custom-built turbo

[jaberocs]

i want to add some serious power to my v6 camaro. i was looking into a turbo kit, but theyre pretty pricey. so my friend suggested to build one, as his friend built his own. it cost him $1600, which is half the price of a kit. im thinking of going with a t3/t4 turbo. i have two questions, however:

1) can someone give me a COMPLETE list of what i'd need to build a turbo? (i have a list, but i might be missing some things)

2) what other mods do i have to do my camaro to make sure it withstands the turbo? i know the exhaust and intake, but what else?

thanks in advance!

[Tyler]

i'd suggest that since your even asking these questions.. you should ask yourself one more question..

"If i have to ask these questions, what makes me think i have enough knowledge to build my own kit?"

not to flame at you or anything but you better do some reading before you blow up your engine due to lack of knowledge.

search around. go buy MAXIMUM Boost by Corky bell and read it.

Like i said.. its not to put you down or anything. I mean i have been researching doing a turbo kit for the last 3 months. I have all the tools, talent and know how to do this very cleanly and effeciently. It's just i want things to be absolutely perfect so i don mess anything up.

[Ian]

^definately what he said.

Use online forums to get some feedback and minor advice, not to plan your project.

[jaberocs]

its cool tyler, no offense taken. its just that me and my friend (who has a prelude) are planning to build our own turbos. his friend built his own t3/t4 turbo system for like $1600. i know i still have to do a lot of research because i dont even know what some of the parts are that's required for a turbo system. i guess i will have to buy that book.

[GN-T66]

you need to get the 1600$ dollar figure out of your head.. you're going to end up spending a good bit more than that if you want to do it right.

[WishIHad$$$]

I tried to figure it all out about a year ago, my cost estimate was around $2000, not counting labor. And that was after months of extensive research. I also recommend the book by Corky Bell. Then take a look at some of the set ups of people from this board to give you a head start.

But I can answer your 2nd question if you give us more information. Let us see your list, and we can tell you what you need. As long as you are not using over 7 or 8 pounds of boost, the engine internals and fuel injectors do not need to be modified. How much boost were you planning on running?

[oil pan 4]

For you to build your own turbo kit for $1600 would be nice but I don't it's going to happen.
The guy that built his own turbo kit for $1600 probley got lucky and pulled parts off a wrecked cars and got stuff fom ebay.
The minimum cost to get my turbo into my car will be about $1800 (it will cost more to get it running right under moderet to high boost) it was $1400 but then I added some goodies like ported heads and turbo so I had to go out and buy few $100 of new porting bits and I decided to build a stand alone oiling system so I had to get oil pumps that could pump MIL-7808 (avinoic turbine engine oil).
I do all my own work my labor total will be $0 other than having the engine put in my car because I am in japan and the car is in Maine, so I can not do it.
The details are on my cardomain site.
To save lots of money on your turbo kit you have to use ebay, you have to know precisely what you need when you buy like a turbo, don't ask the guy that is selling the turbo on ebay that only gave a vauge discription if it will work on your car.
They won't know. Same thing goes for intercoolers.
If you think the seller dosen't know very much about what they are selling then they probley don't have a clue what so ever.

[jaberocs]

1) t3/t4 turbo
2) Intercooler
3) Piping
4) Fuel injectors
5) Turbo manifold
6) Fuel lines
7) Blow off valve
8) Boost controller
9) Wastegate

here was a list my friend gave me but he wasnt sure if he had everything. i might want to boost 7 psi. FFF's turbo kit says "@ 7 psi - 294 rwhp 360 rwtq," so 294 is already a lot of hp for me


i was also thinking about the fff turbo kit, but thats around $3000. if i were to get that for my 3.8 v6, what would i have to modify first?

[ September 06, 2004, 12:12 AM: Message edited by: jaberocs ]

[WishIHad$$$]

Originally posted by jaberocs:
1) t3/t4 turbo
2) Intercooler
3) Piping
4) Fuel injectors
5) Turbo manifold
6) Fuel lines
7) Blow off valve
8) Boost controller
9) Wastegate

You won't need new injectors for 7psi
You'll need a Fuel Managemant Unit (fmu) to set the air/fuel ratio
You might want to add in a boost guage and Air/Fuel gauge, and a A-pillar pod for them to go in
You need oil lines to run in and out of the turbo
I assume you mean exhaust manifolds when you say "turbo manifold". The FFF kit uses the stock manifolds if I remember correctly, and it all depends on your setup. Where exactly do you want the turbo to go?
You'll need a fuel pump as well, and don't forget the brackets for the intercooler and turbo, as well as the hardware to mount the fmu. You might want to think about silicone connectors for the intake piping, if you decide not to weld it all together.

[oil pan 4]

Yes you will need oil supply and return lines, those can be a ton of fun.
Don't weld the pipes together unless you know you don't want to change any thing.
You can get other turbos that have built in waste gates so you don't have to buy an external one.
I think it would require to much work and money on my part to put external waste gates on TT's.