Tech

The venerable VTEC engine from Honda is one of the most reliable and rebuildable powerplants on the planet. Likened by many to the GM small-block, the SOHC (single overhead cam) four-popper is perhaps the most popular motor with performance enthusiasts this side of Honda "B-Series" or JDM (Japanese domestic model) engines.

If you own a 1996 to 2000 Civic with a VTEC engine there are a number of bolt-on options available that will give you noticeable power gains. However, if you wanted to put some "serious" ponies to the pavement, but didn't want to completely tear down the engine, your options have been limited--until now, thanks to the Performer X Turbo System.

Engineered by Edelbrock specifically for the D16Y8 SOHC 4-cylinder VTEC, the Performer X Turbo kit (#1500) is complete, 50-state street legal (E.O. #D-215-59) and easy to install. The included piggyback control unit means no additional tuning is required when used on otherwise stock engines. The kit includes a Garrett T28 turbo, pre-assembled as one unit with a Ni-resist cast exhaust manifold, elbow, oil inlet and water lines for the simplest possible installation.

The Garrett ball bearing turbo spools up fast and blows big air, but Edelbrock has waste-gated it down to 6-7 psi. to work with pump gas and still make 60-percent more power than stock. The system includes a high-performance Performer X intake manifold with four extra injectors and a separate electronic controller to add fuel under boosted conditions. It also has an oversized Spearco intercooler and Tial blow-off valve. The Edelbrock exhaust manifold and elbow are designed for maximum flow at high velocity for quicker turbo spool-up.

Edelbrock has also included an AutoMeter boost gauge with A-pillar mount pod, pre-assembled Russell oil, water and fuel lines, an O-ring sealed compressor, inlet/outlet pipe flanges, ceramic-coated turbo piping, high-flow air filter, plus all necessary gaskets, adapters and detailed 10-page installation instructions. You get everything you need to crank your VTEC up to a dyno-tested 176 WHP (wheel horsepower) and 147 ft-lbs torque. That's more performance than most B-series engine swaps at a street price around $3,500. There's also good news for '99-'00 Honda Civic Si and '92-'95 Civic EX owners. Edelbrock Performer X Turbo kits are coming in early 2004; the street-legal status was still pending at press time.

This installation can be done using common tools and procedures. However, you should have a basic knowledge of automotive repair and modification, and be familiar with and comfortable working on the vehicle. Having a '96-'00 Honda Civic Service Manual on hand for reference is required. If you do not feel comfortable working on a large project such as this, it is recommended to have the installation completed by a professional mechanic.

Follow the photos as we show you the high points of how Edelbrock technicians took a stock 2000 Civic EX engine to the max by installing the Performer X Turbo System.

1. The 50-state legal Edelbrock Performer X Turbo System for 1996 to 2000 Civic VTECs includes everything needed to boost the horsepower of an otherwise stock engine a whopping 60-percent.		2. After disconnecting the battery, removing the battery tray, battery wiring, and draining the engine oil and coolant, remove the front lower splash shield, front bumper cover and front inner fender liners, as per the factory service manual. Also remove the stock intake tube and upper/lower air box and save the mounting bolt and grommets to mount the compressor piping to the chassis.		3. With the intercooler grommets in the holes in the lower radiator support, mount the intercooler by pressing the pins on the lower edge of the intercooler into the grommets.
4. Using the horn bolt, attach the intercooler brace and horn to the center radiator support.		5. Remove the transaxle to oil pan braces and remove the oil pan. Inspect the oil pan gasket; if it's cracked or worn replace it.		6. The oil drain adapter requires the oil pan to be drilled. Mark the area to be drilled, centering the drain hole below the third bolt hole from the driver's side on the front of the oil pan, 1.5-inches from the oil pan rail. Using a center punch, indent each drilling location to prevent the drill bit from walking and pre-drill each hole with a 1/8-inch bit. With the oil pan secured on a workbench, drill the outer bolt holes to 1/4-inch, the center drain hole to 1/2-inch, deburr the holes and thoroughly clean the oil pan to remove any metal shavings.
7.		7. & 8. Install the oil drain adapter onto the oil pan using the two 1/4-20 x 5/8-inch bolts and the two 1/4-inch Stato-Seal washers on the inside of the oil pan, using the gasket on the outside of the pan. Reinstall the oil pan (refer to your Honda Service Manual for the nut/bolt torque sequence) and reattach the transaxle to the oil pan braces, making sure that the braces line up flush with both the oil pan and the transaxle before tightening bolts.		9. Remove the upper air conditioner condenser support bracket and air conditioner line bracket. Using a zip-tie or twine, carefully flex the lines and condenser as far forward as possible and temporarily secure. Being careful not to damage the oil feed and coolant lines, set the turbo assembly in place using the stock exhaust gasket (if it's in good condition). Thoroughly clean the flange of old gasket material and attach the turbo assembly to the engine block using the stock nuts.
10. After laying out the coolant lines and oil feed line in their approximate routing locations and installing the oil supply sandwich adapter and the line to the adapter per the instructions, relieve the fuel pressure by loosening the banjo bolt connecting the fuel line to the fuel filter (with a shop rag over the wrench to soak up any fuel spray).		11.		11. & 12. With the fuel injector wiring harness, all plugs, valves and lines disconnected and the stock intake manifold removed per the instructions, install the vacuum fittings into the Performer X intake manifold, assemble and install the manifold/throttle body/fuel system assembly per the instructions into the engine using the supplied gasket.
13. Reconnect the sensors, lines, hoses, fuel injection wiring harness, etc., and attach the harness to the fuel rail bracket and connect the turbo fuel rail hose assembly per the instructions.		14. Per the instructions, press the manifold air temp sensor grommet into the non-threaded hole in the compressor inlet pipe and install a 3/8-inch barbx1/4-inch NPT fitting into one of the threaded holes in the pipe. Fit the compressor inlet pipe over the studs and with washers in place, hand-tighten the nuts into the studs.		15. After removing the factory manifold air temp sensor and installing into the grommet in the compressor inlet pipe, the wiring for the manifold air temp (MAT) sensor plug is separated so that it can reach the MAT sensor inlet pipe and the harness rewrapped with electrical tape.
16. With the oil drain hose assembly attached to the turbo housing and the oil pan with the female AN fitting attached to the oil drain adapter on the oil pan per the instructions, attach the compressor outlet pipe to the compressor outlet flange.		17.		17. & 18. Attach the intercooler inlet pipe to the compressor outlet pipe and to the intercooler using two silicone couplings and the appropriate hose clamps and bolt the support bracket on the pipe to the inner fender using on of the factory lower air box bolts.
19. After installing the blow-off valve, V-band and banjo fitting, install the exhaust down pipe onto the exhaust elbow, making sure the gasket is in place. Then attach the down pipe to the lower exhaust bracket with factory bolts and reinstall the O2 sensor.		20.		20. & 21. Route one of the coolant lines from the turbo to the intake manifold coolant outlet; cut to fit. Connect the coolant line to the T-fitting on the side of the coolant outlet and route the other coolant line from the turbo to the throttle body coolant fitting; cut to fit. Connect the line to the throttle body coolant fitting using the supplied hose clamps.
22. On '99-'00 models only (equipped with Air Injection), connect the air injection hose to the barb fitting in the top center of the intake manifold mounting flange and secure it into it's bracket on the valve cover. Splice the supplied check valve into the hose (arrow) by cutting the hose between the barb fitting and the bracket on the valve cover, making sure the arrow on the check valve is pointing toward the barb fitting.		23. With the interior passenger-side kick panel removed to access the factory ECU, route the end of the main wiring harness from under the dash through the boot in the firewall under the battery tray. Do the same with the supplied vacuum line then wire up the Turbo-Link and ignition control module per the instructions.		24. Under the hood, first connect the pink wire on the main wiring harness to the pink wire on the auxiliary fuel injector harness then connect the light blue wire on the main wiring harness to the light blue wire on the auxiliary fuel injector harness. Connect the rest of the wiring per the instructions.
25. Using the supplied #3 vacuum tee fitting, tee the 5/32-inch vacuum line into one of the factory vacuum lines, such as the fuel pressure regulator vacuum line. Then complete the under-hood wiring per the instructions.		26. On the inside of the front bumper cover, a large strip of material from the back side of the grille will need to be cut off to clear the intercooler, using the supplied measurements.		27. Temporarily place each fender liner in place, mark the areas where interference with the intake piping occurs and trim out material as needed. Install the fender liners, bumper cover, battery tray, battery, tie downs and reconnect the battery cables. Follow "before starting the vehicle" instructions and you're done.
		28. With the installation complete, the Civic was hooked up to the SuperFlow chassis dyno for testing. The results: 176 WHP (wheel horsepower) and 147 ft-lbs torque.