Thinking turbo..
Thinking turbo.. I know, I know another thread...
So I'm just about positive I want to turbo. I've been reading just about every thread I can to learn as much as I can. My budget is right around four thousand. Id like to do a front mount and I'd like it to look as good as it runs. Gonna be a street car with a few track runs here and there. My goal is right around 500.
I plan on forging the motor first but my question is this. What would be the best route on forging the motor? As far as which pistons, rods, bearings. I plan on keeping the stock crank for now as well.
Any help/advice/anything is greatly appreciated whether it be turbo or forging advice, whatever.
So I'm just about positive I want to turbo. I've been reading just about every thread I can to learn as much as I can. My budget is right around four thousand. Id like to do a front mount and I'd like it to look as good as it runs. Gonna be a street car with a few track runs here and there. My goal is right around 500.
I plan on forging the motor first but my question is this. What would be the best route on forging the motor? As far as which pistons, rods, bearings. I plan on keeping the stock crank for now as well.
Any help/advice/anything is greatly appreciated whether it be turbo or forging advice, whatever.
I think you will be over budget real quick if you're looking to do a forged short block and still have to buy all the stuff for your turbo kit. It adds up fast. Id say if your stock short block is in good shape spend the money on a solid turbo setup and run it til the motor dies. 500 hp is a modest goal
Good to go. I probably should've specified that I have 4k for the turbo set up. I plan on putting the motor on plastic since I just paid that off lol. But I appreciate the input. If worse comes to worst, I'll probably end up doing that.
I don't know about your short block, but I wouldn't go putting a depreciating asset like a car part on credit when you just paid it off. 
I was in your place last summer when I was planning a "budget" build.
$600 turbo
$225 wastegate
$225 blowoff valve
$250 for ebay intercooler and plumbing
$300-400 for fuel injectors
$200-300 if you need to upgrade fuel pumps
$100+ for oil drain/feed lines and fittings
$100 ls6 cam
$200+ upgraded valve springs
$100 for 317 casting heads if running pump gas for lower compression
$200 wide band o2 sensor
Then throw in a few hundred bucks for misc supplies, bolts, stuff I forgot about.
Then you still need your turbo hot side, so $300-800 DIY or pay someone.
Not trying to discourage you, but you need to have realistic expectations as far as costs go. $3-4k is realistic to do it right, depending how much you can do yourself.
My original plan was heads/cam/intake, which I calculated at costing $3-3.5k...for close to the same price if you do it right, you can get a good 75-100 RWHP over N/A. That was my train of thought when doing my planning at least. Hope that helps!
I was in your place last summer when I was planning a "budget" build.
$600 turbo
$225 wastegate
$225 blowoff valve
$250 for ebay intercooler and plumbing
$300-400 for fuel injectors
$200-300 if you need to upgrade fuel pumps
$100+ for oil drain/feed lines and fittings
$100 ls6 cam
$200+ upgraded valve springs
$100 for 317 casting heads if running pump gas for lower compression
$200 wide band o2 sensor
Then throw in a few hundred bucks for misc supplies, bolts, stuff I forgot about.
Then you still need your turbo hot side, so $300-800 DIY or pay someone.
Not trying to discourage you, but you need to have realistic expectations as far as costs go. $3-4k is realistic to do it right, depending how much you can do yourself.
My original plan was heads/cam/intake, which I calculated at costing $3-3.5k...for close to the same price if you do it right, you can get a good 75-100 RWHP over N/A. That was my train of thought when doing my planning at least. Hope that helps!
Last edited by evo462; Feb 12, 2011 at 10:57 PM.
I do plan on doing everything myself and with a friend that did his turbo build last year. He's on this board here too. So most of it will be done by us saving the most money possible. The only reason I ask is because I plan on bringing the motor to a reputable shop. The only thing I don't plan on doing is reassembly of the motor with the new parts. Which is why I'm trying to figure out that part.
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Verdad Gallardo I do have a pretty good idea of what I want, just trying to figure out if I should go ahead and bite the bullet and forge the motor, ya know? If so, I need to figure out whats the best route for me. Still reading and reading all I can.
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I decided to pull the motor and get it forged because we already have it stripped down. Just dropped it off at speed Inc. My advice is to do it right the first time, but doing it right is costly. Be ready to pay 12-15k depending on if you already have supporting stuff like a built trans or a healthy rearend. I didn't and this alone were more than your budget you have now.
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stock crank, flat top weisco pistons, eagle rods, arp fasteners, and bearings is all in the speed inc package. Believe my CR is right around 9.25:1 with 317 heads and keeping it stock 346ci ls1. Turbo kit is from KYTP and is a tc78 A/C kit. Shooting for 700+whp for a street car weekend warrior.
I'm telling you your budget will run out quickly because it's all the little crap that gets you. Hell some low-pro puller fans I'm looking at go for $300 along with my griffen radiator that was almost $200.
I'm telling you your budget will run out quickly because it's all the little crap that gets you. Hell some low-pro puller fans I'm looking at go for $300 along with my griffen radiator that was almost $200.
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I'm doing a custom rear mount, and my build + tune is running me about $4000. I'm having a shop do my build since I never get enough time off work. To save a little money, the rear build requires less modifications to the engine bay and instead of a fmic I'm doing a meth kit. Good luck with your build, post pics when your done.
Hey thanks for all the insight, advice and help. I have alotted extra funds for little misc. stuff as well. I'm leaning towards leaving the motor as is for now and focusing on the turbo and trans for the time being.
I'll be making a build thread as well so I'm sure youll see that.
I'll be making a build thread as well so I'm sure youll see that.
im planning on just doing the turbo first like you, the list that was mentioned earlier looks exactly like my list. my plan is to keep the boost down until i can drop in a forged 370. I think you will be fine as long as your tune is good and you keep the boost low.
I just put a rear mount on my 106000 mile stock ls1. The trans was done already, but stock rear. I put down 424hp/460tq on a mustang dyno running 8 psi. If you are worried about the cost, just do the turbo kit and all the proper supporting equipment. Keep the boost under 10 psi and build the motor later. At only 8 psi it gets moving pretty nice for a street car.
I need better brakes before I even think about making it any faster.
I need better brakes before I even think about making it any faster.
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Edit: more stuff I forgot just for this example is a double chain, performance oil pump and underdrive pulley amd belts since you are there
yea, that may be a good idea...get some arp rod bolts and good pistons and with ur buddys pops assembling the short block that may work! but as far at the turbo stuff depending on if you want tne manis or tube you just have to decide bro...
ON A SIDE NOTE: guys ill be helping him for most of the build so dont freak him out about the price so much, ive been there and done that so TRUST ME ill help him with keeping the price down, ive got over 25k in my car....hell be doing this the correct way!
All the hot parts are FREE to ant (1badws6) I will be building them and teaching him the fabrication part at no cost due to all the parts i have at my shop. i keep stocked up on metal!
ON A SIDE NOTE: guys ill be helping him for most of the build so dont freak him out about the price so much, ive been there and done that so TRUST ME ill help him with keeping the price down, ive got over 25k in my car....hell be doing this the correct way!
All the hot parts are FREE to ant (1badws6) I will be building them and teaching him the fabrication part at no cost due to all the parts i have at my shop. i keep stocked up on metal!