For a strictly fun street car, I would definitely give the black a shot before moving. I find that on street cars, response is far more important than a final hp number. I'm betting that you'll be very happy with the black.

I saw that you are planning stainless lines, while not a bad idea, it certainly isn't needed to go E-85.

Make sure you post up some dyno results when its all done! I'm on a red not and always curious to see what similar setups on a black look like!

 

Thanks for the advice. Car made right at the 500whp mark on 93 gas with a really small cam and 1300cc injectors. Now with a built 2.0lr, S2 cams, 2150cc injectors, double pumper and E85 I would guess somewhere in the low-mid 600’s probably? I will make sure to post about the car once it’s all completed. It was a blast on 93 and very responsive so I know it will be even more fun on e85.

 

what does you car make on pump/e85?

 

In my experience, the E85 will change the whole feel of the car compared to pump gas. Given that you can get more aggressive with timing and stuff off boost/while spooling, the car will make more torque sooner and feel way different even at similar hp numbers from 91/93.

I'm making about 580-600whp/510-515wftlbs on my setup currently with a built high compression 2.0, S2s, ID1700x, and a double 255 setup. In my opinion, it is about perfect for the street. Really responsive and obviously tons of power. The only real issue that I find with mine is that due to running a MHI red, I see some taper if I really spin it out up top. From 5500, I start to see some boost start to taper off. If I could hold the 37psi to 9k the car would make into the 700s.

Are you on an MHI black or one of the FP turbine housings? That has been shown to make a pretty big difference in the higher RPM range.

 

Those are some really great numbers. What exhaust manifold do you use? I forgot to mention I am also on a Magnus intake manifold. As far as the blacks housing I am unsure as I bought this car 2 years ago with this setup. Probably the MHI housing. How reliable has your car been?

 

Yea, its a really solid setup for me. I am running stock unported exhaust and intake manifolds. When I was researching for this setup, I knew that I'd be willing to give up a few top end ponies for response and keeping the smaller runners seemed like a way to help. I would be really curious to do a back to back against an FP manifold on my setup but likely never will lol.
Yea, that magnus is going to slide your power curve up the RPM band too. Its easy to check what housing you have, is the turbo internally or externally gated? Pretty much a dead giveaway there.

My car has been ok. I had a timing tensioner fail initially, that's the only reason the motor is built. After a few years getting that done, I have had pretty limited issues. I popped a head gasket the first year I had it out. Pretty sure that was on me not going back and checking head stud torque after a few heat cycles.
I also killed a clutch but I knew that was going to happen. I has a ACT HDSS in it; which is a great clutch, but knew that at over 500 wftlbs its time was limited, plus it was in the car before the built motor so it had some miles on it. Threw a Exedy Twin in it and have been super happy with it.

All in all, I have like 8-10k on this setup over the last 2 years, all street driving and it has been great. Of course now that I post this, the ****storm is brewing but o well lol.

 

If I remember correctly it is internally gated. Those problems that you mentioned are just part of the performance car game so not too bad lol. Do you drive in the winter or store it? If you do drive, do you mainly stick to 91/93?

 

If its internally gated, its an MHI housed black. Really solid turbo for the street in my opinion.

Yea generally speaking it has been pretty solid. I'm super happy with the results from this setup coming from a stock block/E85/Green setup.

I store it once the salt hits the roads but drive it basically right up to that point and get it out as soon as it rains a few times in the spring. I make sure to fill and store with 91 but have no experience with E85 through the winter. I know that it takes a little to get it to start on E in the winter but I know guys that run it year round so it shouldn't be too big of an issue.

 

Nice, man! I appreciate all of the responses. My car doesn’t get driven too much at all and that won’t change. I’ll be storing it in the winter as well with 93 and just starting it every day/every few days. I also had them do a battery relocation to the trunk since my mini battery just would not start up in the winter at all.

 

That sounds pretty good. When I park mine, I just throw a battery tender on it and leave it sit til spring. Based on the reading I have done, unless when you start it, you let it get all the way to operating temp, you may actually be doing more harm than good by creating condensation in the motor. Something to think about going forward.

 

why not disconnect the battery? I do every time after use

 

No doubt. It will get started daily and driven around the block a couple times more than likely.
I Just wanted to go with a full size battery lol.

 

i was going to do the battery relocation to the trunk but when i got the cables i got discouraged by the weight (and weight of the new batt) so i returned it. I decided to move my batt under the seat. I can put 2 for more CCA and remove 1 when racing

 

What kind of racing do you do?

 

Autox and TT. I carry a lot of gear in the back too so no batt there helps