Hey, i'm planning on doing a 5spd swap, but after that project, I'm planning a to build a junkyard turbo kit. Since i'm a college kid with limited funds, what's the absolute lowest price I could do this for? This would be an estimated amount, of course. I would definitely jump on it if it was in the $1000-$1500 range..

Who else has a custom/junkyard turbo setup? How well is it working for you? What parts did you use? what are some common issues with using these setups?

Thank you.

 

is it posible to do for that amount yes it has been done for less than that but it all depends on how crafty you are

 

With a 4th gen maxima turbo project there are not a whole lot of things to use from a junk yard. An intercooler and a used turbo is about it. The rest would be just having to find used parts on ebay. But the exhaust and intercooler piping will have to be custom made. I can't see a 4th gen being safely boosted for less than $3K.

I know the parts can seem fairly simple, but once you get into it there is much, much more than you think. Besides the turbo and all the piping you will need

Intercooler

wastgate and flange

BOV

fuel management, at least an FMU

A couple gauges, Boost and Fuel pressure at the very least

Oil feed and return lines

All the fittings for the lines. I spent $50 alone on the proper fitting for the oil pressure sending unit. AN fittings are not cheap

A crap load of silicone couplers and T-bolts. I found T-bolts for $2.75 each.....but I needed 38 of them. Couplers can be had for about $4.00 each....but I needed 18 of them

Clutch $$ and tranny fluid

Various gaskets

Various vacuum hoses


It is alot of stuff when you add it all up. So, no I don't think you could have any type of turbo to be proud of for $1500. Now if you can weld and fabriacate that is something different....

 

hmm..i do know that used s/c kits can be found for that price...would that be the better, cost effective option for boost?

 

A used SC setup would be a less expensive option if you really need boost. Cheap and boost do not go together very well.

 

Right now my estimated setup is around 2k with doing welding and fabriacating myself (and a rich kid with 2 supras selling me stuff for cheap). So if you have the resources then you can do it.

 

can you let me know what pats you used? did you modify the existing exhaust, or did you just start from scratch?

I can get parts for cheap also, and I will do all the work myself, so i would like to know what you did to make it a reality.

Thanks.

 

Oblong - how are you going to take used Supra parts and put them on your Max? What parts is he selling you fo tha low? How long have you been welding? Got pics of your work?


Tavarish - of course the exhaust will have to be modified if you plan on running high boost. Everyone starts from scratch.... - just like me.
What parts can you get for cheap? You'd do the work yourself...? Do you have air tools? What do you plan on using to cut pipe?

 

They arent supra parts, they are universal products that he put on, im getting his blitz turbo timer for 20, a couple of autometer gauges, apexi super sound BOV for 60, and he has his own pipe bender and is going to make me my mandrel bends just for the cost of pipe. I will have pictures in a while once i begin. Im currently in a high performance engine school and our projects start in about a month. Other parts ive been collecting for cheap off ebay like a tial wastegate etc. Still need to get my electronics (SAFC2/ACVR), I know someone who owns a junk yard to get my j30/z32 MAF and i will probably be getting the 550cc injectors off the .org. Ive been MIG welding for a year. Ill be learning TIG soon

Great part is the school has a mustang dyno for before and after specs and tuning....

 

Wow he has his own mandrel bending machine? That will come in handy..
Good luck with it.

 

so true...so true...

 

pipe bender NOT= mandrel bends.

Tavarish- honestly on a 1000-1500$ budget, save yourself the headache and don't even consider turbo. On that budget you should look into a good N2O setup.

 

i priced 950, for everything minus the manifolds, piping, fittings and gauges, so to include all ur looking at approx1600 if u install urself.

 

I'm building me an SC setup for ~$1300.

 

With these #'s being thrown around for what guys think they can do a turbo for, I would like to see the final dollar amount spent.

 

why would you even want to go cheap with a turbo setup? I mean i can understand wanting to do the labor yourself or a freind do it to save money but don't skimp on parts. Just shop for deals on parts and look on ebay. Just make sure you buy new or slightly used stuff that is good quality and you will have a good reliable setup. You will end up paying as much money if not more just repairing your old haggard kit than you would of if you just bought qaulity parts.

 

Are you kidding? You actually think that it's only going to cost $650 to get the manifold, piping, fittings, and gauges? Prove it, show me a parts list where you can get all that stuff for $650. And while you're at it, show me how you're going to get the main turbo parts for $950, I guaranty you're missing something.

FWIW, my turbo cost me ~$2700 or so in just parts including all fittings and piping. Not including labor. And that was getting stuff at wholesale. When we built Sadler's it ran $3600 in just parts because he went all bling bling with everything.

And for all of you planning to build a turbo for $1500, what happens when you blow the motor? If you're scrimping this much, you're not a good candidate for boost. I'm not saying you will blow the motor, but if you do, you'd better have some sort of reserve funds unless you like walking to work. My motor and tranny haven't failed yet, but I am prepared just in case they do. That is always something you have to account for.

 

I dont know about these prices, I paid probably close to $3500 for everything all said and done, and that doesn't include the price of the welder or tools or anything. I did all the welding/installing myself, I dont even wanna think of what it would have cost having someone install it Granted though, I did get some unecessary pricey parts (BOV, etc) and I bought all new parts, but alot of it I bought off of Ebay. My guess for the cheapest reliable setup you could do would be $2500, and that would be finding some good deals.

 

Cost me right around $4K for everything. Clutc,, powder coating, ceramic coating and all. Installed myself. Things like dyno time and the ES motor mounts were are not included in that.

 

All the above arguments aside, you've already chosen the most expensive route---> CUSTOM. If you wanted a CHEAP boosted vehicle you should've started w/ something already boosted and just upgraded from there. And even that won't be cheap if you want things done properly and quality parts.

 

Or sell your maxima, buy a 240, SR20 and have a cheap turbo setup as well.

 

Mike spent $200 on T-bolts and couplers... so If you think you are getting piping (induction and exhaust), couplers, clamps, gauges for $650 you are seriously underestimating the cost I'd say. Also does the "everything" you found for $950 include wastegate, turbo, bov, intercooler, clutch, fuel management, etc.

 

 

like everyone said.. cheap and boost don't mix.. I don't know why ppl want to go this route.

 

how do you figure this ????

 

thats because its highway robbery. finding those couplers for $3/each at NAPA was awesome.

nobody really understand the quote pay to play.

 

You mean T-bolts?

www.partssystems.com is the best place to buy T-bolts. Less than $3 a piece and they have every possible size you need. Napa is good, but they don't offer a wide variety of sizes.

 

I am going for the cheapest turbo setup. I am shooting for $1800-$2000.

 

hmm....SC is the way to go then for the person that wants boost, but doesnt have 3 or 4k to spend...

 

True but we don't want to sound cheap so we say, "Its the way to go for instant power delivery."

 

what are you talking about broaner? mike sees full boost way before i see mine.

mike-i gots alls thes sizes thats i's needs.

 

whoa hold up there hoss, SC is not exactly cheap. I have spent well into $4,000(even with a used kit) on my setup and still have more to do. SC'ing is just a cheaper reliable starting point, but trust me you will not stop with the stock kit

 

Any turbo short of something like a T88 will see full boost long before a centrifugal supercharger will. That's why turbo setups have so much more torque than supercharger setups do on our cars.