using the supplied bolts. Connect the turbo kit's intake and/or air filter to the turbocharger's inlet with the supplied clamp ring.

Bolt the turbo kit's intercooler into place in front of the engine radiator. Install the intercooler J-pipe between the turbocharger's compression wheel and intercooler inlet. Secure in place with supplied rubber connectors and clamp rings.

Connect the intercooler up-pipe to the intercooler's outlet. Connect the other end to the B18's throttle body. Tightly secure all intercooler clamp rings to avoid boost leaks.

Install the turbo kit's blow-off valve onto the intercooler up-pipe's blow-off valve flange. Install all the necessary vacuum lines, oil/coolant lines and sensors to the turbocharger and intercooler system. Refer to the turbo kit's vacuum diagram for specific line and sensor locations.

Trim the vehicle's front bumper and/or fender liners so they can be reinstalled overtop of the intercooler system. Mock-fit the bumper and fender liners into place, and mark where they make contact with intercooler components. Cut these locations out with an angle grinder. Reinstall the bumper and liners by reversing the removal steps.

Tune the B18 via a piggyback ECU tuner or a standalone ECU system. The increased airflow of the turbo system requires the B18's stock engine programming to be modified. A professional dyno tune is ideal, as power gains and engine reliability are entirely dependent on engine tuning.

 How to Install a Turbo Kit on the RSX

Prepare the Engine Bay for the Turbo Install

Remove the strut tower brace from both sides of the engine compartment, then remove the intake manifold cover, header heat shield and the header. Stuff an old rag into the down pipe to prevent loss of any fittings. Remove the washer bottle and then the front bumper cover and the metal bumper support underneath.

Release the fuel system pressure by first removing the gas cap, then loosen the fuel pressure valve located on the fuel rail.

Identify the VTC solenoid using the RSX repair manual, and remove the wires leading to it. Remove the heat shield and then the solenoid, then pull away the covering of the oil pressure sensor.

Install the hardware included with the turbo kit for the oil pressure gauge and oil feed line, then reinstall the oil pressure sensor, the oil feed line and the pressure gauge fitting.

Install the Turbocharger

Install the head bolts supplied with the kit, then mount the header in place utilizing the original gasket, then attach the oil feed line to the turbo.

Install the down pipe from the turbocharger onto the header and mount the turbo against the manifold according to the kit instructions.

Tighten all necessary bolts and hardware and ensure that the oil feed return line is in place.

Install the Intercooler

Install the intercooler in front of the radiator using the supplied hardware with the kit.

Route the intercooler intake and outlet pipes around the radiator and attach them to their respective positions on the turbo unit.

Install the air intake into the turbo compressor housing's inlet and secure it with the supplied brackets.

Install the New Fuel Injectors

Unbolt the fuel rail and remove the stock fuel injectors.

Splice the wires leading into each fuel injector, then attach these leads to the connection for each new fuel injector.

Place the new fuel injectors into position and then replace the fuel rail.

Finish the Assembly of the Engine Compartment

Reinstall the bumper support and bumper cover over the intercooler after cutting away the lower air dam's mesh cover to provide clearance.

Double check all fittings, then install the oil pressure gauge, air intake temperature sensor and boost gauge.

Reinstall the fluid bottle, the strut tower brace and the header heat shield.