GT86Jay 202 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 I’ve started this thread which will probably be like a small Mods blog as i’ve never really set one up for my car. I’ve always thought about boosting my GT86 but never really decided on a route or if it would be viable. But after driving Maz’s car a fair bit on the road and once on track it made sense to go the Centrifugal Supercharged route. For the style of driving and type of roads I drive it made sense. The HKS supercharger to me just feels like a bigger block NA car. You don’t get that sudden rush of power in one peak. It just keeps climbing and climbing. Over 6.5krpm is just awesome! Being hands on and quite technical and capable I decided i’d fit the kit myself as a sense of achievement and a little personal project with the help from Maz at HKS Europe. We picked this weekend as it gives me the extra bank holiday day and fitted in best with Adrian mapping it at Fensport this week. We started the install at about 5:30 Friday evening with the plan to get all the prep work and old bits off the car so that Saturday morning we could start fitting the go-faster bits. The Manual is relatively easy to understand although at times the Japanese to English translation is a little poor. But luckily with having Maz to help he could read the Japanese ones and it all made sense! First thing is to get the Bumper off and expose the front of the car. Along with unbolting the crash bar as we fit some brackets to this for the Intercooler. We also remove the bonnet catch and top bonnet support for later. Also free’d up the Oil cooler and made sure this was out the way temporarily whilst fitting the new parts. What’s impressive with the HKS kit is the amount of dedication and precision gone into planning the kits. We spent a fair couple of hours adding clips to existing hoses and supporting stock parts for the preparation of them receiving positive boost. Parts like the canister can under the manifold. Usually the hoses are just pushed on loosely. But now they’ll see positive pressure HKS actually supply clips to add to these hoses to make sure they don’t pop off! It would be a real PITA if one popped after install! It just gives a little bit of piece of mind that you’re adding reliability. Interestingly Version 1 of the supercharger didn’t have these extras! But they added them for Version 2. Once this was all done and the fiddly bits out of the way we had the car ready to receive boost! We have to add a bracket to the underside of the Crash beam which will be used to support the intercooler so we got this added and in place. This is fiddly as you’ve got to get a nut on the bolt which is half way along from an opening at the end! We got there in the end! Also had to cut a little channel in the upper bonnet support for the charge pipe to come back into the engine bay. Next up was fitting the actual compressor to the car. The bracket is very substantial and quality is outstanding. Everything just fitting into place lined up and went perfectly. The bracket basically fits into the existing holes in the Alternator and fits in really well. After a few bolts, belt on and tensioner released we had the unit in place! We then went ahead and mounted the intercooler in place. It looks as though it sits on the bottom shelf. But it actually hanging from 2 bracket. Its a very good fit and the HKS kit hasn’t failed to impress regarding quality and fitment! This charger uses a traction fluid system with it’s own oil cooler to lubricate the charger components. A tank is mounted just beside the airbox, using two existing holes in the support just below the bonnet release. After cutting the supplied hoses to length, adding an inline filter and clipping it all on. The traction fluid system was in place along with the cooler, bottle, lines and filter. It's important to get the traction fluid cool and ensure everything is working correctly. As this can seriously damage the compressor if the fluid isn't there as expected! Now to put the stock airbox back into it’s location ready for the intake suction pipe. Any airbox or induction that uses the stock intake pipe location should fit with this kit. Here we put a restrictor plate between the supercharger and the intake air box. The restrictor is a simple plate which sandwiches between the intake pipe and the charger with two gaskets. It restricts the power from the capable 400hp to about 300hp to use on a stock engine block! The restrictor is great as it keeps all the available torque and power low and and just clips the peak power towards the top end. You can of course run it without a restrictor if you dare on a stock engine! The great thing with this unit is if you do decide to go for a forged engine you can simply remove the restrictor, tweak the map and you’ll be able to produce around 400hp comfortably with the same kit. We then plumbed in the intercooler which is a fiddly job as there isn’t much room, especially if you have the oil cooler installed too! This kit was obviously designed, tested and fitted in Japan where they do not have HID headlights also meaning they haven't got the headlight washers! Which actually get in the way a fair bit on the UK cars as the headlight washers sit just where the pipe wants to naturally sit. But after some persuasion and careful positioning it does all go back in and the headlight washer still works. Moving on by connecting up the throttle body intake pipe from the intercooler. This bit was straight forward. The pipe sits in the neat hole that was cut earlier on in the process. All connecting up and on the throttle body. We have a completed plumbed in Supercharger. We have to take a vacuum line from the vacuum brake line so that the Recirc valve can work. For this we simply take a T-Piece in the original vacuum line and connect it to the valve. At this point the install is done! We topped up the traction fluid tank. Fired it up and ensured there are no air leaks and fluid is circulating ok. Starts first time and the sound is just fantastic. A real rushing of air and breathing sound! One with the final bits like the bumper, and side indicators etc. And it’s finished! All together it took us around 12 hours with two of us working on it. What helped was Maz’s ability to know stuff as he’d already done it on his car. Little tips and tricks to make things easier and the knowledge of knowing what we we’re un-doing was correct! The manual makes it easy as the install is split up into smaller chunks of work. So you’re only ever aiming for one goal at a time. Such as ‘Fit the intercooler’ - ‘For this you will need’. Rather than tackling the entire project with all the bits in one go. Off to Fensport today for the map! Once i've driven it with some boost i'll report back 6 Tweedbean, GT86-Ian, Keethos and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iddrew 86 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Excellent Writeup Jay as always! very detailed! Can't wait to see the numbers (more importantly the power difference) this beast is going to be putting out after whiz-kid Adrian is done with it. I should have mine fitted by the end of this month so hopefully i can follow in your footsteps and write a thread about install too. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind: 1) was it necessary to cut a little channel in the upper bonnet support for the charge pipe? Or did you just do this for piece of mind? 2) did you have to buy the T-piece to connect the vaccum line to the Recirc valve or was it supplied by HKS? 3) You told me yesterday that you had to cut some pulley but i didn't really get the full picture. Can you please elaborate on what pulley/s had to be removed/cut and what modifications had to be done around this area? 4) What parts (if any) did you have to buy apart from the HKS GT Supercharger Kit to get all this fitted? 5) Did you have to do some kind of bleeding to the traction fluid system? Or do you just fill up and start the engine? 6) Apart from a goos set of spanner and sockets, screwdrivers, belt removal tool, and a grinder (to cut the alternator pulley) where there any other tools that you used or would have found handy to use? And is a car lift necessary for this job? Thanks for the info and goodluck at Adrian Andrew. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mike-p 116 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Superb write-up Jay, get Adrian to sort the mapping out, then all we need is a side-by-side test at Eye aerodrome! 2 GT86Jay and Keethos reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee 82 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 I started fitting mine yesterday: Yes it is necessary T piece is supplied with the kit I guess he was an about the belt tensioner pulley bracket, I cut mine with w hacksaw then filed it down, came out neat. Everything is supplied with the kit, handy items are a flexible magnet, a decent set of small long nose pliers - it's a ball ache getting some of the clips on - crank breather especially. I'm not at the bleeding stage yet, I'm going to fill the fluid up last just incase I need to remove any parts again Parts mentioned earlier, I'm doing mine alone on the floor, have a sore back today but it's doable yes. I found the instructions a PITA, it would be good to have someone there who has done it before for efficiency. I was constantly removing, modifying, fitting then a couple pages later you remove again, as it didn't actually tell you to fit the part again but a picture shows it fitted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iddrew 86 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Hey Lee, Thanks for your reply, i guess i got all my questions answered Goodluck on your build and take care of that back i will def be following Once i install my kit i'll try to write up a comprehensive installation manual with lots of pictures and clear instructions. I'm sure someone in the future will find it handy. Also a lot of people are complaining about the manual if you're not lucky enough to have someone with you who reads Japanese Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GT86Jay 202 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Pretty much what Lee said. I didn't need anything other than what was supplied. Only one mistake we've noticed is that we kept the Outside air temp in stock location and it now reads about 30c all times as it's behind the intercooler hot air! So worth taking note with that! Quick bumper off and move it will sort that. You don't need to bleed the traction fluid system. The charger comes pre-filled with fluid. So you just connect up. Fire it up for a few seconds, ensure fluid is flowing and you're good. I wouldn't want to do it without a ramp personally. But you don't need it off the ground. Once the bumper is off that's pretty much it. Now at Fensport! Mapping commencing shortly. 1 Keethos reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GT86Jay 202 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Superb write-up Jay, get Adrian to sort the mapping out, then all we need is a side-by-side test at Eye aerodrome! Sounds like a plan! I'm currently running the 39mm restrictor. So i'll be able to open up a little more power once we're happy with the car and have time to take the restrictor out to bore it out a little bit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Please excuse my ignorance, buit what exactly is "Traction Fluid"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GT86Jay 202 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Please excuse my ignorance, buit what exactly is "Traction Fluid"? It's a high viscosity Oil used to lubricate the Charger. the exact use for it in the charger i'm not so sure. I'm aware it has properties when under load is increases in viscosity and when under no load goes really thin to reduce drag. It's this product.... http://www.hksusa.com/supercharger-traction-fluid-high-viscosity/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Awesome stuff Jay, mega write up! Can't wait to experience your setup in the flesh! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesP1991 222 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Looking good mate, I am sure you will have a few smiles on the way home from Fensport today after the engine has been properly mapped to accommodate the new goodies Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdrift 9 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 keeping an eye on this, currently trying to decide which way to go with F/I. both the HKS V2 and Avo Turbo are leading at the moment. interested to hear your thoughts once you've driven it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 It's a high viscosity Oil used to lubricate the Charger. the exact use for it in the charger i'm not so sure. I'm aware it has properties when under load is increases in viscosity and when under no load goes really thin to reduce drag. It's this product.... http://www.hksusa.com/supercharger-traction-fluid-high-viscosity/ God that stuff is expensive, $265 for a tin! How much do you get in a tin ? Alec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Great job! Just out of interest did it make much difference to your insurance? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee 82 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 God that stuff is expensive, $265 for a tin! How much do you get in a tin ? Alec Enough for a change and top ups, service life of 50k (rotrex version is anyway) so it's not that bad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GT86Jay 202 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 The car is absolutely fantastic! Great fun and keeps the characteristics of the NA form car! High revs are just mental! Mapping all went great. Adrian done a fantastic job with the base map and didn't require too much tweaking. Drive home was great fun. The boost just builds and builds. Quicker than I need! Great job! Just out of interest did it make much difference to your insurance? It basically put it up £380 for the entire year over NA form. Not to bad considering i'm 21. 1 Keethos reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark-in-Stoke 488 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Nice job Jay, how much do you think it's knocked of the standard 0-60?. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted May 5, 2015 Thanks for the reply on the traction fluid Jay. I wonder if it is the fluid which actually acts as a clutch between the pulley and the impeller? I believe this is how the Rotrex works? Glad you're enjoying it Jay, I for one will be very interested to see the results of a drag race between you, Rob and Mike P. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GT86Jay 202 Report post Posted May 5, 2015 keeping an eye on this, currently trying to decide which way to go with F/I. both the HKS V2 and Avo Turbo are leading at the moment. interested to hear your thoughts once you've driven it. The turbo will give you a bit more low down. Adrian said this kit is very similar to their Stage 1 turbo kits. The HKS is capable of more than the spec i'm currently running. You can run a slightly bigger restrictor. Up to no restrictor depending on how much you dare run on the stock internals. Excellent Any plans for track work? I may do a couple of TSS Events. But i'll be picking and choosing carefully. I've built the car to be a quick street car and a B-road destroyer. Also turns out it's not so bad at flying past Astra VXRs out of round about's as I had a couple on the way home today! Nice job Jay, how much do you think it's knocked of the standard 0-60?. I've not dared look down at the speedo yet! But it's quick. It launches really well with my current suspension and tyre setup. I will get some official times and video soon. Thanks for the reply on the traction fluid Jay. I wonder if it is the fluid which actually acts as a clutch between the pulley and the impeller? I believe this is how the Rotrex works? Glad you're enjoying it Jay, I for one will be very interested to see the results of a drag race between you, Rob and Mike P. I'm not sure how either work that closely. I know the HKS has a drag reduction system that works quite well where when you don't have load it reduces drag on the pulley. "Reducing parasitic drag by spring loading one of the planetary wheels. " Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark@Abbey M/S 235 Report post Posted May 6, 2015 Jay. they are an awesome kit , even in Stage 1 spec (stock restrictor) they fly , very linear power delivery just enhances the stock powerband I feel. they are different to the Sprintex but do the same job if you understand that. have fun. We have one going through the shop at the moment for fitment and hopefully another few being booked in for June fitment and tuning 1 Keethos reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted May 6, 2015 How would you compare the two Mark? How different does the HKS feel and perform compared to the Sprintex? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GT86Jay 202 Report post Posted May 6, 2015 Jay. they are an awesome kit , even in Stage 1 spec (stock restrictor) they fly , very linear power delivery just enhances the stock powerband I feel. they are different to the Sprintex but do the same job if you understand that. have fun. We have one going through the shop at the moment for fitment and hopefully another few being booked in for June fitment and tuning Yeah one of the reasons I went for this kit was for the feel. To me it feels like a bigger block NA car. You can feel there's boost there but don't get the sudden rush of boost. Very very nice! Yeah, I know the car you have currently. Nice car that! I will probably eventually pull out the restrictor a little bit. But for now its fast enough! I've driven a Sprintex and they're more torquey and you get much more back seat push and really feel the boost come on IMO. Both are very good kits and depends how you want to use the car. I love reving the cars our to 7k rpm. And I also love the constant rush of accelleration so the HKS won it for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Omer86 40 Report post Posted May 6, 2015 Looking good buddy found a whole new love for the car by the sounds of it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark-in-Stoke 488 Report post Posted May 6, 2015 It looks even better now i'm on the laptop. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
