Suggestions on custom turbo kit
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Orlando, Fl
Suggestions on custom turbo kit I was originally just gonna buy a kit like gmr or something and eventually go from there. Then I saw the new sponsor turbo zone so I had the idea to just buy the hot parts and go from there. I dont know too much about this Fi stuff.
Me and some friends know this guy, he is into muscle as well but he has a corolla and he has turbocharged it and all. There is a good local shop that he used and he is good friends with them. Well he pieced his kit together using ebay and what not for the turbo, bov, and some other items and had this shop install it and I think fab a little bit(whatever he culdnt find on ebay), whatever he needed them to do. Well my good friend who knows him said that everything total was like $1500. Apparently he thinks I could put a custom kit, a twin turbo one at that for around $3k. I guess he said to piece it, get the turbos and some other things like he did, off of ebay and have this shop install it and finish it. He was talking about using the t3/t4 turbos or something.
Would it work to piece it together off of ebay(buy turbos, bov, along with someo ther things), then have this shop fab up some stuff and install it? I guess since he knows them they would probably do the install and work pretty cheap. The shop however is a good shop and have built some nice cars, ex: 1000rwhp mustang and some other nice cars. Like I said, I dont know much about this, so any input and advice would be appreciated. Im trying to contact him and meet up with the owner of the shop. Youre input and advice is appreciated.
Me and some friends know this guy, he is into muscle as well but he has a corolla and he has turbocharged it and all. There is a good local shop that he used and he is good friends with them. Well he pieced his kit together using ebay and what not for the turbo, bov, and some other items and had this shop install it and I think fab a little bit(whatever he culdnt find on ebay), whatever he needed them to do. Well my good friend who knows him said that everything total was like $1500. Apparently he thinks I could put a custom kit, a twin turbo one at that for around $3k. I guess he said to piece it, get the turbos and some other things like he did, off of ebay and have this shop install it and finish it. He was talking about using the t3/t4 turbos or something.
Would it work to piece it together off of ebay(buy turbos, bov, along with someo ther things), then have this shop fab up some stuff and install it? I guess since he knows them they would probably do the install and work pretty cheap. The shop however is a good shop and have built some nice cars, ex: 1000rwhp mustang and some other nice cars. Like I said, I dont know much about this, so any input and advice would be appreciated. Im trying to contact him and meet up with the owner of the shop. Youre input and advice is appreciated.
you can piece together your own kit for less than you can buy one for. but if I were you, I would stay away from buying turbo's off of ebay. get them from someone that will stand behind it and you can contact if you have any problems with it. forcedinductions.com is where you should start. jose is very knowledgeable and will help you out over the phone with your project. Theres a lot more too it than just finding any old turbo and putting it on your car.
I agree find a shop and stay away from e-bay. If there are problems a shop is there after the purchase to help. I went with speed inc for a custom set up. Very knowledgable shop!
Piecing a kit together will cost about the same as getting one made or more unless you can do all the welding or have it done for free.
For example I had a shop quote me welding on a set of 304 twin turbo headers (Pure labor quote - I have all flanges, bends, etc) and the cost was $1500 - no down pipes, intake pipe, etc.
Now I'm not saying all shops cost that much, but your better off buying a pre-made kit like HiFlo or GMR.
I also talked to Turbo-Zone last week and it did not sound like their kits were very exceptional for the price, uncoated mild steel on the LT1 hot pipe kit for $1500 (log header).
Also you need to keep in mind there is a lot more to a turbo kit than a set of pipes, intercooler, wastegate and a turbo. You will need a map sensor, fuel system, tuning, etc etc - I'm into my 98 twin turbo car over 20k in just expensive stuff.
One more thing - be careful with ebay turbos - don't get SSAC/XSPower / no name turbos.
Stuff like authentic garrett, precision, master power should be ok, just don't get a cheap chineese knock off trying to save a few dollars.
For example I had a shop quote me welding on a set of 304 twin turbo headers (Pure labor quote - I have all flanges, bends, etc) and the cost was $1500 - no down pipes, intake pipe, etc.
Now I'm not saying all shops cost that much, but your better off buying a pre-made kit like HiFlo or GMR.
I also talked to Turbo-Zone last week and it did not sound like their kits were very exceptional for the price, uncoated mild steel on the LT1 hot pipe kit for $1500 (log header).
Also you need to keep in mind there is a lot more to a turbo kit than a set of pipes, intercooler, wastegate and a turbo. You will need a map sensor, fuel system, tuning, etc etc - I'm into my 98 twin turbo car over 20k in just expensive stuff.
One more thing - be careful with ebay turbos - don't get SSAC/XSPower / no name turbos.
Stuff like authentic garrett, precision, master power should be ok, just don't get a cheap chineese knock off trying to save a few dollars.
I am starting this adventure now for my TA. I am going to do all the turbo fabbing myself with the help of a couple of friends who can weld better that me. I am going to use the 6.0 manifolds and go from there.
Boostaholic - you should get your facts straight before critisizing the kits we make. The LT1 street kit uses a log manifold because it's a simple design and functional. Our LT1 race kits do NOT. The LS1 kits are adaptive to our own design (headers for keeping A/C), as well as, using truck manifolds (no A/C) to allow other people to afford an FI setup.
I'm sure in your eyes an all stainless steel turbo kit would be "exceptional". However, most people don't have the money to afford a kit made with SS headers and SS hot side piping with Aluminum cold side piping. Have you priced metal lately?
Also, the kits are made with Aluminized Mild Steel, do you know the difference?
Again - please don't make mention of our kits when you don't know all the facts. Thank you!
I'm sure in your eyes an all stainless steel turbo kit would be "exceptional". However, most people don't have the money to afford a kit made with SS headers and SS hot side piping with Aluminum cold side piping. Have you priced metal lately?
Also, the kits are made with Aluminized Mild Steel, do you know the difference?
Again - please don't make mention of our kits when you don't know all the facts. Thank you!
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Originally Posted by Boostaholic
I also talked to Turbo-Zone last week and it did not sound like their kits were very exceptional for the price, uncoated mild steel on the LT1 hot pipe kit for $1500 (log header).
TTi street kit: log
GMR: log
GroundZero: log
Unless you are shooting for 8's, nothing wrong with logs.
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Verdad Gallardo A basic FYI for you guys to remember when considering a purchase of kits:
99% OF CARS THAT ARE TURBOCHARGED FROM THE FACTORY HAVE MILD STEEL COMPONENTS.
Mild steel works and Aluminized Mild Steel is a bit better. I have an almost 20 year old Buick sitting outside in my driveway with....you guessed it, the factory cast exhaust manifolds with MILD STEEL TUBING.
Why mild steel? It's less expensive and reliable.
99% OF CARS THAT ARE TURBOCHARGED FROM THE FACTORY HAVE MILD STEEL COMPONENTS.
Mild steel works and Aluminized Mild Steel is a bit better. I have an almost 20 year old Buick sitting outside in my driveway with....you guessed it, the factory cast exhaust manifolds with MILD STEEL TUBING.
Why mild steel? It's less expensive and reliable.
Yeah, but it does need special attention like jet-hot coating or other coating to prevent rust and that added expense will make up a lot of the price difference.
Also there have been many non-log turbo setups lt1 and ls1.
Also there have been many non-log turbo setups lt1 and ls1.
i say do it all yourself...
read read read
http://www.turbomustangs.com
there is a lot of goof info there on DIY set-ups
read read read
http://www.turbomustangs.com
there is a lot of goof info there on DIY set-ups
Originally Posted by Boostaholic
Yeah, but it does need special attention like jet-hot coating or other coating to prevent rust and that added expense will make up a lot of the price difference.
Also there have been many non-log turbo setups lt1 and ls1.
Also there have been many non-log turbo setups lt1 and ls1.
I have aluminized mild steel exhaust on my truck that has gone through 3 NY salty winters...no rust.
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Fl
Originally Posted by Boostaholic
Piecing a kit together will cost about the same as getting one made or more unless you can do all the welding or have it done for free.
For example I had a shop quote me welding on a set of 304 twin turbo headers (Pure labor quote - I have all flanges, bends, etc) and the cost was $1500 - no down pipes, intake pipe, etc.
Now I'm not saying all shops cost that much, but your better off buying a pre-made kit like HiFlo or GMR.
I also talked to Turbo-Zone last week and it did not sound like their kits were very exceptional for the price, uncoated mild steel on the LT1 hot pipe kit for $1500 (log header).
Also you need to keep in mind there is a lot more to a turbo kit than a set of pipes, intercooler, wastegate and a turbo. You will need a map sensor, fuel system, tuning, etc etc - I'm into my 98 twin turbo car over 20k in just expensive stuff.
One more thing - be careful with ebay turbos - don't get SSAC/XSPower / no name turbos.
Stuff like authentic garrett, precision, master power should be ok, just don't get a cheap chineese knock off trying to save a few dollars.
For example I had a shop quote me welding on a set of 304 twin turbo headers (Pure labor quote - I have all flanges, bends, etc) and the cost was $1500 - no down pipes, intake pipe, etc.
Now I'm not saying all shops cost that much, but your better off buying a pre-made kit like HiFlo or GMR.
I also talked to Turbo-Zone last week and it did not sound like their kits were very exceptional for the price, uncoated mild steel on the LT1 hot pipe kit for $1500 (log header).
Also you need to keep in mind there is a lot more to a turbo kit than a set of pipes, intercooler, wastegate and a turbo. You will need a map sensor, fuel system, tuning, etc etc - I'm into my 98 twin turbo car over 20k in just expensive stuff.
One more thing - be careful with ebay turbos - don't get SSAC/XSPower / no name turbos.
Stuff like authentic garrett, precision, master power should be ok, just don't get a cheap chineese knock off trying to save a few dollars.
Well if they have done lots of custom turbo imports, I would be sure to take a look at some of their work. There is a Supra up here that had a SS big frame turbo manifold fabricated down at the local fab shop (who does great work btw) and it looked bad ***. If I ever had to have a turbo setup made to spec I would go to them for sure, infact I let them put my cage in and it turned out great.
Just do your homework is all I'm really trying to say here. I don't like seeing people learn this F/I stuff the hard way, but I guess we all learn some hard lessons along the way.
Just do your homework is all I'm really trying to say here. I don't like seeing people learn this F/I stuff the hard way, but I guess we all learn some hard lessons along the way.
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Fl
Originally Posted by Boostaholic
Well if they have done lots of custom turbo imports, I would be sure to take a look at some of their work. There is a Supra up here that had a SS big frame turbo manifold fabricated down at the local fab shop (who does great work btw) and it looked bad ***. If I ever had to have a turbo setup made to spec I would go to them for sure, infact I let them put my cage in and it turned out great.
Just do your homework is all I'm really trying to say here. I don't like seeing people learn this F/I stuff the hard way, but I guess we all learn some hard lessons along the way.
Just do your homework is all I'm really trying to say here. I don't like seeing people learn this F/I stuff the hard way, but I guess we all learn some hard lessons along the way.
If you can, I would appreciate if you could pm me the name of that fab shop. Also, im not exactly near the midwest, would I have to ship my car out there or get it to them? Im trying to stay local as best as I can.