FL5 Type R owner - new to modding!

[TheFactor]

Will I get anymore horsepower from a New oil filler cap ? I have one on order I found on the bottom of the rabbit hole

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[jtlctr]

Will I get anymore horsepower from a New oil filler cap ? I have one on order I found on the bottom of the rabbit hole

Sorry, no you won’t. However, I found that removing the oil cap all together is a good weight reduction mod

 

[Shingo Shoji]

The other thing id like to do eventually is to get some more character out of the engine. If anyone has had good results with a new header or something it would be great to know.

 

[Clark_Kent]

The other thing id like to do eventually is to get some more character out of the engine. If anyone has had good results with a new header or something it would be great to know.

FYI - The K20C1 has a single exhaust port.

 

[Steinberg]

One great thing about this platform is that there are so many ways you can build it and enjoy it! Since January of 2023 I’ve had the opportunity of testing numerous turbochargers and countless other modifications while daily driving the car, long weekends in the mountains, and having fun at the track - with around 200 dyno pulls on the car sprinkled in. Something very important to remember is to build the car to suit your personal driving style and goals and that is being well considered within this thread.

Basic Bolts and a “Stage 1 tune” (or similar) via Hondata is a great starting point and sets the foundation for taking the car further if you decide to do so. But if you find the car is perfect for you like that, there is of course nothing wrong with stopping there.

A few considerations that come to mind:

• The factory turbo charger on 93 octane is capable of about 365whp depending on supporting mods, the dyno itself, etc. You will reach peak power at about 6300rpm and it will hold for a short while before tapering off as you approach 7000rpm. This setup of course does not approach being fuel limited.
• A 27WON Kuro turbocharger on 93 will reach peak power of approximately 425whp at around 7000RPM, giving you something that pulls all the way until redline. This is a comfortable limit for the factory fuel system, without pushing it to the bleeding edge.
• The slightly larger Kuro+ on 93 will peak at about 440whp, right at the edge of the limits of the factory fuel system. However the delay in spool introduced by the larger turbocharger is likely not worth it unless you are upgrading the fuel system and then using an ethanol based fuel. An upgraded fuel system will cost $3,000+ and not everyone would justify the expense for an additional 135whp, but ~575whp is what this setup can net if fuel accordingly.

In short, the 27WON Kuro offers ~425whp at it’s $1992.71 price point and the Kuro+ offers ~575whp but the cost of entry is $2292.71 + a fuel system upgrade at ~$3,000. The former is much easier to justify than the latter for most.

Driving perspectives:

• Considering turbo upgrade options, the factory turbo has a bit of the ”driving a slow car fast“ charm. It is fun pushing a car to it’s limits.
• A standard Kuro at ~425whp has a very OEM+ feel. The quick spool maintains the true spirit of the 2.0T Type R, with instant power on demand. If I were building a canyon carver, this is the route I would go.
• The Kuro+ at ~575whp is WAY more power than you can realistically use in the mountains. It is 100% manageable but I was rarely getting into full boost during a recent trip and one could argue that if you are having to be easy on the power it could be less fun to drive. However, on the flats this setup will shine like no other.

Thanks! This is really informative because that's my exact use case. Love taking it to the mountains with some friends and pushing our cars. While I will probably start with Basic Bolts and a “Stage 1 tune”, it's good to know the Kuro doesn't exactly need a fuel system upgrade if I intend to do that in the future. For the turbo, I would assume a custom tune would be needed instead of the "Stage 1 tune"?

 

[Jester04]

Thanks! This is really informative because that's my exact use case. Love taking it to the mountains with some friends and pushing our cars. While I will probably start with Basic Bolts and a “Stage 1 tune”, it's good to know the Kuro doesn't exactly need a fuel system upgrade if I intend to do that in the future. For the turbo, I would assume a custom tune would be needed instead of the "Stage 1 tune"?

You have a lot of info on this thread. Just choose what works for you. Do your research because you might end up spending more money than intended depending on the route you go.

 

[Two Step Performance]

Thanks! This is really informative because that's my exact use case. Love taking it to the mountains with some friends and pushing our cars. While I will probably start with Basic Bolts and a “Stage 1 tune”, it's good to know the Kuro doesn't exactly need a fuel system upgrade if I intend to do that in the future. For the turbo, I would assume a custom tune would be needed instead of the "Stage 1 tune"?

Yes that is correct. On a basic bolt on car we see an average of 3-5whp greater with custom dyno tuning vs our TSP Stage 1 tune but once you venture into upgraded turbocharger territory a custom tune will then be required.

 

[Mobias]

Personal opinion from someone who is heavily modified, I'd do a tune, intake, and exhaust. Maybe the TSP downpipe if you don't mind a bit of extra noise from the exhaust.

These couple things alone will eat a good chunk of your budget, but not all of it, and should give you the fun you are looking for. Most of the other stuff you listed, as others have said, are supporting mods for bigger upgrades. You won't see much in the way of performance gains, if any, without doing some additional changes.

 

[SBX Performance]

I have the same setup on my FL5 including @Two Step Performance downpipe! Also bought the Kuro from them before my buisness started. Getting tune by derek robinson in two weeks. I am going to post the setup soon on the sponsors page. You're definitely on the right track with your parts selection, looks like a super solid, well-thought-out build for spirited mountain driving and flat-out runs on pump gas.


That said, while the stock fuel system can technically support the 27WON Kuro on 91/93 with conservative tuning, upgrading to a High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) would really unlock the full potential of that turbo safely. I’d recommend looking into the XDI HPFP — it’s a popular and proven option. (Here's the link: SBX Performance ) If you message me I can give you a great offer.


Pairing the HPFP upgrade with a proper unlock and a custom Hondata tune by someone like Innovative Motorworks would be the perfect combo. It’ll not only give you a stronger, safer fuel curve but also allow your tuner to really push the Kuro without worrying about running lean or hitting limits on the fuel system.

If you havent it wont hurt to upgrade exhaust system either. AWE is an affortable and great option.

If it was the KURO+ you would need to upgrade the entire fuel system.

Check out our instagram @sbx_performance_llc documented it from the start

With your $7K budget, you're in a great spot to do this right without cutting corners. You'll have a fast, reliable setup that'll rip on pump gas!

 

[Ska597]

Do you need to replace the fuel pump and injectors or just the fuel pump when upgrading to a much larger turbo?

 

[SBX Performance]

Do you need to replace the fuel pump and injectors or just the fuel pump when upgrading to a much larger turbo?

It really depends on the turbo you’re going with. For example, with my 27WON Kuro turbo, just upgrading the fuel pump is good enough. But if I had gone with the Kuro+ to get full potential, I would’ve needed to upgrade everything — fuel pump and injectors. So it all comes down to how much bigger the turbo is and how much power you’re trying to make

 

[Tougefl5]

I've seen people post about upgraded turbos on stock fuel system. However never seen a build thread or anything on social media with that set up. Also seen people talking about oem turbo making something like 430hp Also never seen anyone with this.
It's sort of like big foot people talking about it However you don't really see it

 

[SBX Performance]

I've seen people post about upgraded turbos on stock fuel system. However never seen a build thread or anything on social media with that set up. Also seen people talking about oem turbo making something like 430hp Also never seen anyone with this.
It's sort of like big foot people talking about it However you don't really see it

Technically I have the Kuro with stock fuel system lol I haven’t installed the HPFP yet. That’s the only upgrade fuel wise I’m going to do. But you’re right about what you said haha.

 

[Tougefl5]

Technically I have the Kuro with stock fuel system lol I haven’t installed the HPFP yet. That’s the only upgrade fuel wise I’m going to do. But you’re right about what you said haha.

You have a great opportunity to really walk the walk. I challenge you to keep stock fuel system for a bit. Get tuned and hit the dyno with results and real world experiences.
Let's see the limits of the oem fuel system with the kuro.
A lot of people will be very interested in the results and garentee you will gain new customers.

 

[Two Step Performance]

You have a great opportunity to really walk the walk. I challenge you to keep stock fuel system for a bit. Get tuned and hit the dyno with results and real world experiences.
Let's see the limits of the oem fuel system with the kuro.
A lot of people will be very interested in the results and garentee you will gain new customers.

Good idea I’d say. Personally I don’t see anyone needing to upgrade the fuel system with the Kuro turbocharger if they are only using 91 or 93 octane.

With the standard Kuro you can move from ~425whp to ~475whp using E30 with a high pressure fuel pump upgrade and a CanFlex kit, assuming you want flex fuel capabilities. I’m not sure if you could get by with the stock injectors for this setup but even if so you are still ~$2000 deep in fuel upgrades to only gain 50whp. This sets the stage for even larger turbos but may be hard to justify if the standard Kuro is the end game.

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