Scylla

Sorry, search function is not working (arrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhh!!! gurgle gurgle). I was thinking about going with a custom turbo system, to save some money. Has anyone had any trouble with custom set ups? Thanks!

SilverLudeSi

I wouldn't say I've had trouble but it does take a lot longer. There are just a lot of little parts to buy and then they have to get shipped, and sometimes they're out of stock, and sometimes they send the wrong part. I expected to finish my install in a couple weeks, and now it has been over a month since I have even driven the car. I am almost done though and I think the result should be worth the wait.

The main reason I went custom however is because I have a prelude and all the kits for us pretty much suck. If I had a civic/integra, I honestly probably would have got a kit and just swapped some stuff out.

csufweed

custom kits can be as reliable as you make it. quality, time, price... pick two. this is almost always the case in the car world. be it body work or a turbo kit.

SilverLudeSi

Man, I only got to pick one of those three.

Scylla

Well, as long as there aren't really as many reliability problems, I really wouldn't care. I know with a custom set up, I could get a cheaper price (I could probably get better deals on individual stuff).

Could someone tell me what JB Weld is, and why some people hate it? This link seems to be very cute for custom set ups: http://coolazz.tripod.com/turbo.html But I was told since it depends on JB Weld so much, it's not worth doing. What if a shop did it for me?

Thanks for the info, guys!

1fstevo

Poor man setup, nice!!!

DA666

custom setups are the only way to make maddd power and beable to build it yourself!!!!! i hhave put my custom setup together, and belive me, it took alot of trips to the local speed shop, and summit, and waiting on apex'i dumbasses for back-orderinig parts, alot of time is what i mean....and belive me, custom setups are not cheaper than pos drag kits...!!!! mine is as clean and beautiful as anyother......just without the flashy ****....chrome pipes woooo, sweetlookin purple fmu wooooo, great deltagate woooooo!!!!!!

i will post pics of my custom setup by late shift eng, and john (turboeg) and myself!!!!

tubular sfp maniifold
tial 35 mm
one piece intercooler pipes welded together(painted flat black,not all chromed out...."for function not fashion")
beautiful spearco large *** fmic 27x3x7.5
blitz super sound bov
earls oil return and feed fittings
stainless steel oil feed return lines
custom ss 2.5 downpipe to 3 inch custom exhaust to turbo apex'i N1
airtex inline with vdo fuel press gauge
cartetch adjustable fuel regulator(hondata within weeks)

theres more...ill post up pics soon!!!!!

falcongsr

i am going custom, and i am taking my sweet time rounding up parts. it does suck, but its a fun project so far. its neat to see the parts slowly roll in while i continue planning.

the only thing i am not sure about is how to regulate oil pressure to the turbo...

lbz34

I know how you guys feel. my custom is almost all together and ready to go in. It has been two months and i am still waiting on a greddy egt gauge. hondata 4b is in and running on dsm 450's. clutch and flywwheel are in the car. ssr competition on drag radials are on the car (nitto 555r's suck, still no trac on na gs-r). custom 2.5" exhaust with flex and magnaflow 3" muffler is on the car.

sfp manifold- here
braided lines-here
innovative turbo -here
oil,fuel,bost,a/f guages-here and in the car
mandrel for dp-here
tial 35mm-here
turbo/header wrap-not here yet on order
intercooler-greddy here but not paid for , on monday 15th
falnges and gaskets-here-except for maxrev- they suck ***. charged my card two months ago and still no return falnge-thieves-just ordered another from RRE
nuts/bolts-here
turbo xs hpmbc-here
turbo xs type h bov-here
and the wait goes another week or so.


[Modified by lbz34, 1:25 PM 4/7/2002]


[Modified by lbz34, 1:26 PM 4/7/2002]

Scylla

Hehe, thanks for all the help guys. I think I am gonna go with a custom set up...I think it will be easier, and I can order the parts every so often and just build it during the summer. But can someone answer my questions on jb weld?

And the instructions for the setup on that site seem pretty good?

Scylla

Is there anything bad about JB Weld?

Pritos

If you are going to put a kit together using used parts like I did, it is going to take a loooong time. It took me almost a year! Unless you get lucky and score a bunch of components for cheap at one time, u r set!

Custom setups are great if you dont know what you are doing... well I should explain!

I didnt have a clue how to put together my own kit let alone know what a turbo really is. But I learned soooOOoo much putting my setup together.

I could have bought a complete kit, slapped it on, and been on my merry way but when I think back, I'm glad I didn't. The main reason why is because I hear from people all the time who have kick *** setups but dont know anything about them. it's a shame.

I feel its important to learn the fundamentals of 'turbo-metry' (Thats the class I will teach, Turbo-metry 101) because I feel it is the key to reliability.

You may save a buck or two, but you'll definately lose alot of blood and sweat.

Pritos

since I have a cheapo arc welder I just tack welded my bov flange on, then used jb weld to seal the holes. I've had no problem since.

1337 Si

Yup, it has taken me six months so far to build this kit for my b16, and it has sucked because I could have easily bought a kit already. I just want t do it right and make mad HP.

Scylla

Ahaa...I see now! Thanks for the info, have another question...A turbo kit is comprised of the following, correct (in no particular order)?

1. Turbocharger
2. Turbo Manifold
3. Downpipe
4. Charge Pipes
5. Oil Feed/Return Line
6. Fuel Management Unit
7. Wastegate
8. MAP Sensor By-Pass Valve
9. Various hoses/pipes (silicone, etc.)

Is there anything missing? I have been researching for a bit, and if I am going to do it, I am going to make sure I do it right. Thanks!

Pritos

helps to have a boost gauge and a/f gauge.

what you have there is pretty much your low boost basic kit.

Mike D

IC and IC piping, injectors, fuel pump, and whatever engine management you run, whether you run the FMU or hondata/etc.

Mike D

int3gra

i am with you 100%. I have learned soooo much from this forum in a month. the custom way you appreciate it more. i want to know exactly what each part does so i know how to fix it when it blows up.

i am gonna invest in th e MAXIMUM BOOST book by Corky Bell and you should too:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...702368-5736153

its the bible for FI.

B18C1 for fun

here is a pic of my custom turbo setup.

inlinePRO 3mm HeadGasket
inlinePRO Fuel Pump
inlinePRO Map Defensor
inlinePRO Exhaust Manifold
inlinePRO Custom Downpipe
Turbonetics T3/T04E .63 A/R
HKS Wastegate
Greddy Skyline Intercooler with piping
Greddy BOV
RC 440cc injectors
Vortech FMU
Apex-i Super AFC




John and Pat at Inline Performance installed this for me, They do awesome work. I have had this setup for about a year and a half now and still no problems.

slywfbpsi

what disk are you running in your fmu? what are your setting on the afc?

synergy004

i went custom and saved over a grand on parts. I was in the right place at the right time. Can't alwaYS BE AS FORTUNATE. spent 1750.00 on my whole set up new turbo and all, intercooler and piping etc etc etc.
heres an old pic

int3gra

i was just wondering why some manifolds dont have wastegates.

pornstarSR

ill be nice and tell you

because some turbos have internal waste gates on the exhaust turbine housing.......thats why on greddy turbos you see that brass mushroom looking thing hangin off the turbo

int3gra

thank you pornstarSR

is it OK to say the external ones are better than the internal ones?

Trigun

i'm really thinking about a custom setup too ... every turbo kit has an achilles heel and going custom would definately eliminate that. it's just the time involved in researching and getting the parts together that i don't have much of.