Hey honda-tech,

Is it possible to build a budget turbo kit for $1500us to boost my b16a?
Using new parts that is

 

not unless you use a ebay turbo kit..

 

With new parts, no. With used parts, probably.

Check out www.homemadeturbo.com for some suggestions and guidance on cheap turbo builds.

 

You could but will be limited to reliability and power, also most parts will be either used or extremely cheap. Its an established mathematical rule HP = Money.

Find out 1st what sort of setup you want to build and for what purpose then you can start listing needed parts and how much it will cost you.

 

Honestly, if you only have $1500, just save it. You're going to end up spending more than you expect. Sure you can do it cheap, but are you planning for a clutch, tune, and all the other misc crap that adds up? Probably not. I know that for my setups, i probably spent around $4500-5000 for everything and that's not even considering the engine build.

My advice, pay rent with that money or save it for a rainy day. Dont blow it on something like this because you're just going to make your car unreliable with a cheap setup.

 

FWIW, I made 203 whp for 700 bucks using slightly used parts. This was on a single cam, after it was put on neptune it was about 1100 and it didn't do much. Actually hurt my gas milage lol

It can be done, but not usually on your first car. My first 215 whp D setup was about 3500 due to the learning curve.

As stated, save save save!

 

i have a chipped ecu and injectors

 

I agree with the price of learning. Save, save, save, and study, study, study.

I'm sure someone out there has done great with 1500$, but there are certain things that the average newbie (me included) can't go without spending on.

 

Absolutly. you can do it with used parts or chinese parts. If your looking to just do a little boosting and have a fun street car then there is nothign wrong with chinese turbo parts. Ive had great luck with them in the past. on my personal car and other peoples cars. If your looking to go all out which im assuming your not with a budget of 1500 then your good to go with name brand used or new chinese parts.

You can even do a cheap ebay clutch. i know ill be flammed on here but i dont care. im running an F1 stage 4 6 puck clutch in my car for 20k miles with 350+ whp without a single issue

 

nice

ebay ftw?

 

i did it with 1700 all name brand stuff off of ebay, i just waited until i found good deals, i mean i got a brand new Garret t3/t4 turbo 50 trim for only 350 bucks, i mean if you take ur time and waite u can find plent of good deals

 

you can do it with name brand parts... they just hafe to be used... used parts are ok as long as you check them...
all prices rough estimate

used garrett turbo-400
used log manifold- 3-500
used tial 38-200
used bov 100
used fmic-200
used piping 75-100
oil feed/return kit- 100
you got injectors and ecu... the tune will be what knocks you over 1500 but you can get all the parts

 

I never really broke it down like you did above, but i know it is possible just not with new parts. I did my first setup with a clutch and a tune for a hair over $2k and used a lot of new parts. There are even a few things you listed above that could be taken down some. You can nab older IC's for around $100 and the same goes for Tial gates. I bought my last one (blue with a 1bar spring used for a summer) for $115 shipped. If you're set on making your setup with that budget, just be patient and watch the Marketplace like a hawk. Also, you should check out www.homemadeturbo.com . They always seem to have good deals on setups and parts...

 

thanks guys

 

if you go out of budget anywhere please do it on the tune!!! i had a completely homemade ghetto kit for my first setup on a stock jdm d15b... i have an amazing tuner. i beat the hell out of that car... it was making 250ish i mean i beat the hell out of it... (young and stupid). the motor lasted almost 2 years... a friend of mine did a setup similar to mine but less ghetto... put a generic boost chip in his ecu and drove it more conservative than me and it blew up in 4 months.

a tune is your best friend

 

You can totally do it... EASY.

Freeware for tuning (F Homodata)
chipped ecus can be had for 100 bux,
Run a REAL Tial WG (not worth skimping there - 200)
Holset HX35 (around 250)
you can find all kinds of cheap *** manifolds if you look - do not go SSZZC or XS power there( a QUALITY used log shouldnt be more than 200 by the way)...
Ebay FMIC (80 shipped)
Used chargepiping,
DSM 450s (ive seen RC/Precisions go for as little as 150 bux for 750ish cc injectors),
Knock off BOV
Maybe a wallbro 255 HP

leaving PLENTY for DP/additional fittings/couplers etc.


Homemadeturbo.com is your friend (theres actually a NEW T3 topmount for sale there now for 500 shipped which you could fit into your budget if you play it tight). Theres also a "mioniram for a couple hundred- just keep your eyes open... Stockpile parts as you find them..... Take your time.

You could do it with ALL new parts sans the snail, and run a Holset and have a nice looking WELL FUCNCTIONING setup good to 400 + if you play your cards right.

TUning is the most important aspect for sure... There is no reason you cant make 300 + on pump with a tune safe enough to rape it from here to timbuk3

 

last "kit" I threw together to help sell a car was on an ls swapped hatch.

used b-series greddy turbo w/dp $225
new ebay intercooler kit w/bov $250
greddy blue box $40
oil feed/return kit off ebay $60
cheap boost/oil pressure/afr gauges w/pods $75

ran like a champ and put down 214hp on the dyno.

I see the kid flying around in it all the time 2 years later and he hasnt changed a thing.

but yeah, you can build much better if you want and probably for just a little more if you're willing to sit and wait on parts in the range you want.

 

hellz yeah i want like 240 in my daily car for CHEAP. I don't need high dollar **** in my daily thats what i have my blue car for!

 

i will buy parts one by one
what you guys think bout ebay turbos

 

the ebay kits are really not that bad for 250 or less, but the turbo will last a month if your lucky LOL

 

thats not true at all. as of late the chinese stuff is getting better. i know someone who has an ebay 57 trim thats been running for OVER 2 years and it still has 0 shaft play. to be honest ive yet to know someone who has destroyed one of those turboa, ive personally use them and have built turbo kits for a couple hand fulls of cars that used them. actually 1 guy did he was running it at 30psi with nitrous on a volvo and it failed, with good reason haha.

 

well ive seen the seals fail thats about it. Ive seen some crazy sizing combos too

 

everyone that said no is either
a. full of ****
b. incompetent

For $1350 I had a kit built and tuned...

For $750 I built a kit using used parts
There is a guy on HMT that did a twin turbo setup for $750...

So it is possible

 

How much power did it make?
How often do you work on it?
How often do you work on it on the side of the freeway?
How many times have your oil seals gone bad?

lulz

 

not $1500 but close
http://www.treadstoneperformance.com...ura+Turbo+Kits