im trying to find a place to install my fmax kit around the bay area, and the prices theyre giving me is A LOT more than i even imagined when i planned out my budget. the good good shops around here are saying $800, and "oh, with a boost gauge? and turbo timer? well, it'll be around $900 then". and i gotta install my clutch which is $250, this is all getting crazy. im thinking i dont have enough and i might even have to sell my kit . i dont want to do it myself because i dont have enough knowledge or experience. i know where what goes and all, but i just dont trust myself. anyone from the bay have experience installing turbos and wanna earn like couple bills? let me know.

 

you gotta pay to play. what car is this going on? im SURE someone locally can help you out, a turbo install is a 2day max project if you know what you are doing. if you are mechanically inclined, www.importparts.com has a good page that tells you how to install a turbo.


[Modified by GudeH23a, 5:15 PM 6/2/2002]

 

do what i did, do a lot of research. look at the directions, ask questions, and do it yourself, its not hard. Just time consuming, if you are any way mechanically inclined, you can do it, and save yourself hundreds of dollars. Its amazing what you can learn in a few hours with the "SEARCH" feature.

 

What shops are these prices from?

 

this is going into a 99 gsr.


i am spending countless hours on forums and search's, and i feel like i know where what goes and all. im looking at my kit and my engine bay, and its like "damn, how am i gonna get that off, or that IC on, etc, etc" and mostly, i dont trust myself.

and INSPYRAL, i called motorsport dynamics in sac and motorsport techniques in hayward. $850 was the cheapest, $920 was the most.

TURBO IN MY GARAGE AND A STOCK ENGINE, THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!

 

It's not hard...I went ahead and did mines with just research. I had no experience of working on engines before. Now I have somewhat experience. It's time consuming, but well worth the money you save from doing it yourself. Think of it this way, the money you save can be used toward other products for your car.

 

damn if you lived closer to san mateo, i would do it for you for a fraction of a fraction of that price.

 

damn,
do it yourself! Kits are bolt on. A little modifying is all you may need to do that doesn't take a mechanically inclined person to figure out if you need to. I've done alot of work on cars in the past and thought a turbo would be a daunting project till I researched a bit then realized it was cake. You may run into problems that need sorting out but you'll find help-especially here-to get you through it.

Man, I'm ready to learn how to build an engine now! You'll get it in don't worry.

 

Research, research and ask questions too. I am sure when you have questions most everyone here will be happy to help.

 

thats kinda expensive... it costs me $600 to install turbo kit, gauges, boost controller, turbo timer, etc.

 

You don't HAVE to install a clutch right away...

Also, plan to be without your car for a week.. in case things don't go your way.
Biggest problems I had were getting the IC pipes to fit, and to get the exhaust bolts by the CAT flange off.. Also, the pan welding..

What you can do in advance is try on the IC piping, and mount the intercooler.
That way when you go to get your oil return welded, you can take the IC piping
with you if it needs adjustment.

 

hey intekragsr... you wanna help him install the kit? youve done it on your gsr... and i have basic knowledge of how everything is connected now. we can install it for him every now and then for a fraction of a fraction of the cost. hehe

 

id love to help install a kit. Santa cruz is kind of far. Im helping Trigun install his kit next week.

 

intekra, you got an PM.

 

Dude just do it yourself. THere has to be someone around you to do it for you, or atleast help you out.

 

In NJ, everyone wants $800 to $1200 for the basic install. Everything else will be extra. The extra parts.... three gauges, fuel rail, fpr, fuel filter, intank fuel pump, turbo timer etc that needs to go in as well. I was hoping to keep the install and tuning (AEM EMS) under $1500. It's not looking too good right now.

 

How many hours is to install the kit ( F-max) with boost gauge and turbo timer?

 

one of the good shops around here quoted a full 12 hrs for an fmax on a prelude, btm, boost gauge, egt gauge.

 

If a 17 yr old high school student with little car knowledge could put in his own turbo, working on it from about 4PM to 11PM every day after school for a week, then you can too. It really wasn't that hard, it just took me a while. I even ran into a shitload of problems, like my power steering assembly blocking the turbo from fitting, and the A/C, and rusted on bolts, but I got through them and now I have the experience to modify anything that I put on in case it breaks or needs adjustment. I had the "how the hell am I going to do this" feeling when I looked at my engine too, but I said **** it, and started on the install. It turned out fine until my (used) turbo went bad. But all I had to do was put on the stock manifold and route the oil line right into the pan. Boom. Driveable again. Just go for it man, you should be able to do it. It sounds lame, but if I could do it, anyone can.

 

i paid $200 for my FMAX kit to be installed. then another $100 for the boost gauge, air/fuel, and turbo timer to be hooked up. come out to Pennsylvania. its only like a 40 hour drive. probably more. (i'm being sarcastic). but i was quoted $1500 from Inline Pro to do it. my shop just hooked me up tough

 

Is your shop realiable/good? It might be worthwhile for me to drive out to PA if they will hook me up. Can they tune the AEM EMS?

 

I wouldn't do it that cheap, or even double as a side job, that was a STEAL. As a smog tech I did mine with guages in 1 day. Good Luck, it is not that hard just very time consuming.

 

$250 for a clutch install is actually pretty good, and $800 is about average for most shops as far as i've seen. stick around here for a while and then do it yourself!

-Xerxes

 

i recommended he do it himself as well now that he has more of us boosted H-T members at the bay to help him out. $250 isnt too bad of a price.. considering its a bitch to install a clutch. i rather slap on a turbo.

 

i didnt get a private message