Possible turbo, questions inside

[insidethreat07]

Ive been tossing the idea of a turbo around to keep up with my friends lol. Any links to what I would need. Im not looking for stupid amount of boost. Would I need to upgrade my valvetrain, or could I leave it sotck?
Or maybe Im getting in wayyyyy over my head. If I do go this route Im going to have Mark (FastEddie) help me out on this adventure haha.
Also 2001 V6. A4 with 3.42s. Id mostly be driving it on weekend to and from the drag strip.

Derek

[insidethreat07]

Re: Possible turbo, questions inside

This is what my buddie sent me. Same setup he has. Ran 13.7 with his 91 3.1L
Turbo:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/T3-T4-T04E-H...item3a699fa3a3
Intercooler:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-FR...item33559b61e2
WasteGate:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/38MM-VR-STYL...item33764c891b
O2 Sensor:
http://14point7.com/SLC-DIY-2.php

[thebeewantsboost]

Re: Possible turbo, questions inside

well, you will need more expensive tuning software than that of your friends.
valve train can stay the same, but you'll probably need more injector, definitely a stronger fuel pump, colder plugs, nkg tr6's are good. the piping is where it gets fun. those ebay turbo's are kind of taking a risk, from what i hear, but i've never used one. you'll need a bov. i would definitely go with a 180 thermostat. definitely not a weekend project.

[insidethreat07]

Re: Possible turbo, questions inside

well, you will need more expensive tuning software than that of your friends.
valve train can stay the same, but you'll probably need more injector, definitely a stronger fuel pump, colder plugs, nkg tr6's are good. the piping is where it gets fun. those ebay turbo's are kind of taking a risk, from what i hear, but i've never used one. you'll need a bov. i would definitely go with a 180 thermostat. definitely not a weekend project.

If anything this will be a winter project, I just hate sinking a lot of $$$ into it haha
I know fast,reliable, cheap, pick 2

[2.8 Bird]

Re: Possible turbo, questions inside

There are a couple of turbos on sale at the For Sale section. It'll save you some headache in fabbing it.

[MegaHertz]

Re: Possible turbo, questions inside

I've always tried to plan a budget turbo in my head and the hot-side piping is usually the hardest and most labor intensive part and thats where my plans sit. Unless you or a friend knows how to weld decently that will get expensive to have made. Even if you can make it flanges, collectors, piping and bends all add up. I bought a welder (flux/mig if I add gas $500) with hopes to do my own exhaust work and possibly a turbo setup but from the little I've played around I've realized it is a skill that will take some dedication to learn.

As far as the other parts you have listed you look ok, though the turbo looks a little cheap and maybe on the smallish side but if you don't go over 7-8lbs of boost you may be within its efficiency zone. With boost low you might be able to get away with a fuel management unit or pressure regulator and a wideband rather than full on tuning but it's much less of an exact science and riskier as you have no control over anything other than fuel pressure likely running richer than optimal to protect from detonation (don't forget to price in vacuum tubing and connectors to boost gauge, fpr, bov etc). You will definitely need the fuel pump like bee said, possibly more than the standard upgrade with the increased pressure requirements of a regulator (I'm not sure what the stock plastic lines are rated to). Plugs aren't expensive in the grand scheme of things. You should definitely have already upgraded the exhaust all the way back to 2.75 or 3 as the turbo will add some backpressure. If you go away from the fmu or fpr you will deff need hptuners which is $500 (i think) as well as the bigger injectors (a couple hundredish?). Silicone spark plug wires to protect from the increased engine bay heat with the turbo and newly routed exhaust, if you have them you may need new ones to route around a new exhaust setup.