projected horsepower rating?

[7M4EVR]

I am currently rebuilding my 7mgte and seems like the more I tear into it the more bad news I find and the more money I have to dump into it. So I need some inspiration! Given that some of you have the same mods done as I am putting on this engine, what does the car feel like? I'm not just looking for estimated horsepower. I'm talking do you think I will be satisfied? I know its a general question but you know what I mean. What kind of cars can I take on in the streets given everything is tuned and running good?

I.e.-V8 mustangs, wrx's, eclipses, etc.

My mod list:

K&N Intake
Lexus AFM/RC 550's
Cometic head gasket
Godspeed 3row aluminum radiator
Remanufactured cylinder head by Clearwater heads/3 angle valve job/ stock valves and springs/7mge cams
60-1 trim CT26 by Albert
New complete gasket set
New rod/main bearings/ stock rods and pistons
Aluminum intercooler piping/stock intercooler
Wideband O2 sensor
AFPR
New hoses/msd wires

I think that's about it.
Thanks guys

 

[Grandavi]

lol.. Im doing epretty much what you are doing other than no upgraded intercooler yet (later.. later... ). Unfortunately, my block cant be used, so have to purchase a new shortblock and I will be using a 57 trim. Car isn't built yet so cant comment on what its like, but I did run a built 7MGTE with a stock CT26 shimmed wastegate. (no AFM upgrade, no 550's). It pulled like stink... so I imaging this build will feel pretty impressive (I believe its what is coined a "BPU".
The one thing i dont see there is an upgraded fuel pump (I used a MKIV Denso fuel pump rather than the Walbro simply because I was told the Walbro was noisy and I had the chance to pick up the Denso for 100.00). Without upgrading the fuel pump, I am not sure you can feed the 550's correctly. (guessing thats why everyone upgrades.. lol)
I also dont see any mention of a boost controller. You can just run without, but I am putting the HKS EVC-S boost controller in mine because (and I could be wrong) from my research it holds the boost levels better at the higher end so that the boost curve doesnt drop.
Im just picking out a clutch for this right now.. but you may want to consider that as well.

What I can tell you is our cars are fast on stock setups... so when you go to upgrade its a really good feel. Consider we run at 6 lbs stock with no real tuning other than the ECU...
You'll be happy...

I was also warned not to run a stock built 7MGTE above 15 lbs if you dont want unforseen issues. A good built OEM style 7M can hold 15 lbs without cratering. (again.. I could be wrong, but thats what my research has told me).

Just a thought too... street racing is fun, but its still illegal. Some people get pretty huffy about talking about it, because your risking everyone else on the road. Having said that.. I have a Escort 9500ix for when I lose control of my impulses... its been worth it. The only time I have raced a WRX, I lost (stock though and the car was definitely not stock.. lol). Mustangs are easy (at least the ones that have pulled up beside me).
You'll be up there in power and pull.. but keep it safe.

 

[7M4EVR]

Thanks Grandavi, I did forget to mention I have a wahlbro 255 and a manual boost controller. And I don't go around street racing but just wanted to know what my car would be comparable to. That gives me a pretty good idea though. Like u, if a car were to pull up next to me in a safe enough area and rev it, it would be hard to resist. I have a hunch were not the only ones either...isn't the point of building a fun car to have fun with it?(while being as safe as possible of course)

 

[Grandavi]

publically.. I agree... privately I say to hell with it...waste him.. lol. My car is a BMW magnet.. its funny. I have ended up in a lot of 5-6 car "cruises" on the highway where we just end up beside each other and then start bunching up at higher speeds. But BMW's seem to pull up beside me a lot and wave. Kinda cool

 

[IndigoMKII]

Thanks Grandavi, I did forget to mention I have a wahlbro 255 and a manual boost controller. And I don't go around street racing but just wanted to know what my car would be comparable to. That gives me a pretty good idea though. Like u, if a car were to pull up next to me in a safe enough area and rev it, it would be hard to resist. I have a hunch were not the only ones either...isn't the point of building a fun car to have fun with it?(while being as safe as possible of course)

My car with my mods on 6-8 psi will run side by side with a 04 gto auto with full exhaust and a chip.

 

[radiod]

What sort of boost are you planning on running on the 60-1? That will play a large part as to what sort of power you will be making...

 

[Grandavi]

With his build, I dont think he can "safely" go over 15 psi. (is that correct?) Just looking at internals and I dont think you want to run stock rods and pistons on more than that without risking issues with the engine happening suddenly. The turbo may handle it and for short bursts possibly no damage.. however, there is a risk inherant with the mod list to go higher.

(would really like to be corrected on that if I am out to lunch, because so far.. thats what my research tells me)

 

[Dan_Gyoba]

I didn't dyno my car, so I've no idea what it was making in RWHP, but it had no trouble keeping up to the local Mustangs and Beamers.

After dropping in the GTE engine, I had:

Spearco replica IC, with 2.5" hardpiping
3" cone air filter
Lexus/550s
Koyo radiator
Stock head gasket with ARP studs
60-1 turbonetics bolt-on turbocharger
HKS BOV (recirculated)
Full 3" from the turbo back exhaust
AFPR.
New OEM gaskets throughout
MBC

Because I was on the stock head gasket, it should be a bit weaker than yours. You don't state what you've got for exhaust though.

I ran to 18 PSI occasionally with it being set to 15 PSI most of the time. Yes, I ended up with rod knock, but I feel that was because I didn't change the bearings when I refreshed the engine. I used the stock head gasket because I didn't want to tear down the bottom end to take the block in to the machine shop. Turns out that was my mistake. With how rich the stock ECU runs, 18 PSI with the Lexus/550 setup ought to be perfectly safe, since the extra fuel will cool the combustion chamber. It's when you start tuning to pull fuel that the stock pistons may become endangered.

The turbo should be good to 20 PSI, though I'd caution that it had better have something better than the stock bypass valve to prevent surge, even at lower boost levels, or your CHRA is in danger. the Lexus/550 setup should be good for that as well.

 

[7M4EVR]

Sounds good! 12-18 is all I would want to risk running as well...you really gain an appreciation on how to treat your car when u rebuild it from the ground up. I'm so excited to turn the key its killing me...but cant take any shortcuts! btw Dan I did forget to mention I have full 3" turbo back as well. Keeping up with an 04 gto is more than I was expecting...that's awesome! There is nothing better for me than the sound and feel of a turbo kicking in and putting you back in your seat.

When I had it stock it never felt like it should have since I was always sorting out minor issues and never wanted to shim the gate or up boost..so my wife ddnt understand it had potential. Getting her to trust me is impossible on rebuilding it. So it will completely pay off when I get on a straight away, slowly take the rpms up to about 3k and then hammer it! Can't wait to see her face!

 

[IndigoMKII]

Sounds good! 12-18 is all I would want to risk running as well...you really gain an appreciation on how to treat your car when u rebuild it from the ground up. I'm so excited to turn the key its killing me...but cant take any shortcuts! btw Dan I did forget to mention I have full 3" turbo back as well. Keeping up with an 04 gto is more than I was expecting...that's awesome! There is nothing better for me than the sound and feel of a turbo kicking in and putting you back in your seat.

When I had it stock it never felt like it should have since I was always sorting out minor issues and never wanted to shim the gate or up boost..so my wife ddnt understand it had potential. Getting her to trust me is impossible on rebuilding it. So it will completely pay off when I get on a straight away, slowly take the rpms up to about 3k and then hammer it! Can't wait to see her face!

My 57 trim comes on HARD and seeing my girlfriends face when we went for a ride was priceless. She was reaching for anything to hold on to but couldn't quite reach it haha

 

[Grandavi]

Stock bov with a stock intercooler is going to be a problem with a 57 trim and that setup? (My intercooler is stock for a year)
Just wondering because normally you don't add the aftermarket bov until you upgrade the intercooler.