#turbo

Just swapped a 2.5L K20Z3 into my 2013 Civic Si. The engine now spits 200hp at the wheel. Used a custom 3D‑printed intake manifold, upgraded to a 10mm throttle body, and a 1.8L P90 turbo kit. Cam timing set to 30° advance. I also fitted a 12‑inch strut bar and Brembo 8‑piston calipers for better handling.

This was my first major swap. The dyno at the shop reads 205hp peak, 240lb‑ft torque at 5,800rpm. On the street, 200hp feels solid. I used a 1:3.8 gear ratio and 19” × 9” tires.

Looking for feedback: Does this sound plausible? Any tips on fine‑tuning the ignition map or oiling the turbo? Anyone done a similar K20Z3 swap? Also, how does the 1.8L P90 kit perform at 87 octane? Any real‑world data?

Thanks for any advice.

so you wanna slap an RZ‑1 turbo on your RX‑7, huh? here's the low‑down

parts list

RZ‑1 turbo assembly (turbine, compressor, housing)
intercooler kit (oil‑cooled)
oil‑pressure regulator
new intake manifold
upgraded fuel injectors
wiring harness
ECU flash

prep

remove stock turbo (unscrew 6 bolts, take out the housing)
clean the oil pan, replace gasket
check the crankcase for any wear, replace if needed

mounting

bolt the RZ‑1 housing to the engine block
align the turbine shaft with the crank
torque specs: 20 ft‑lb on main bolts, 15 ft‑lb on turbo bolts

plumbing

run the intercooler piping from the turbo to the intake
connect the oil feed to the RZ‑1 oil cooler
make sure the fuel line is rated for 2000 psi

wiring

swap the old harness for the RZ‑1 harness
connect MAP, TPS, and boost sensors
flash the ECU with RZ‑1 firmware

testing

start the engine, let it idle
check for boost leaks
monitor oil pressure, temperature
pull a quick dyno if you have one

tips

keep a hand on the throttle while starting, avoid surge
use a high‑octane 93+ fuel
if you see any oil leaks, tighten the turbo bolts a bit

good luck, this is the bare minimum. i ain't a mechanic, but i did this last night, so i know it's doable. hit me up if you run into weird errors.

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