Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

~LOW budget turbo build~

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 03:16 AM
  #21  
ninetres's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (35)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 4
From: Mufflerville, CA
Default

Originally Posted by my01ws6
Im tired of people telling me the only way to do it is to buy a kit, everyone says custom kits wont work etc etc etc. These are usually coming from guys who have 0 experience with a homemade kit and who are rich and have money to blow. I on the other hand do not. Thats what my point was. The first thing i always hear is your gonna spend more than what a kit cost and to be honest i find that hard to believe.

PMed!!!
Its not possible. Sorry.

Turbo
WG
BOV
IC
guages
pillar
fans
Fuel pump
injectors
rails
fuel fittings/lines
oil lines
silicone
t clamps
catch can/PCV mods
maniflds
heads (or at least springs/pushrods)
down pipe/muffler
TUNE TUNE TUNE


Tranny upgrades
drive shaft
rear end upgrades
tires that will let you feel what you spent thousands on


just off the top of my head. Thank again budget man!
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 04:03 AM
  #22  
navymitch12's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by my01ws6
Im tired of people telling me the only way to do it is to buy a kit, everyone says custom kits wont work etc etc etc. These are usually coming from guys who have 0 experience with a homemade kit and who are rich and have money to blow. I on the other hand do not. Thats what my point was. The first thing i always hear is your gonna spend more than what a kit cost and to be honest i find that hard to believe.

PMed!!!
prove them wrong!
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 04:49 AM
  #23  
my01ws6's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Default

Originally Posted by navymitch12
prove them wrong!
Thats my plan

Give me about 3 months.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 05:37 AM
  #24  
red90cobra's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 0
From: Murphy, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by my01ws6
Thats my plan

Give me about 3 months.

okay so you say your gonna take 3 months and not spend over 3k. okay. cool. now is that just the turbo kit or does it include supporting mods like fuel and tunning etc.?
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 05:45 AM
  #25  
my01ws6's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Default

I will get all this for under $3k depending on if i find good deals or not it could be ALOT less.

Turbo
All Fittings and clamps
Feed and Return lines
Piping
Waste Gate
boost guage
A/F guage
Boost Controller
Intercooler
I/C Piping
Pushrods
Valve springs
cam
Heads
42lb inj
fuel pump
clutch
tune

I think that is just about what every other kit comes with....except for the fact I get to choose all my own parts and its about half the price
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 05:49 AM
  #26  
red90cobra's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 0
From: Murphy, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by my01ws6
I will get all this for under $3k

Turbo
All Fittings and clamps
Feed and Return lines
Piping
Waste Gate
boost guage
A/F guage
Boost Controller
Intercooler
I/C Piping
Pushrods
Valve springs
cam
Heads
42lb inj
fuel pump
clutch
tune

I think that is just about what every other kit comes with....except for the fact I get to choose all my own parts
should be interesting. I guess you could do it. but I wouldn't skimp on the clutch though.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 05:50 AM
  #27  
my01ws6's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Default

i priced out a $600 clutch and about $100 for misc parts
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 06:06 AM
  #28  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default

Originally Posted by my01ws6
I will get all this for under $3k depending on if i find good deals or not it could be ALOT less.

Turbo
All Fittings and clamps
Feed and Return lines
Piping
Waste Gate
boost guage
A/F guage
Boost Controller
Intercooler
I/C Piping
Pushrods
Valve springs
cam
Heads
42lb inj
fuel pump
clutch
tune

I think that is just about what every other kit comes with....except for the fact I get to choose all my own parts and its about half the price
LOL.. this will be good. Im going to bookmark this thread so I can bring it back to the top in 3 month
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 06:11 AM
  #29  
navymitch12's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

watching this one for sure
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 07:33 AM
  #30  
SINISTER's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by my01ws6
Has anyone here done a LOW budget turbo set up? If so how much did it cost?

If not how much do you think I could build one for, buying used, off of ebay, classifieds, doing most the work myself. etc etc etc

no such thing...

yeah you can save boat loads iif you got the skill to do it your self..but parts still cost what they do..do it right the first time...and you wont end up spending needless expenses in the long wrong fixing the cheep **** you bought
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:18 AM
  #31  
DSG's Avatar
DSG
10 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 568
Likes: 0
From: St Petersburg, Fl
Default

The term low budget does not even come out of my mouth when it comes to building my turbo. I will spend as much money as needed to do it right the first time. My parts list is quickly approaching 20k....Ughhh
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:21 AM
  #32  
RICE ETR's Avatar
Turbo Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Default

As already mentioned...the actual turbo kit part can be done on a semi budget...I have maybe $2500 in mine total including catback....will have to add it up to get a better estimate...it's the supporting mods listed above that send your "budget" through the roof. Cost goes up exponentially with power/ET.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:30 AM
  #33  
CHRISPY's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,341
Likes: 1
Default

For super budget kit you could try the following:

6L manifolds - 50-100 bucks
turbo zone kit - 1500 on sale (includes crossover, downpipe, charge pipe to t-body and they'll plump it for alky
MPT70 - Probably find this for about 500 bucks. Otherwise you are looking at about a grand for a T67
wastegate
BOV
TR6 plugs
Fans (pusher) 250-500 easily
Alky control setup - ~500 bucks
HP Tuners or similar with wideband - ~700 bucks

You could probably tune it to run 4#'s without alky on stock injectors and use alky for supplemental fueling up to ~8#'s boost. Ideally injectors and a pump should be on the list too. That'll add about 700-1000 depending on what you go with.

In comparision a dry kit can be bought for $299 and ~$120 for a window switch. That with TR6 plugs and you'll make the same power

Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:35 AM
  #34  
Frost's Avatar
FormerVendor
iTrader: (45)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,913
Likes: 2
From: Richmond VA
Default

Thread starter:

You have been PMing me for the last several days... 500-550rwhp will be much more affordable than the 800 you were PMing me about. The reason I gave you the high numbers is that I was in a similar position myself, but sooner or later you will have to break the bank if your target is greater than about 650rwhp. Somewhere around that number is where **** gets expensive.

The thread starter was mentioning a shop that was doing the work for him, so budget is gone right there. Rice Etr, that $2500 you spent is sourcing everything yourself, doing all of the hot-side welding as well... I know that 76GTS is around $1800 give or take by itself... I do not believe any shop would do that type of work for him for anywhere close to what you have in it. Did that $2500 include your bare minimum of supporting bits like boost guage, fuel pressure guage, and wideband with the guage pillar? Did it include the bigger injectors and aftermarket fuel pump?

It's just the ugly truth of FI; it's expensive. ...and enough with the "silver platter" bullshit, I have alot of money into my setup by I WORK A ******* LOT to pay for it. Ask ANYONE on here that actually knows me...
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:40 AM
  #35  
jRaskell's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 648
Likes: 1
From: NH
Default

Originally Posted by my01ws6
I have know MANY MANY MANY MANY people who do these cheap build up and have 0 problems what so ever. I mean its basically the same conpept whether you buy TOP OF THE LINE PARTS or whether you buy cheap parts.
You should be talking to those MANY MANY MANY MANY people then, not coming here. I actually know a few people who have done this as well on older cars, none of them had 0 problems though. None of them took less than a couple years to finally get the car running well either. It IS an option, but it requires a LOT of your own time and effort. Piecemealing a system together like this is going to create a LOT of issues, plain and simple. Mating parts together, finding the room and clearances necessary to fit them in the engine bay (and there is very little space to work with in our engine bays). Diagnosing and eliminating all the little gremlins in the system, and they WILL be in there.

And if there is one thing that you should not even think of going budget with, it's the turbo itself. You get what you pay for, and buying a cheap turbo gets you just that, a cheap turbo. Do you really want to go cheap on something that's going to spin 70,000-90,000RPMs? That's a cheap ticket to an expensive engine rebuild there. Do it right, or do it over.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:40 AM
  #36  
MattZ28's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default

Originally Posted by SuperZ
i think i have about 3500K in mine
3,500,000 is a lot for a turbo kit
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:44 AM
  #37  
bowtieman81's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (35)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 0
From: Maryland/Illinois
Default

I think what Chrispy posted was about as budget as you can go.

I tried to go budget by purchasing a used kit. Got screwed on that and ended up spending about as much as the new one to fix/replace components. I thought I could have a good kit that would make 550 rwhp for about 4k$. Not so.

Are you planning to use a lot of that ss autochrome stuff? From others experience I woud not use any of their parts.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 09:06 AM
  #38  
NXRICKY's Avatar
Closed ex-Sponsor Account
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Falls, TX
Default

A budget build can happen. But if you are already spending 2500-3000k wait another month or so, and buy something on the market that has been proven, on fittment, working, and looks. The amount of time figuring a project out is money.(like posted early). If your thinking a month to do a project like this, add a few more into the puzzle. Alot of time is just looking and figuring where to put stuff.
I have built budget kits, that cost me in parts under 2k. Now it also cost me 6 months of time, and really was not happy with it in the end.
and I already owned welding and cutting equipment.
It can do done but at what cost?
I hope your happy with the end results.
Latest build on my own so far 3k in parts and still buying strong.

Ricky
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 11:05 AM
  #39  
Ping King's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 9
From: PA
Default

i built my setup on the cheap...BUT...i had most of the supporting mods and other stuff laying around already.


50 bucks for a set of gibson truck headers.
Cut up an old MAC header i had laying around
560 dollar turbo off of a greyhound bus.
used 46mm wastegate
ebay front mount.
50 dollar used vortech mondo bypass
and i built the kit using steel exhaust pipe.
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 11:12 AM
  #40  
RICE ETR's Avatar
Turbo Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by Frost
The thread starter was mentioning a shop that was doing the work for him, so budget is gone right there. Rice Etr, that $2500 you spent is sourcing everything yourself, doing all of the hot-side welding as well... I know that 76GTS is around $1800 give or take by itself... I do not believe any shop would do that type of work for him for anywhere close to what you have in it. Did that $2500 include your bare minimum of supporting bits like boost guage, fuel pressure guage, and wideband with the guage pillar? Did it include the bigger injectors and aftermarket fuel pump?
True...that's why i said the turbo kit itself....which is just the turbo, IC, WG, BOV, piping, clamps, hoses, fittings, etc. I cut the flanges here at work on our laser and also used our nice grade 8 hardware. The welder was given to me by a family member who passed. Everything else to support the kit is where I had to spend the money...gauges, WB, allky kit, injectors, fuel pump, tuning, rearend, cage, subframes, etc.
Of course i am not factoring the week it took me to build it and the time to source the parts.

FWIW...I got my turbo for a steal....I paid just under a grand for it new from the 3rd owner.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:26 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE