Budget Turbo Build.

[Rhunadan]

Hi everyone.
I would like to setup a turbo on my 96 Camaro. After a lot of research and head scratching, I've decided on a remote setup where the muffler usually sits. I want to spend as little cash as I have to , so I'll be fabricating all the plumbing myself. Where I'm having difficulty, is locating a suitable turbo at a scrap yard. My question then is, can someone recommend a donor car with a suitably sized turbo? This will always be a summer DD and occasionally at the track.

Thanks.

[CM boyd]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

Remote turbo build is already a cheap FI solution. However, you are not going to find a decent junkyard turbo that will be able to put you in the proper efficiency range for your setup.
Go to ebay and get a cheap $200 to $300 Chinese turbo with an AR.63 on the hot side and .60 cold. There are alot of Garrett rebuilt ones that you can find too.

[N2OEQIP]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

fast
cheap
reliable


pick 2.

lol. get a new turbo.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

I always lol a little when I see budget and build in the same sentence.

[Rhunadan]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

I have a $1000 budget for this project. Am I being unrealistic?

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

I have a $1000 budget for this project. Am I being unrealistic?

ALITTLE I would say yes. A decently reliable Turbo is going to cost upward $600. $2k for your build might be a bit more realistic.

[N2OEQIP]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

tune= 500ish
turbo a good turbo, 800
wastegate 125ish used
oil pump 150ish
flanges 60ish
piping 150 ish
bov 50 for a cheap one as much as 200ish for a decent one
fuel pump 150ish
injectors 300 for new ones

i see its a 96 so a 97 pcm 100+ bucks


now this is a shell of stuff.

1000 bucks, i'd do a nitrous kit.

[ssms5411]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

fast
cheap
reliable


pick 2.

lol. get a new turbo.

This is your answer. Sure you can go cheap but in the end you'll be buying new parts anyway so why not buy new parts, then you need tunning and a wideband. Plus plenty of other extra stuff.

[Rhunadan]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

I can't use Nitrous on the street where I live, hence the turbo.
As far as tuning and all the supporting mods, those are already planned even if I don't go to FI. I have a 97 pcm and will be buying the tuning software shortly.
By the way,does someone have a P/N or brand name for a good wide-band O2 sensor? I'll be installing new flowmaster exhaust next weekend and it would be a good time to get that in there as well.

[Rhunadan]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

I guess I'll be working some overtime. I'd like to do this right.
Thanks for the input.

[N2OEQIP]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

I can't use Nitrous on the street where I live, hence the turbo.
As far as tuning and all the supporting mods, those are already planned even if I don't go to FI. I have a 97 pcm and will be buying the tuning software shortly.
By the way,does someone have a P/N or brand name for a good wide-band O2 sensor? I'll be installing new flowmaster exhaust next weekend and it would be a good time to get that in there as well.

wideband= aem

flowmaster exhaust? then your gonna hack it off for a turbo?

[Fondle]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

do not get a flow master, flowmaster has been dyno proven to make worse hp over stock

second, aem wideband ftw!

third,you can build a turbo kit for under 1000, but dont buy a cheap turbo or a cheap wastegate, especially a junk yard turbo, no telling how long its been sitting or what kind of condition it is in, and they dont make that much power to begin with,make sure you get name brand good quality items

[Rhunadan]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

Turbo is winter project. I need a new exhaust this summer though. Old one is full of holes.

[ssms5411]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

PLX wideband is also great, mine has had no peoblems for over 8 years. You also have to decide on what style of turbo pipping your going to go with , that will add alot more to your budget.

[Firebirdedgar]

Re: Budget Turbo Build.

its doable
cheap t/3t4 or if you want but its gonna be tiny so you might even buy two of them some turbos of a sr20det motor. they go for like 150....do some log manis and cheap ebay intercooler. forget blowoffvalve..theyre useless....get all the neccasary lines and ur tune... 200 dollars more fore a summit wideband...and do a tune