Hello all,
I am looking to get into a turbo Honda. I currently have a 2000 VR6 Golf and want a turbo, but don't want to spend over 4k to turbo the Golf. So, I figure that a Honda is the best way to get into a turbo. So, without further introduction, here are a list of the criteria I am looking for.
-Looking to spend about 4K including car(Selling the golf for about 3k)
-Wanting a solid 300 whp
-Thinking a B16B engine? Something cheap and good stock
-Looking to put it into a Civic Coupe/ 4 Door, late 90s, early 2000s
-A cheap turbo(Thinking TD04 off a Subaru, but I don't know much about turbo themselves such as trim, etc..)
-Good header, not cheap ebay crap
-DSM injectors?
-Hondata ECU(Is this tunable, better options for ECU or can I run stock?)
-Inline fuel pump or external?
-Cat back exhaust
-New clutch? Can stock stand up to the horsepower
-Beeg spoiler for extra trolling
-New steering wheel/gauges
-Maybe new rims and tires?
-Blow off valve(Brand?)
-Wastegate(Brand?)
-Intercooler

So basically my main questions these, which engine is a good stock base?
Is this too big of a list for my budget, I am willing to get used parts?
Which turbo should I use?
Which base car should I use?

 

First thing. 4k won't you get a car and 300hp. The kind of Honda you would buy with your budget wouldn't be in the condition to turbocharge without major work.

Secondly, read the FAQS at the top of this forum. It will cost just as much if not more than the golf to turbocharge. At least the VR6 can hold some power stock. You clearly have a lotto learn before turbocharging anything .

A td04 won't get you even remotely close to 300hp. Read the section on selecting and sizing the proper turbo for your goals.

Stock clutch definitely won't work.

And so on. Rwd the FAQs at least twice then get back to us. You'll thank us in the long run. We don't spoon feed people here because you don't learn anything or benefit from us just telling you what to do.

 

No desrespect to the OP But I think its funny when these none Honda guys come around and think building a Honda is Cheap. I hear it all the time from local and Domestic car owners. I reply my cheapest part cost more than their most expensive part. lol.
news flash Hondas are not cheap to build, easy to make power over other makes, but not cheaper. Ebay China Garbage does not qualify.

 

Comparatively cheap, but still not "oh, I have a couple extra bucks in my pocket, let's go boost it!" cheap.

$4k isn't going to get you a car AND boost it. It might get you a motor and turbo setup, but you still need a chassis to put said motor into.

 

Yea it's like they think that just because it's a Honda that everything is automatically supposed to be cheap. Turbocharging a VR6 costs just as much. Regardless of platform or motor they all use the same basic parts and materials... Typically one company won't make a similar part for 2 different platforms and charge different prices unless you're in the world of BMW, Porsche, and so on.

I almost bought a super clean stance/fitment VR6 Jetta back in August. In my research on turbocharging the motor I found the overall price to be similar to that of a turbocharged Honda. While one component might cost more for one chassis and less for the other or vice versa I found it balances out in the end.

The other thing is a properly executed turbo VR6 is a far more rare thing than a turbo Honda. Plus there is the added benefit that a VR6 sounds incredibly sexy, especially with cams. It's like a 2jz and RB26 had a bastard love child. Also there is the bonus that they are fairly stout motors in stock form.

While I was researching I found examples of internally stock turbo VR6s making around or over 500hp with nothing but reliability/foundation modifications. Things like head studs, new headgasket, lightweight flywheel and stronger clutch, valvesprings and retainers (to rev the stock motor out a tad more), fuel system work, ignition system work, and similar components.

The motors that had work like a ported head, port matching, larger valves, cams, ported stock intake manifold or aftermarket intake manifold, methanol injection, etc. made even more on stock internals. With forged internals the sky is literally the limit.

Give me the VW and I'll trade you any turbo Honda parts you need lol

but seriously haha

 

Exactly and it really depends on how you build the car. Quality parts cost a lot of money regardless of what car you put it on. Just my T1 Gforce shifter kit was $1,200 and that is just 1 little part on my car.

 

Holy deja vu.... I swear I've seen this exact thread before, even that exact post above verbatim.

I want to say someone, possibly the same user made a thread like this before. ,

 

Most certainly wasn't me, only have posted about doing timing on my LX I had before the Golf. There are really three main reasons for switching Honda, the after market support is miles above the VR6. Second, my current VR6 is old and tired with 215K miles. Third, who doesn't want to go around stomping on mustangs with a four banger civic? I am really going to start reading up more on turbos, just thought I'd get your opinions. If it's going to cost me the same to turbo the golf, I'll do that just because of the horsepower advantage. P. S. when I ran the VR6 with just manifold, as Clarkson would say I had a crisis.

 

There's plenty of vr6 aftermarket if you know where to look. I found a plethora of parts when I was researchingthe VR6 . I'll try to find/remember them and then post then here, maybe they could help you decide.

 

Honda parts are easier to find in general, but GOOD Honda parts are made by just as many (or just as few) companies. There's just a shitload of market bloat, because there are entirely too many stupid/uninitiated/ignorant people who would rather spend $150 on a part that'll last a year, instead of $400 on a part that'll last a lifetime.

 

Just out of curiosity what do you think would be the minimum cost for a no rust car and a good turbo set up

 

About $6K-$8K with good installation and quality part choice for anything over 350whp.

 

the ONLY scenario where this is REMOTELY feasible

2k for a 92-95 with a Z6

HUNT YOUR *** OFF for a used Greddy kit


pray and MAYBE hit 250ish?

 

This, but it also depends entirely on combination used, between chassis, engine, and turbo setup. You can find a 5G or 6G Civic bare shell for $500-$1k, assemble an LS motor with forged internals for what, ~$1500-$2k, then spend ~$2500 on good turbo components, and you have the basics of a turbo car for ~$4k-$5k, but you still need a transmission (kind of important part there), suspension, and a wheel/tire setup that isn't the steelies with A/S **** tires you'd get with a $500 roller. If you want to use a GSR, ITR, K series, or D series (wat?) swap instead, the price will change. If you want to use, say, a CRX shell, or an Integra shell instead of a 5G/6G Civic, the price will change.

Something else to remember is power to weight. A VR6 weighs in at what, right around 3000 lbs? Curb weight on a 5G/6G is in the 2500'ish range, and a CRX is under a ton. 350 WHP in a VR6 will be slower than 350 WHP in a Civic or CRX. Just another thing to think about in your decision process.

 

And the cost depends on the chassis.

Anything like an eg hatch, ek hatch, or em1 or a clean crx is going to cost more than 96-00 ex, 92-95 coupe, early 80s-90s civic, etc.

I got my 97 coupe in 2010, 3rd owner, no accidents, fresh paint, ground control coils, wheels, audio, gsr leather seats, etc for around 4500 but that was a buddy hookup. Car just had an amazing paint job.

You can expect to pay that much at minimum for any "clean" Honda that's in good enoughshape to beboosted as is however most will require some maintenance and other things beforeyou can just jump inwith turbo stuff .

 

If you are capable of assembling a motor, and just want to have a weekend fun car, I'd say buy a bare roller of your choosing, and build it from the ground up how you want it. As long as the frame is straight and there isn't any rust, **** it. No use in buying something that you'll end up swapping **** off of anyway.

 

The key to building a fun, cheap honda is forget about looks. Find a shell thats half way decent. Dings, scratches, bad paint, whatever. The important part is that the chassis is straight. Then build the engine and suspension properly. Screw rims, body kits, and all that stupid crap.

 

Get rid of the car and get an 04-05 gli. I stole mine for $4000 from a woman with 80k miles threw a tune and exhaust on for another $1000. $5000 later that's my DD at 332whp completely reliable. Both my Hondas with built motors put me well above that price mark so a Honda done "right" is certainly not cheap. I love my Hondas so don't take this the wrong way but as a DD the gli is a much more comfortable, smooth and reliable car.