Modifying for more power

[1374lee]

My car is running a Sabre map, at 328 bhp on standard turbo and injectors, got the uprated fuel pump with a few other mods.
Anyway I was looking at going to 390 ish bhp. So from what I can gather is that a GT28 turbo, a set of injectors are required and of course the remap. Just wondering if anyone can advise further and I would like to know what others have put on their cars turbo and injector ways. I hope I have posted in the right section, if not please forgive me as I am new on here.

Thanks. Lee.

[DanT404]

You're going to want an upgraded clutch at that power and also a big MAF setup. Along with the usual mods like you mention.

[1374lee]

Hi Dan, I forgot to mention a Sachs clutch was fitted by Sabre, car hasn't covered many miles at all since it was fitted.. I heard something about a bigger MAF maybe required to. Any ideas on a turbo? Sabre do their own hybrid version and I have seen the John FRS turbo from back in the day but I think this is flat out at around 360 if I remember rightly.GT28 is the other option I presume?

Thanks. Lee.

[DanT404]

Hi Dan, I forgot to mention a Sachs clutch was fitted by Sabre, car hasn't covered many miles at all since it was fitted.. I heard something about a bigger MAF maybe required to. Any ideas on a turbo? Sabre do their own hybrid version and I have seen the John FRS turbo from back in the day but I think this is flat out at around 360 if I remember rightly.GT28 is the other option I presume?

Thanks. Lee.

Perfect, hopefully the clutch should be sorted then! You are limited if you want to keep the same manifold/downpipe, if not then theres a whole load more options.
I know Sabre do a 400R hybrid....there are some that say their figures are a bit overinflated. My car was mapped by them and drives fantastically, ive not had the opportunity to compare power figures with another dyno yet though. I suppose it depends on how much you really want a certain figure, i would think their turbo would get you up high 300's even if its not actually 400.

[Sean.]

Sabre do a 420r, which I have just taken off to replace with a G25-660, so it's just sat there, doing nothing 😉

4" big maf conversion, 630cc injectors, intercooler, exhaust etc will see you 400+

Mine ran 421 and 406lbft on the 420r

[1374lee]

Perfect, hopefully the clutch should be sorted then! You are limited if you want to keep the same manifold/downpipe, if not then theres a whole load more options.
I know Sabre do a 400R hybrid....there are some that say their figures are a bit overinflated. My car was mapped by them and drives fantastically, ive not had the opportunity to compare power figures with another dyno yet though. I suppose it depends on how much you really want a certain figure, i would think their turbo would get you up high 300's even if its not actually 400.

I have a tubular manifold and decat front pipe so that is all taken care of Dan. Anyone know what Demon Pete's Revo software is like as a comparison? Some nice info there Dan, very helpful indeed.

Thanks. Lee.

[1374lee]

Sabre do a 420r, which I have just taken off to replace with a G25-660, so it's just sat there, doing nothing 😉

4" big maf conversion, 630cc injectors, intercooler, exhaust etc will see you 400+

Mine ran 421 and 406lbft on the 420r

Wow, that's a lot of power for such a light car and FWD. How was the torque steer? Nasty I bet. So why have you removed the turbo for A G25 -660, I have no clue what turbo this is?

So what's the limits on the standard engine power ways? What is the advantage of removing the charge cooler for an intercooler set up? Anyone recommend any other tuners?


Thank you Sean for posting up here, very helpful and good to get ideas off other members who have done something similar.

Thanks .Lee.

[Sean.]

Wow, that's a lot of power for such a light car and FWD. How was the torque steer? Nasty I bet. So why have you removed the turbo for A G25 -660, I have no clue what turbo this is?

So what's the limits on the standard engine power ways? What is the advantage of removing the charge cooler for an intercooler set up? Anyone recommend any other tuners?


Thank you Sean for posting up here, very helpful and good to get ideas off other members who have done something similar.

Thanks .Lee.

It was quite harsh before I replaced the Quaife diff with a Kaaz, but also a lot of fun!

G25-660 is a Garrett turbo, GT25 in size with a power output of up to 660bhp. It's a lot newer, ball bearing turbo compared to the 420r so comes on boost a lot earlier. Should be on full boost by about 3k. Whereas the 420r will only really just be coming on then.

Some people have done 450bhp on standard internals, some have had engines go bang at 400bhp on standard internals, it's luck of the draw. 400+bhp and 380lbft torque I believe is where they recommend forging.

Air to air is more reliable than the charge cooler!

[1374lee]

It was quite harsh before I replaced the Quaife diff with a Kaaz, but also a lot of fun!

G25-660 is a Garrett turbo, GT25 in size with a power output of up to 660bhp. It's a lot newer, ball bearing turbo compared to the 420r so comes on boost a lot earlier. Should be on full boost by about 3k. Whereas the 420r will only really just be coming on then.

Some people have done 450bhp on standard internals, some have had engines go bang at 400bhp on standard internals, it's luck of the draw. 400+bhp and 380lbft torque I believe is where they recommend forging.

Air to air is more reliable than the charge cooler!

Thankyou Sean, that turbo sounds very tastey indeed. I think my ideas of 380/390 will be enough and hopefully safe then. So is there an alternative to the GT28 as that turbo has been around for years, a newer more modern turbo, for that sort of power and I mentioned above? Intercooler more reliable then, so is there a power point to junk the charge cooler for the air to air set up or is it just better to get an intercooler regardless?

Thanks. Lee.

[BartFRS]

I’m running 400bhp with chargecooler (uprated radiator), mostly on track and never had an issue.

[Sean.]

Thankyou Sean, that turbo sounds very tastey indeed. I think my ideas of 380/390 will be enough and hopefully safe then. So is there an alternative to the GT28 as that turbo has been around for years, a newer more modern turbo, for that sort of power and I mentioned above? Intercooler more reliable then, so is there a power point to junk the charge cooler for the air to air set up or is it just better to get an intercooler regardless?

Thanks. Lee.

You could go for a Garrett G25-550. That would cover you plenty. I think people usually go for intercooler anywhere over 300bhp. Or I believe Sabre do a 400xr which is faster spooling than the 420r but makes similar power

[1374lee]

You could go for a Garrett G25-550. That would cover you plenty. I think people usually go for intercooler anywhere over 300bhp. Or I believe Sabre do a 400xr which is faster spooling than the 420r but makes similar power

Intercooler over 300, well mine is 328 at the moment and has the charge cooler still fitted as it stands.
I have a few options then turbo ways. Do they make something like a Borg Warner twin scroll turbo to suit these MK1s then possibly, nice modern fast spooling turbo is the way forward for sure Sean.


CheeRS. Lee.

[Sean.]

You could use something like a Borgwarner EFR 6758, which will do anything from 250-500bhp

[Rutts]

I've got a sabre 400rs turbo with supporting mods
630cc injectors, big maf, intercooler, exhaust, manifold, clutch ect. Mapped by sabre on high boost it makes just over 400bhp/360lbft and low boost 360bhp/ 310lbft ish I think from memory.

I'm not overly bothered about figures it's all about how it drives and it's drives very well and puts the power down amazingly. Surprises alot of people is some high end cars.

[1374lee]

You could use something like a Borgwarner EFR 6758, which will do anything from 250-500bhp

Sounds good, is that the smallest turbo BW list? I'm out of touch now with it all as I have been away for over 4 yrs from the scene.

Thanks. Lee.

[1374lee]

I've got a sabre 400rs turbo with supporting mods
630cc injectors, big maf, intercooler, exhaust, manifold, clutch ect. Mapped by sabre on high boost it makes just over 400bhp/360lbft and low boost 360bhp/ 310lbft ish I think from memory.

I'm not overly bothered about figures it's all about how it drives and it's drives very well and puts the power down amazingly. Surprises a lot of people is some high end cars.

Sounds pretty decent that, How do you find the spool up on that turbo? I'm not really bothered about figures too much, been there and done all that before .A nice steady 380- 400 would be nice though for sure. I bet it can paddle as only a light car and I bet it's loads of fun to drive at that power.
You did away with the charge cooler then I take it?

Thanks. Lee.