Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts! - View Single Post - Vogenitz69's TSX Supercharged Daily Sport Build

Vogenitz69 · 12-22-2015, 01:29 PM

Hello All,
So I figured I'd stop blurting random build ideas for my "new to me" 2011 TSX in the WC/BS Thread and finally start another build thread. Now before anybody starts with the "you didn't even finish your ranger" please understand that this build will not interfere with the completion of the ranger. The beginning of this thread is going to be the preliminary stages of what I imagine to be a really fun daily, so the ranger build will continue before any disabling mods are performed on the TSX.

Background: I picked it up roughly 1 month after I got in a car accident in my 2006 Civic. Spent that month driving around in an 87 f150 single cab that had a malfunctioning starting system, clogged fuel pumps, and one semi working speaker in the passenger door. Couldn't drive the ranger since I had just started ripping apart the ranger and had sold the engine a week before the accident. It was rough not having something I could depend on so I finally had enough of it and went shopping. Originally I was going to get a 10' Ford Taurus SEL with 30k, but came across the TSX when walking around the dealership. Took it for a test drive right after testing out the Taurus and knew the Acura was the choice immediately after the first turn. After a couple meetings I managed to drive away with my 2011 Acura TSX Sedan with 19k miles on it for 15K and change...

So here I am, about 2 months later, pondering over the last couple weeks of what I might want to do to the car when the time comes (aka when the warranty is up). I spent a day with my neighbor learning up on some possible directions I might want to go. ~Sleeper~ is the term and the direction of all my builds.
I've never really been in to the exaggerated performance scene. Not a fan of slammed cars and camber out the ass or spoilers that belong on airplanes and cars that can actually go 200mph and above.
I especially hate when branded "Luxury" vehicles are mocked up with cheap and horrendous catalog equipment, extreme tint, etc. /endrant lol

So here are some things I have planned out for the car:

Not that the car doesn't handle well, because it is a light year better than the 87 I was driving, it could just use some tweaks to get it to match my commute a little better and be able to handle some power while ripping around a corner. After an intense interrogation of a couple guys on an Acura forum, I found myself a set up that will fulfill my needs... TEIN Street Basis Coilovers. They are fully adjustable and can lower the car from 1" to 3.1". For the best ride quality most guys recommend dropping it 1.5-2". Since I want a sleeper I'll probably stay right around 1.5" since I don't want my car to continue to look like a 4x4 but not look like it's doggy dragging its ass. The springs are a tad stiffer than stock and the dampening to follow. The setup should help with the squatting on takeoff helping keep traction off the line and should keep the car level and reduce body roll at higher speeds.

Next up is looks... "But I though you said sleeper, doesn't that mean it has to look stock?"
Well, yeah it does, but it doesn't mean I can't get some different, replica/oem looking wheels for it.
I decided I'm going with Enkei Raijin wheels, still deciding on whether to go black or silver, but I have the wheel figured out...
18x8.5 with +38 offset. The width of the wheel and the added offset actually pushes the lip of the wheel outward making it sit more flush with the fenders Giving it a more sporty/track-package appearance. The stock Acura center caps are compatible with the Enkei's so I would pop them in to trick the untrained eye. For those of you who don't know, the Enkei Raijins share an identical design with the 04-08 Acura TL wheels, so visually they can be mistaken as the same. Major difference is construction, they use a nice mix of alloys to make this wheel very lightweight but stronger than a stock wheel.

Stock wheels on the car are 17x7's. As much as I would like to reuse the Michelins that came with them, I can't. Since my build is performance based I will be upgrading the tires to a stickier design, and since I'm a Michelin guy I'll be going with some Pilot Sport A/S 3's in a 245/40r18 style. Stock tires are 225/50r17's, so these tires are a bit wider for some extra grab.

Last but not least..Hence the title, a Supercharger! I have looked in to a couple brands like Jackson Racing and Kraftworks, but decided that for quality control and the somewhat lengthy existence of the company that when I decide to go this route i will use CT Engineering and their "bolt on" kit.
Their kit includes ribbed pulleys, new tensioner that reuses the stock belt, the m40 supercharger, intake adaptor, and Hondata engine management. The kit utilizes a pulley that spins out a safe-zone 6lbs of boost and claims of up to 55 horsepower and 40lb/ft of torque gains. While this seems fairly like a fairly low bang for your buck, they also offer additionally supportive mods that together can multiply the gains. I'm choosing the "stage 2" pulley which would bump boost up to 8lbs of boost. Still a safe number for Honda engines, usually 10lbs and above will require internal modifications.
For those of you who don't know, superchargers are typically heat machines. Since I really don't want to replace a transmission I will definitely be upgrading my trans cooler and may very well get the upgraded aftercooler to keep the engine cooler at slower speeds and lower rpms and for the added power at high rpms of course.