forced induction ballers
Spending more than anticipated=inevitable
In the past 5 years I've been through 2 cars, 4 FI engines, and 4 custom FI setups. I really hope the current one is the final setup but the track record isn't very reassuring...
In the past 5 years I've been through 2 cars, 4 FI engines, and 4 custom FI setups. I really hope the current one is the final setup but the track record isn't very reassuring...
HA!!!! I'd like to meet the guy that came out well under his anticipated budget.
Well, my plans started off as a stock shortblock rear mount running 8psi and hoping for 450-500rwhp. About a week after I purchased the rear mount kit my motor spun a main bearing and stock shortblock became a $5000 forged venture in potential divorce. Before the motor was done, I decided I wanted to go with a modified front mount. Ended up taking a small loss on the STS kit and shelling out for a custom made flipped truck manifold kit. Now hoping for 600-650 bulletproof rwhp. All in all, I'm still well under what a lot of people spend on a forged turbo setup but it's also been over a year and my junk still isn't finished. Spent a lot of time waiting on good deals for used parts to come up and I'm doing all the work myself so it's taking 10 times as long as a pro could do it, but it's a good feeling scoring a great deal and learning and doing things as you go.
Well, my plans started off as a stock shortblock rear mount running 8psi and hoping for 450-500rwhp. About a week after I purchased the rear mount kit my motor spun a main bearing and stock shortblock became a $5000 forged venture in potential divorce. Before the motor was done, I decided I wanted to go with a modified front mount. Ended up taking a small loss on the STS kit and shelling out for a custom made flipped truck manifold kit. Now hoping for 600-650 bulletproof rwhp. All in all, I'm still well under what a lot of people spend on a forged turbo setup but it's also been over a year and my junk still isn't finished. Spent a lot of time waiting on good deals for used parts to come up and I'm doing all the work myself so it's taking 10 times as long as a pro could do it, but it's a good feeling scoring a great deal and learning and doing things as you go.
Nitrous-rearmount,blew trans, built new trans, blew motor----new motor and front mount (GTO) back to stock, Bought RX7 and another motor and trans. started front mount, sent car away, building new car now. Started in feb. of 2009, and ive yet to build a forged motor... Original budget, 3500 bucks..... LOL
"hunnie, this will take me about 3500 bucks to do, please?...." "sure hunnie, but we are only spending 3k" "DEAL!" LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That didnt happen.....
"hunnie, this will take me about 3500 bucks to do, please?...." "sure hunnie, but we are only spending 3k" "DEAL!" LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That didnt happen.....
Always take your budget and triple it...and if you think it will take you 6 months, make it a year.
AND, when you have the money, you don't have the time....and when you have the time, you are broke as a joke!
AND, when you have the money, you don't have the time....and when you have the time, you are broke as a joke!
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Lol at budget.....what is a budget. My 2500 dollar bottom end turned into a 6000 dollar complete motor. My 1000 dollar t56 build went to 3000. My wife and I have been married 2 months and im waiting for her to say you're done lol.
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I've done 2 different setups, 2 different trans, and 4 or 5 different turbos. I've always come pretty damn close to my budget. You just need to be realistic when you set your budget and then it's easy to keep 
I was going to just put a nice lil T70 and 80 lb injectors on my car....turned into TC76, 160 lb injectors, buying my own suit of HPT Pro....sent from $4000 to $8000 really fast.
But, in the end, when you do cut corners and "cheap out", you usually regret it.
I know that I have thought about the "while the body is apart" to re-paint my car and I wish I would have just taken the plunge and had a fresh coat of paint put on ole Nova...maybe this winter though...
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From: Joliet,IL and Las Vegas 50/50
It kinda cracks me up because people will say you can do these turbo setups cheap with a 3-5k budget. I just don't see that happening. My budget went over as well, but I'm glad it did. I did things right and now when I drive it I'm not worried about my trans, bottom end or my rear end not being able to withstand the hp.
I figured about 4K to tear down the LQ9 put in new bearings, swap to a strong rear end so I can put some sticky tires on the car and move the turbo from the rear to the front. What I found was tore up bearings so the crank had to be turned. The turbo had some shaft play so that needed rebuild. I splurged on the rear and got a S60 with a true trac, 3 channel ABS, 35 spline axles. Had to stand up the radiator because there wasn't enough clearance for the Garrett T-76 .96 A/R bought 80lbm injectors. so far I am at 5K and still havent bought the oil, new shorter belt, plug wires, broke a v band so had to order a new one. So far I am 500 over budget. Got a lot of go fast parts from the old setup like the full exhaust and cold pipe setup for a STS kit minus the intercooler, turbo, and waste gate also going to sell the 10 bolt with 4.11s and the bosch green top 42lbm injectors so all in all I should break about even with my budget.
We will see.
We will see.
My budget came in close but its all the little **** that will destroy you. I stuck to my stock shortblock plan. i bought a good clutch awhile ago. i have a 9in already. Now if/when my motor goes ill replace it with a 5.3 because i dont have the cash for a forged motor. The "while im at it" thing is so true but you have to be realistic about your goals. I know im only gonna go for 500-600hp and with a good tune thats fine on a stock shortblock.. If you are gonna go all out, then by all means do but if your original plan for power is modest then stay modest in your build. its hard though haha
One car, one forged engine, and the same S/C set-up with only an intercooler swap last year. Exceeded my expectations and stayed on budget but my car is not very fast compared to some other street minded FI builds.
I haven't finished a project yet because of the "while I'm at it" thing. Three cars, two trucks, a few engines, and then bought the busa because I was having go-fast withdrawals. They'll run one day.