Alright, so, here goes: My car is a 1994 Del Sol Si 5 spd with a clean JDM D15B swap. This should all be OBD1. My goal is to have 200HP by the end of the summer. I have $450 saved and another $200 coming in every week reliably.

Reliability is key here, that and keeping A/C so that I keep my girlfriend. So, can anyone recommend reliable parts on this kind of budget? I'm planning on having my ECU chipped and running Hondata, maybe a Tial wastegate and an ebay T04E turbo. The only problem is that I don't know what intercooler to buy, what oil lines to buy, and what else I'll need! Any help is appreciated.

Also, I just did a compression test (the motor supposedly has ~70k miles) and I have 180PSI across the board.

 

So reliability is "key" here but your going to use an Ebay turbo? Honestly dude, just spare yourself the headache and either save up some more money or leave it alone. Putting together your own turbo "kit" is a lot more work and fabrication then it might seem like. Taking a shortcut with a turbo that is hit and miss in quality just isn't smart either. Cheap components will get you cheap results...

I'm still laughing over the fact that you want a name brand wastegate, but a cheap *** china built turbo.

 

I heard good things about that turbo. They may be cheap, but it would last me atleast a month or so to buy a decent quality turbo. I'm going with a TiAL wastegate because if the wastegate fails, my engine is toast.

What kind of manifold should i buy? Such as cast-iron or stainless steel?

What oil line kits?

What intercooler+piping kit would fit a 1994 del sol?

 

Good things from who? The supplier? Come on man. Search ebay turbos do some non biased research on it. They are built like crap. Your worried about the wastegate failing, yet you don't worry about the turbo scattering and loading your engine with crap? Why spend the money to last you a month when you can save for two and do it once and right the first time?

The wastegate fails then you rely on boostcut. Since you did mention wanting Hondata, you have that option.

All the other questions you asked are up to you. It sounds like you need a KIT, not something pieced together. Nothing pieced together is going to simply bolt on. Its always going to take some fab work, welding, and plenty of test fits. Find a used Greddy kit for $800 or so with the intercooler and be done with it.

 

I'm not going to go and find the forum posts i'm talking about, but i've heard of people running the shitty ebay turbos for over a year without problems. Keep in mind i'm boosting a 1.5 liter economy engine, I don't see the point in a STAGE XXI98 .99 A/R TURBONETICS yadda yadda to push 8 psi...

Thanks for the info though, i'll look for a used greddy.

 

JESUS CHRIST. Greddy kits are more expensive than backstage passes to the rolling stones.

 

If you are going with an ebay turbo, cxracing t3 50 trim would be ideal, their smaller turbos are actually pretty reliable.

Do not buy a stainless steel ebay manifold, they crack. Buy a cast iron manifold.

You are going to need a few to a lot of modifications to get your intercooler piping and downpipe to fit properly.

 

Going turbo and being cheap never works. On my jdm d15b I used the garret t3 super 60. I put out 197hp on 6psi.

 

Really? Ive had three of those kits. Even an Edelbrock kit. I paid no more then $1,000 for each of them. The Greddy kits used are quite often around the $800 price range. Thats a pretty hard price to beat. Especially if the kits are complete with all the lines, BOV and intercooler. There was one in the local craigslist about a month ago for $800 complete.

 

Great info guys, thanks. I haven't checked locally, I just skimmed through a few on ebay but couldn't find a used one for a D-series.

 

I found a guy locally who will chip my P28 for $60, is this a good price?

 

i have the same engine in my ef, put up a post on how u made out ive been thinking about turbocharging in the near future

 

I haven't even ordered parts yet bro, but i'll be sure to document my outcomes. Good luck!

 

subscribed.

I too am also looking to build a budget d15b turbo!

Remember: ONLY PICK 3

RELIABILITY
FAST
CHEAP
EASY

best of luck to you. also, if you do plan on going ebay turbo, make sure you get an oil squisher because their turbos cannot handle the oil pressure that our engines make. I think that's the main reason they fail.

dont look at this as an ad for an ebay turbo because I also think (know) that they are JUNK!

ok so here is what I would recommend...

-Ebay intercooler and BOV kit - $200
-T25 turbo off of a 2g eclipse - $50ish
-Ebay oil line kit (sketchy but cheap) lol - $20
-Ebay CAST IRON (stress on the CAST IRON part) mani - $80
-Adaptor plate for that mani (I dont think they come mitsu flange) - $20
-DSM 450cc injectors - $50
-resistor box for the injectors - $cheap or make your own
-custom downpipe - $50? depends on who you know!

so right here you are looking at $450! It is hard to source all the parts but worth it in the end knowing that you have a reliable setup. hope this helps!

 

Alright guys, so, I know a guy offering me a Nissan T25 turbo, a SMIC and tubing, D series cast iron turbo mani, a cheap BOV and a turbonetics wastegate. The wastegate looks in **** condition and he said it needs to be "cleaned and re-opened," whatever that means. Also a downpipe and dumptube. All of this for $200, but only if i can pick it up tomorrow. Should I?

 

I would. I'm not 100% sure on the wastegate but I think it needs just what he said it needs. you open them and inspect the spring inside. When he says "piping is included," does that mean its for your del slo? A side mount generally has enough cooling capacity till about 15 psi or so on a t25 so you are good to go there. What do you need a dump tube for if you are internally gated?

 

I'm planning on being externally gated. I just got called into work from noon til close, which is midnight, so i can't get it today. Dammit.

I really don't like the location of the wastegate flange on the manifold he's selling, it only collects gas from one cylinder.

 

I'm really thinking about backing out of boosting this car. I'm considering selling it and buying a nice 2000+ MR2 spyder instead. What do you guys think?

I don't know if i'm mechanically inclined enough to install the turbo and what not, and I know that if I do, it will be a never-ending project. I'll boost, then the tires will be insufficient. First i'll have to upgrade the tires, then brakes, then suspension etc etc etc. It will never be done... I don't know. What are your experiences?