How much does turboing your 346 really cost?
How much does turboing your 346 really cost? At first I was thinking I'd go H/C route first, then could always switch to a turbo set-up if I wanted more power. But it seems like it might be a waste of dough.
I know that the cost of going turbo could vary greatly (depending on turbo, heads, cam, intercooler, exhaust and everything else used). But ON AVERAGE how does it compare to the cost of a good H/C package (with top performing heads, cam, exhaust, LT's, etc etc.)?
I know that the cost of going turbo could vary greatly (depending on turbo, heads, cam, intercooler, exhaust and everything else used). But ON AVERAGE how does it compare to the cost of a good H/C package (with top performing heads, cam, exhaust, LT's, etc etc.)?
Well the good thing about a turbo is that you can run low boost around town and then when you go to the track you can up it and then turn it back down to drive home...If you have a high compression head and cam swap it's going to be there always...it's going to cost you more to do the turbo because once you start modding more you going to eventually do the head and cams anyways...What are you trying to shoot for and how are you going to use it will determine if you want to go with a turbo....If 400rwhp is good enough then go with the head\cam\headers etc...You can obviously make more power than that but anything over 450\500rwhp would not be street friendly where as you can get away with it on a turbo car...
If you try to figure this out, you have to make sure that you are comparing stuff on an equal basis.
The one thing that some kits lack are fuel systems. Generally these kits are sometimes referred to as 'tuner kits.'
I think a number of kits are $5-7K, and I am not sure if they include fuel systems. If not add $1000 - $1500 depending on the level you are shooting for powerwise.
The one thing that some kits lack are fuel systems. Generally these kits are sometimes referred to as 'tuner kits.'
I think a number of kits are $5-7K, and I am not sure if they include fuel systems. If not add $1000 - $1500 depending on the level you are shooting for powerwise.
Thanks guys, that gives me some ball park figures which is all I was looking for.
As for bolt-ons, I assume that you still want the same hi-flowing exhaust, y, LT's, 90/90 etc on a turbo car that you would want on a H/C car. So I could do all of my bolt-ons first and then decide what route to go without having to make any changes, correct?
As for bolt-ons, I assume that you still want the same hi-flowing exhaust, y, LT's, 90/90 etc on a turbo car that you would want on a H/C car. So I could do all of my bolt-ons first and then decide what route to go without having to make any changes, correct?
If you going to go with a turbo up front then I would stay with the manifolds until you're absolutely sure what route you want to go but if you're going to be running a STS type turbo then I would do the LT's for the time being...No since of wasting money especially since some of the LT's are running upwards of $1200...It's best to plan out your route that you want to take first and then start going from there...
Trending Topics
some AFRs are $2000+ assembled
big cam - $300-400
timing chain, oil pump, gaskets - $300-400
pushrods - $100-200
so expect $3K+ for a "top performing" package and make around 450-475hp.
most street tuner turbo kits are $3k-4k and youll make anywhere from 415-500hp.
IMO, FI is more streetable. You can always turn up the boost. i didnt count pump/injector prices because youll be buying them no matter what route you take.
I would search around for inexpensive turbo options. sts, GMR, and others. Also, i forgot to factor in exhaust. If you go h/c youll def need to get some bolt-ons. At least a ls6/ported tb. so factor in $400-500 for that and at least $1k for exhaust just to reach that 450-475hp mark with h/c.
big cam - $300-400
timing chain, oil pump, gaskets - $300-400
pushrods - $100-200
so expect $3K+ for a "top performing" package and make around 450-475hp.
most street tuner turbo kits are $3k-4k and youll make anywhere from 415-500hp.
IMO, FI is more streetable. You can always turn up the boost. i didnt count pump/injector prices because youll be buying them no matter what route you take.
I would search around for inexpensive turbo options. sts, GMR, and others. Also, i forgot to factor in exhaust. If you go h/c youll def need to get some bolt-ons. At least a ls6/ported tb. so factor in $400-500 for that and at least $1k for exhaust just to reach that 450-475hp mark with h/c.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
depends on what you can do yourself. do it all yourself for around $2500.
If you have to job everything out prices go way up. Buying a kit is expensive also. The only thing a kit offers is the piping fabbed. If you can weld or know someone who can fab for you that will be greatly cheaper.
If you have to job everything out prices go way up. Buying a kit is expensive also. The only thing a kit offers is the piping fabbed. If you can weld or know someone who can fab for you that will be greatly cheaper.
Originally Posted by mahhddgtp
I wouldn't ever do an FI project without having $15,000 ready to spend.
I am getting very close to that with turbo kit, supension, tranny, clutch, 9inch rear, and fuel system
still lack a forged engine
Originally Posted by 98turbls1
If you going to go with a turbo up front then I would stay with the manifolds until you're absolutely sure what route you want to go but if you're going to be running a STS type turbo then I would do the LT's for the time being...No since of wasting money especially since some of the LT's are running upwards of $1200...It's best to plan out your route that you want to take first and then start going from there...
Unless you do a rear mount turbo you won't need longtube headers.
Turbo kits come with their own manifolds that the turbo mounts too( with a crossover pipe)
With the rear mounts, the turbo is in the back so you "could" run longtubes if you wanted.
Turbo kits come with their own manifolds that the turbo mounts too( with a crossover pipe)
With the rear mounts, the turbo is in the back so you "could" run longtubes if you wanted.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Socal
id say 10k would be safe for a nice setup.
I was looking at the PTK with 76gts. With fmic/ fuel/ installation/tuning/ few other boltons, im still looking at close to 10 g's. Would love to make 500-550whp on stock internal engine.
I am really starting to consider the sts kit now.
I agree with the above post though. To really do it right the first time, id figure have a budget of 15K.
I was looking at the PTK with 76gts. With fmic/ fuel/ installation/tuning/ few other boltons, im still looking at close to 10 g's. Would love to make 500-550whp on stock internal engine.
I am really starting to consider the sts kit now.
I agree with the above post though. To really do it right the first time, id figure have a budget of 15K.
