compared to suoperchargers belt shredding, are there any recurring problems with the pfi kits?

thanks

 

besides that it doesnt fit well?

- the turbonetics turbo's that they use SUCK - specify somethign else, i can list 4 people that used that turbo and blew it - get a gt series one if u can.
- heat issues - you need to figure out a way to reduce the amount of heat under the hood.
- clearance is pretty bad - you lose a few inches of ground clearance.
- They use exhaust clamps in the kit which really suck - you're gonna need to get them welded.
- The piping right before the throttle body is made weird - it really needs a bead on it because it likes to pop off.
- There are no clear instructions on where to cut when you're routing the fmic piping... so u just have to eye it - which is a pretty bad way to do it since ur cutting through some tough steel.


I'm sure others will chime in

 

with all these problems, PFI has not corrrected any of them?

 

This IS the corrected version.

 

I don't have a PFI kit, but my exhaust set up is about exactly the same.

Clearance is bad on a reverse y-pipe set up since your bringing the feed pipe right under the lowest part of the tranny. But for cost and ease of production the reverse y-pipe is decent way to do it.

I agree that exhaust clamps suck, that is what I am using at two spots on my exhaust and they leak. V-bands would be optimal but they are expensive, and having it welded would make the parts very hard to ship. Imagine how big a box you would need to fit a once piece down pipe all the way to the cat?

Heat is not really PFI's issue. It is gonna be hot with a top mounted turbo no matter what you do. There are ways to reduce it with heat shields and ceramic coating. These are things that can be done by the owner if they choose and do not impact the production or price of the kit. I imagine they are not done inorder to keep the pricing down. Again, an add on that can easily be done before or after install but is not required.

 

more reasons why i should build a custom turbo kit and get custom pipes so i know they'll fit, my friend purchased a turbo, exhaust manifold, wastegate, intercooler, bov, fuel pump, fmu, and injectors for his integra. then he had one of the best welders in san jose, a guy named Phil do all the piping and the outcome was amazing, everything looked so good and clean, he did all this in about 3-4 days, he also beaded all the seperate pipes so they dont blow off of the coupling. and all it cost him was $1000 for all the piping. Phil didnt do any tuning though, just the pipes, including, turbo piping, intercooler piping, and downpipe. So once i get enough money....

 

just realize fabbing a turbo kit for a Honda and a Maxima are two VEEEERY different tasks, so don't plan your fabrication budget too close to your buddys

 

thanx alot everyone, this really cleared things up for me. I guess I won't be boosting for a while, I'm going to see what the ssr kit is goign to be like if they make one for the 3.0... I really got turned off by the supercharger issues that people have been having, and I was wondering if the pfi kit is any better since I haven't really seen anyone complain specifically about their stuff, I'll do some searching maybe I missed it... I guess a custom kit is the best way to go. Thanks again,

 

what supercharger issues?? if you are comparing "having issues" between a TC and SC on the Maxima, from my experiences with both, the SC will not have as many issues or headaches as the TC setup. unless there are some issues with the SC other than the "cheapo" Stillen plastic idler pulley(which can be replaced with a metal one), please elaborate....

 

i know the prices between my friends honda and my nissan will be different, that wasnt my point, i used my friends car as an example of how the craftsmanship of the turbo kit and how the guy Phil did the piping and it was really well done, so that convinces me to get my turbo piping and custom work done at Phil's shop, he has done many turbo piping and applications to other cars including, supra TT, supra single turbo, integras, rx7, 300zx TT, SRT4, and a host of others. so his rep is really good considering people with cars would go to him to get turbo things done.

 

MJK is in Chicago, how is Phil going to help him when he's in Cali?

 

im just speaking on my own opinion on how i wouldnt buy a pfi turbo kit now that i know of these problems.

 

a turbo kit for an integra and a maxima is far different. Piping pricing sounds about right. When you get in there and start sizing stuff you will be overwhelmed.

Turbo route is not going to be a cheap route. It has never been and never will be. I just went from a boosted turbo maxima to a turbo truck. It still not cheap. You still have to maintain oil changes and everything that goes with it. Heat is still there but not as bad as the maxima.

The PFI kit, if you know how to install it it will fit. Thats the reason why they build it into four pieces. Its designed for you to pull left and right, forward and back for a good fit. As far as clearance goes whether is forward or reverse Ypipe, your still going to have clearance issues. Specially if your lowered at 2 inches or below.

I prefer a reverse ypipe to keep stock puller fans. You dont want pusher fans. They just wont work. Then your car will over heat in traffic and that will suck.

I30 mike said, wrap them pipes or coat them with stuff to keep the heat off. I wrapped my headers with fiber glass. It did work and kept heat off the charged piping.


I have decided to go back to my SCer so I dont worry about heat!!!!

 

Going on 2 years now the PFI kit has worked perfect for me. There were some fitment issues w/the piping but I've had no problems as a result of getting this kit....they'll order whatever turbo you want too. Just tell them if you want a different one....but ALL of the turbo guys I know Maxima and otherwise use turbonetics... no problems to report. These turbos have performed well for me and those I know.


Deac

 

I'm not asking for a one piece exhaust system - how hard would it have been to make a 10 dollar flange setup, instead of a 10 dollar exhaust clamp? You're basically guarenteed to leak after doing the exhaust clamp. Heat is a PFI issue. A top mounted turbo isn't ideal on ANY car..... the car's paint itself isn't designed for that much heat... From a customer's point of view, if i'm going to pay 5,000 dollars on their premo turbo kit, a 100 dollar ceramic coating, or a design that mounts the turbo lower should be available.

Like Jay says, it is designed so you can move it around, i just really wish they would have given MEASUREMENTS as far as where to cut instead of the pic they take that is quite vague. How hard is it to use a measuring tape?

Don't get me wrong, props to PFI with providing the boosted maxima community with a turbo kit, but I think there are corners that didn't have to be cut.

 

On the subject of "issues", go to any car forum with a decent sized boosted segment and you can read thread after thread of "issues". It is not our SC "kits" or our turbo "kits", it is just the nature of the beast. Expect to have issues from time to time no matter what car your adding a few hundred HP to. On that note, my car has not been down for one days since I installed my turbo. I have yet to have one real problem.

Saying that getting the piping custom made will be better since it will fit right makes no sense. A $100 dollars for some welding work will make a PFI kit fit as well as any other. Do you think a fabricator just welds some pipes together and it all works perfectly? Hell, no. There is has to be test fitting and welding, test fitting and welding, and then some more test fitting and welding. How is that any different than having a local guy make a couple small changes to a PFI kit.

 

is there n e one driving close to 100 miles a day on a FI car..i m leaning toward the PFI turbo kit..but i drive alot..im wondering if it will handle and last...

 

Well obviously there is test fitting/ welding etc etc etc as you said - but guess what, by the time the fabricator finishes - there shouldn't have to be any more welding and cutting up.... it should fit fine with no isses.

I don't buy into the fact that just because on other forums you'll find similar problems - that it's OK. It's poor customer service. Does boeing buy compenents for airplanes and end up cut/ weld cut weld? Or does it fit perfectly? See my point?

 

But it is all the same in the end. Whether the original fabricator is doing the last little tweaks to get the perfect fitment or your having a shop weld on a couple flanges to a PFI kit.

Boeing, who takes on billion dollar aviation contracts and and the turbo piping for a 6-10 yr old family sedan is really the same thing Nice comparison.



Turboing a Maxima is not for those who want an easy project. If your looking for that then you got the wrong car.

I have never owned a boosted car nor installed any type of turbo on a car before. Yet I took all the exhaust and intercooler piping from a 98 maxima and put it on my 96 I30 without one diagram or set of instructions. It is not that hard, time consuming but not hard. The most I had to do was shorten one piece of interooler piping and have a flanged cut and re aligned. Figuring out where to drill the holes for the intercooler piping is not difficult if you have the intercooler in hand. If figuring out where to drill the holes for the intercooler piping is too much to handle then the last thing you need to be doing is intalling a turbo.

 

what about fitment issues on the s/c??

 

No it's not the same, if it was measured and cut correctly in the first place, you wouldn't have to do it again at a local shop.

Yea, thats "exactly" what I was saying... You missed the point.

I concur.

Good to here that your kit was designed well.

Pfi kit involves cutting pipes, and rewelding so that they don't scrape up the body of the car BADLY, and give more than 2 inches of ground clearance - mind you I have an Eibach drop. PFI's kit also involves re-coating all the piping, as it starts to rust immediatly. I30tJim, it's quite similar to those pics of your piping before you coated them. You're right, the setup is simple - its' pretty obvious where things go.... The problem is the forementioned.