What is the general concensus about goign turbo? I see many people on this board have bought kits from big name companies. You could probably have someone build a cheaper turbo for less. My mechanic thinks so but my local performance shop thinks the kit is more worth it (hmmm why am I not surprised at these answers). What exactly do you get in a kit that give an advantage over a custom setup? Anyone can build piping to fit the motor and as long as you get a good quality turbo and manifold, would it not be as good as a kit?


[Modified by DannyITR, 12:31 AM 10/22/2002]

 

i'm just starting out with turbo myself, but i believe that if you do enough research, kits are worthless. some material in the kits people usually don't end up using so that is why i have decided to jsut read up and ask questions when i have them. i believe that having a custom turbo kit is much better than having a turbo kit from a "big name company." just my $0.02. do searches when you have questions about things or just ask. most people won't rag on you for not knowing everything. at least that's been my experience. hope this helps

 

after putting together a custom kit for months now, and still not finished, i would say save the extra $$ and give in to the kit. i've learned theres a reason why kits cost so much

 

Depends on the person. It's like subwoofer boxes, for some people it's easy to make their own custom box, for other not so easy.

 

I would say that it all depends on how comfortable the person feels about piecing their own. Not everyone has the ballz or patience to do it.

Others like the most convenient way which is to order complete kit which is a great way to do it. Yes it will take more money but the trips to the auto parts store will be much less frequent.

 

Depends on the person. It's like subwoofer boxes, for some people it's easy to make their own custom box, for other not so easy.
_______

And just sit back and read

 

The thing w/kits is there is usually something missing. Theres some good kits put together just for HT group buys but theres always room for improvment. You might want a better intercooler (or sometimes A intercooler), bigger TC, better BOV and especially fuel managment, most kits come up short on that.

 

custom all the way. If u get the right parts its just as good as a kit but still cheaper

 

yahi say custom if you have the patience! especially if you are running a hybrid like me with a LS in my crx, i know they have kits but its a limited selection! so im going custom after i take off my little greddy. that way you get the parts you want!! not just the stuff they throw in!

 

Im up for the custom kit my buddy just got his drag kit. I was eyeing over all the parts yesterday cause im gonna be helping him install.

When you break down the price he spent on the whole kit which was still a good deal i could have hand picked all the parts I wanted to go w/ my kit and come out to around the same price maybe a bit cheaper.

The biggest thing i see that people want to buy a kit is they dont want the hassle of making custom piping and getting custom intercooler having to customize some stuff to get the kit to fit and make it work the best.

 

i like custom kits because for one i get to learn how everythign works one by one, and two I get a feel for what is going in on my car. Plus its easier for me to afford all the stuff since I don't have 3 grand sitting around at one time. But for comparison, I've spent about $2666 so far and I'm STILL missing the oil return, ALL of the charge pipes, Manifold, and the misc clamps etc that i'll need.

On the bright side that 2666 includes, AEM EMS, RC 550cc, OEM Honda Resistor, Wideband, PT60, Tial XP 35MM, Type S BOV+flange, Intercooler.

For the money i think my kit is doing very good for the price I'm paying. Also the manifold and the chargepipes my friend will make me so I'll save on that as well. I don't think for the money there is any other kit out there that will match the quality of the stuff i got. Also everything there is brand new except for the resistors, ems, and injectors. All in good working condition though

 

i came into this new and did a custom kit , ended up being a nice tad cheaper and got better stuff that with the kits.
we'll see how my choices work in a little

 

here's your solution : https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=302845

hondasavers

 

Why you should go custom:

1. Cheaper overall. Might cost you more but you'll get WAY more. Know what I mean?

2. You get only the parts you need and want. If you buy a kit, you'll usually end up tossing out an FMU and Deltagate at least. You also get the BOV you want, rather than being limited to the one included in the kit.

3. You get a custom downpipe, so you can get 3" and a flex section.

4. You can get good clamps and silicone instead of the crap ones that come in kits.

5. My turbo setup cost about the same as a kit, but I also got a 3" exhaust and cat, plus several other goodies not included in a kit.

 

custom kit : a lot of installing, test fitting it and unistall it..then you modified it...

then it's the same routine again...give yourself a week everyday to test fit everything...

the nice thing about a kit in the box is the fact that the research and development, and test fitting has already been done for you...

with custom, you have to HAVE PATIENCE.....

do the honda saver's kit..you can take out stuff you don;t need and etc...

 

Danny, with a kit its so much easier,, you know everything you need it right there and you wont have to order parts that could take weeks to get.. With a kit its a simple bolt on job, with customer, it seems like your always missing something or something never fits..

Idd say buy the kit. no worries no hassels..

PS. was it tony who said go custom? and when did you start thinking about turbo

Tyler

 

custom kits rock. also u could as flamenco na said... i think hondasaver's mix n match kit offers like drag piping and such. that's what i did. I have an SFP mani and downpipe, drag piping (redone w/ a greddy type-s flange) and intercooler, everything else is pretty much custom... oil lines (PAIN), fuel management (afc hack ownz!), etc

 

i gave up on custom. it was costing too much as i didnt want to cut any corners, and it would have made too much power for my goals.

overengineering is cool when you can afford it though.

 

Turbo kits over custom kits.

 

the only reason why i suggest a custom b/c you get everything you want. some kits come with parts you dont want and you end up spending more money getting the ones you want and your left with the other parts to sell.

 

I went custom, but also built my bottem, and top end. A kit, a build like myne is probably about $9000.00 (this is for a prelude...sleeves, etc...) A custom kit with my build is about $10,000 I think. I have spent more than that becasue I got a standalone, etc...
Power...FMAX on a lude is pry around 250 @ 8 psi...I make 328 at 9 Psi....I think it was worth it.

 

Do what you feel comfortable with. There's not as much to turbos as people make it seem. It's just piping and fuel. Lost of fuel. If you don't want to make fourty million trips to the stores, get a kit, or have someone put a kit together for you.

As for me, I've done the kit thing, and I recently completed my first custom turbo system. Now, this may not seem like a feat to most, but for me, it's a MAJOR accomplishment. Aside from being one of only two turbo Hondas in the state of Vermont, it's VERMONT, where there isn't **** for import stores. Hell, you wouldn't believe the hoops I went through just to get the brass NPT fittings for the goddamn oil line!

But it works, and to me, that sense of accomplishment and PRIDE when you open the hood for someone to gawk at is worth more than the ease of installation of any kit out there.

 

I bought a used kit.... knowing what I know now it would be EASY for me to piece together a kit.... so I'm living through a friend helpng him piece together his for his ls/civic

 

Thats easy.
If you know alot about the basics of turbo's, what parts are needed, etc, then go custom. If your a bit more novice, a complete kit such as Drag would be your best bet.
Basic complete kits are just that: BASIC and COMPLETE, they are pretty nice and very functional.

Custom kits are just that: CUSTOM, you get to pick your components, your turbo specs, WG, Manifold, IC etc. They are a bit more work but can get you way better gains and allow you more uniqueness then the guy next to you at the track
HTH
M

 

not to mention that if you go custom and do it yourself, you know exatly how everything fits together and how everything works...