Even though the modding scene for the SR20DET is not quite as large as the ones for the six-cylinder RB25DET and RB26DET from the Nissan Skyline, the aftermarket parts scene is still pretty big, especially if you don’t limit yourself to just looking for components locally. Since SR20-powered vehicles were far more common in their native Japan than anywhere else in the world, if you want the best and most extreme mods, it is there that you have to look.
Tuners could double an SR20DET’s stock power output on an untouched bottom end without the need for upgraded internals, extracting close to 400 horsepower out of it relatively easily. All you had to do was substitute the stock turbocharger with a bigger one and upgrade the fuel system so that it could keep up.
Aside from upgrading the turbocharger, which is the most common power-boosting mod for this engine, if you’re really serious about extracting more power, then it will need forged internals. They won’t break under the stress of hundreds more horsepower than stock, and they will give you peace of mind to add even more power-boosting mods into the mix.
Chances are, if you put beefed-up internals in this engine, you will already have done the intake and exhaust. Adding a custom boost controller is also recommended, as is installing stronger valve springs, which are vital if you want to hinder valve float at high rpm in an engine that’s already running a lot more horsepower than stock. You can get up to 700 horsepower out of this engine, although probably only the block will remain stock in something that highly strung.
