turbo kit selection woes

[crioten]

This summer im going to turbo my 91 240, and im trying to figure out which route would be better for me, I have a pretty decent understanding of cars, but im not a pro at this, and im trying to learn and make my car better a the same time. I was wondering if you could help me decide which turbo kit I should get, remember im on a budget and im not trying to go way over.

Right now im looking at two kits, the new one from greddy and a local shop that is making one for my car. The only problem is that I am not sure what it will take to get the greddy kit to work on my car, that’s another question I have as well: what will it take for the greddy kit to run on my car?

The greddy kit has: ~$3,000
-Cast manifold
-Greddy 20g turbo
-370cc injectors
-Fuel rail
-Pre-programmed e-manage
-Airnix air intake system
-All piping, couplings, oil lines, heat shields, and hardware

The Bi-State Customs kit has: $1,800
-T3/T4 turbo
-Tial wastegate
-Log-style manifold
-3” downpipe and gaskets
-All oil fittings and lines
-Hot pipe + maybe other pipes

Price is an important issue, I will be getting all the necessary gauges and other items, but what in the long run, after it is all up and running, will cost me less for the initial set-up?

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can help me out with selecting the best one, and what is missing from both of these kits to make it run properly? Ill also be getting some kind of generic FMIC, any suggestions on size/brand for this?

Also, how much of a difference is there between the two turbos? How fast is the spool up/max hp does each have?

im looking for informed responses, not flaming assholes...its not like i havent done any research...its just that i have some questions that i dont know yet

Thanks in advance
-Glen

[andrave]

it doesn't appear that either kit comes with an intercooler, and the second kit doesn't address you fuel...
and you need to address your fuel and you probably will want an intercooler.
for your fmic I'd get something off ebay, don't got for the huge 3" in/out 24x36 cores, but get something decent, a crossflow design suits the 240 best since the turbo outlet is on one side and the throttle body is on the other.

for spool up I really can't imagine that much difference, but I would guess that would depend greatly on the T3/T4 you used.
as far as max hp I don't know anyone who has maxed out that particular greddy turbo but I'd say it would support 350 hp or possibly a little more...
a T3/T4, again, depends on the turbo you use.
find out more about the second kit. get a list of what it doesn't include that you will need... piping, FMU or some sort of fuel upgrade (hacked mafs?) and then do the math... figure it out.

[crioten]

ive been talking to the shop that is making the kit and they are a little slow with everything...

thanks for the info, and what would be the best way to go for the fuel? say 370-550cc injectors, 255 walbro fuel pump, but what about the fmu?

-glen

[phatkorean]

You might want to pay attention to intercoolers a little bit more for your application. Here, check this out. http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/turbo/intercooler.html It's a long read, but tells you more about Intercoolers than you will ever want to know.

[RedlineRacer]

I would never buy a kit. You can get whats in most kits for half the price if you buy it in pieces. Here's my list of what I will be using for my turbo project:

T3 turbo: $135 (used)
Tial wastegate: $150
HKS BOV: $200
SR20DET injectors: $100 (used)
Walbro fuel pump: $100
Rev-Hard manifold: $375
Hacked MAFS: $150
Griffen intercooler:$800 (not positive on this price, buy I live near the Griffen plant, and they will do it custom)
Oil lines: $100
Downpipe: $200
-----
Total $2310

That setup should be good up to 12 psi and it is almost the same as the greddy kit for almost $700 cheaper.

[andrave]

I'd say if you had to compromise skimp on the rediculous $200 dollar bov (1st gen eclipse will work fine for $5 from a junkyard) and get a better turbo. a junkyard T3 might be cheap but its probably not going to be the optimal choice for your engine. Do your homework first.
The revhard manifold has a T4 flange and only accomodates on center turbos...
they are hard to find and are not as efficient as tangential housings. It is also prone to cracking, and is a bottom mount manifold.

I'd avoid it.
A hacked mafs should not cost $150 dollars, I'm a little confused at that... it only costs as much as the pipe you mount the mafs in. Should be cheap cheap cheap.

Why would you spend 800 dollars on a custom intercooler for a 120 dollar junkyard turbo? thats rediculous. It isn't running snake oil, you don't need to spend that much on an IC.
Oil lines should only cost you 40 bucks, I don't see how you would spend 100... thats enough to buy materials to do oil lines for 3 cars!
And if you can weld then 200 for a downpipe is also a high estimate, but if you take it to a muffler shop I would suppose that would be accurate... especially if you have to buy the mandrel bends.

You need to think this stuff out a little better.

[crioten]

hmmmm, no it seems like i should put together my own custom turbo kit...now all i need to do is find out what i shoud get in the lines of everything lol...

i do plan on going higher boost, so what should i do? anyone want to be so kind as to post what their custom setups are and how much their parts cost them?

-glen

[Nismopu]

Audi 1000 Turbo wasgate adjustable to 12psi, you can find one on E-bay
Or get a internaly regulated turbocharger!
Isuzu NPR intercooler ranked second in "Autospeeds Worlds Biggest Intercooler Comparo" $150
Any junkyard turbo should be $50 since they cant verify its condition
OIl lines from JGS tools
Manifold from JGS tools
Ceramic coated exhaust tubing is cheap and ultra effective you can buy 8 feet worth through summit racing and go have it coated
Honestly though you do have to equate the $100 in misc crap that you forget about/ break. Like head studs, the ones on your head will not handle the new heat increase and nissan sells specific turbo studs at the dealer.
Downpipe JGStools.com
Fuel Management suggestions: Perfect Power, Haltech, SDS, Mega Squirt
All these range from $150-$1100

[Var]

www.realnissan.com

they have a tubular turbo manifold that sells for 290 bucks plus shipping. Cast iron for 390 bucks plus shipping. Anyone have anything to say about realnissan? i would like to know because im thinking of buying from them. Also where do they sell oil fittings? thanks.

edit: what kind of MAF swaps can you do with the ka24e if you wanted to go with a turbo?

[95Blue240sx]

oil lines are around $80. i just ordered all my crap through work. this is at a employee discount. i got all endura fittings and crap with ss lines, both for oil pressure and oil return. regular street price would be around 120+ for the crap i ordered. so ~$100 for likes and fittings is right.

[andrave]

why would you use endura fittings?
you can use steel fittings for a lot less, around 30 bucks for materials.

[95Blue240sx]

i got steel fittings from a local shop.

endura fittings are the russel hole line fittings, it goes at the end of a SS hose. you get what i am saying? im not going to put regular hoses for my turbo. plus they got that nice bling to it hehe.

[crioten]

i think ive decided to go with their custom kit, and was wondering what size intercooler i should get? what Core Length, Core Height, Core Thickness, and Inlet/Outlet Size would be good?

i plan on building the engine too, so id like to have it last somewhere around 350hp....

thanks
-glen

[Muzzy]

u can get a stainless steel DP from racingworks.com
(its not 304 sus though)
i got one..pretty pimp. its only 73mm but its good enough for me.
but....its for an SR (T28 or T25 will work with either.) so if u do run a bottom mount set up with a T25 or T28 check it out.

[RedlineRacer]

Originally posted by andrave
I'd say if you had to compromise skimp on the rediculous $200 dollar bov (1st gen eclipse will work fine for $5 from a junkyard) and get a better turbo. a junkyard T3 might be cheap but its probably not going to be the optimal choice for your engine. Do your homework first.
The revhard manifold has a T4 flange and only accomodates on center turbos...
they are hard to find and are not as efficient as tangential housings. It is also prone to cracking, and is a bottom mount manifold.

I'd avoid it.
A hacked mafs should not cost $150 dollars, I'm a little confused at that... it only costs as much as the pipe you mount the mafs in. Should be cheap cheap cheap.

Why would you spend 800 dollars on a custom intercooler for a 120 dollar junkyard turbo? thats rediculous. It isn't running snake oil, you don't need to spend that much on an IC.
Oil lines should only cost you 40 bucks, I don't see how you would spend 100... thats enough to buy materials to do oil lines for 3 cars!
And if you can weld then 200 for a downpipe is also a high estimate, but if you take it to a muffler shop I would suppose that would be accurate... especially if you have to buy the mandrel bends.

You need to think this stuff out a little better.

The turbo I bought is in great shape. And it might not be 150 for a hacked MAFS, but maybe. I have an s13, so I need to buy a s14 mafs, then I will need to buy the piping. I know I will not get the piping size perfect for first time, so I will have to do some trial and error. Yeah, I am gonna have to buy some mandrel pipes, cause there aren't any shops near me that have a mandrel bender (trust, I have looked everywhere) and I will have to have a shop weld the downpipe. So it might not be 200, but maybe. I set all of my calculations high for a reason. I am sure there will be things that pop up that I know I didn't count for. It's better to aim a little high than cut yourself short and not have enough money. And I want a good intercooler. I don't wanna have to upgrade later on. Why not do it right the first time?

[Muzzy]

Why not do it right the first time?

RedLineRacer:
ahahahaha !!!:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
you gotta be kidding!!!
if u were to do it right the first time your would get a new turbo, new injectors, and not run a hacked MAF at least. if it actually cost 150 to do the hacked maf u might as well go with a Z32 or cobra maf.
Crioten:
oh and if u wanna build to 350...u gonna need some pistion, head work,...basicaly a rebuild unless u have a really low mileage motor, 550cc injectors, T3/T4 turbo, big IC, and larger piping(maybe) homeslice.

[Ghettokracker71]

from Unstable-hybrids.com you can get a top mount turbo manifold for KA,with downpipe flange ,for T3 turbo,shipped for $450

Greddy makes a turbo kit for the S13? crioten you said 1991 right? I didn't think Trust or GReddy made ANYTHING for the RPs13,not that I have found, I would,and am going for an "eBay/Junkyard turbo build-up" myself....ask Travis Forced Induction Racing(www.Fi-R..com)about his turbo kits for the s13,he offers good stuff,and make sure to check out ka24de.com for other engine parts

[crioten]

i know that greddy doesnt make a turbo kit for the s13, they make one for the s14, and i was going to try and make that one fit on the s13....but there is too much work, plus the emanage wont work correctly, its password protected...so basically id have to buy another emanage from greddy....

i think im just going to get all the other things, like fuel management, fuel pump, gauges, fmic and all the other stuff, then when it comes down to the point weather i get a turbo kit or piece one together one myself, ill see what will be a little cheaper for me...

and thanks for all the info guys

-glen

[Ghettokracker71]

gotcha! I was thinking I didn't know of a turbo kit for the DOHC S13 that was reasonalbly priced for what you got (parts+gain in power) ....well good luck with the project !

[tchenku]

revhard's cast iron manifold is prone to cracking:confused:

I was directed to this iBoost (http://www.iboost.org)

their site is has not been up for a long while but the manifold kit goes for $153 (you'll have to call them to order..). I believe it's similar to JGS toolkit

[Jeff240sx]

Originally posted by tchenku
revhard's cast iron manifold is prone to cracking:confused:


Seems hit-and-miss. 6psi for 1.5 years and no cracking issues. I'm going to get it ceramic coated after christmas though, because its rusting in Florida salty air (iron rusts :(

I think everyone knows, but on a RH mani and top mount T4 turbo, I'm running a sr20det downpipe. I just have a small J-tube connecting turbo to dp.

-Jeff