Who has the cheapest-reliable DIY build?
#1
Who has the cheapest-reliable DIY build?
Hey Guys,
I am new here. My friend just bought a 1997 Miata and we are thinking of going a DIY build for it. We are trying to work with a budget, below $2500. We are not looking for huge horsepower, and definitely would not expect from a low budget build.
Anyways, would like to see some of your builds. Who has the cheapest but yet reliable build? I'm sure someone has done a turbo set up for under $1,000 using savage parts from a turbo car. Post them up!
I am new here. My friend just bought a 1997 Miata and we are thinking of going a DIY build for it. We are trying to work with a budget, below $2500. We are not looking for huge horsepower, and definitely would not expect from a low budget build.
Anyways, would like to see some of your builds. Who has the cheapest but yet reliable build? I'm sure someone has done a turbo set up for under $1,000 using savage parts from a turbo car. Post them up!
#4
Turbo, manifold, Dp and FMIC $500
1.8 injectors $50.00
IC Piping and couplers $160
Begi AFPR $ 90.00
Misc stuff about $200
Clutch $200
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1.8 injectors $50.00
IC Piping and couplers $160
Begi AFPR $ 90.00
Misc stuff about $200
Clutch $200
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#5
I found that it wasn't the big parts that really hurt me, it was the constant tinkering, reworking, blowing a head gasket, Dremel parts, brass fittings, expiriments, junkyard parts, making little brackets, bolts, nuts, washers, rods, etc...
Begi Mani and DP: $800
SR20det T25: $150
Intake/IC/Piping/Couplers: $280
Megasquirt: $450
Injectors+Cleaning: $130
Spec Stg II: $310
But I bet you I've got an equal amount again more than that in failed parts, things I didn't use, extra pieces... etc.
Begi Mani and DP: $800
SR20det T25: $150
Intake/IC/Piping/Couplers: $280
Megasquirt: $450
Injectors+Cleaning: $130
Spec Stg II: $310
But I bet you I've got an equal amount again more than that in failed parts, things I didn't use, extra pieces... etc.
#6
Boost Pope
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,339
Total Cats: 6,793
$2,500? Hell, that's not low-budget!
BEGI-S, minus AFPR: ~$1,600 (a guess)
Intercooler system: DIY maybe $250
LC-1 wideband: $180 here
MS-I, R3: $187
Second MAP, GM IAT, modkits: ~$120
Boost gauge: $46
RX-7 injectors: ~$100
= $2,483. And with that you get the best manifold and ECU in the business.
edit: oh yeah, and a clutch.
BEGI-S, minus AFPR: ~$1,600 (a guess)
Intercooler system: DIY maybe $250
LC-1 wideband: $180 here
MS-I, R3: $187
Second MAP, GM IAT, modkits: ~$120
Boost gauge: $46
RX-7 injectors: ~$100
= $2,483. And with that you get the best manifold and ECU in the business.
edit: oh yeah, and a clutch.
#7
Mine
Turbo: $140 (Subaru WRX TD04-13T)
T3 Manifold: $175 (BEGi, discontinued version)
Megasquirt V3: $187
LC-1: $200
BEGi Downpipe: $400
eBay Intercooler setup: $250
RX-7 Injectors: $17 (not a typo)
Cleaning of injectors: $60 or so
Adapter plate for turbo to manifold: $75
Misc parts (oil lines, etc): $200
eBay Clutch: $150
Turbo: $140 (Subaru WRX TD04-13T)
T3 Manifold: $175 (BEGi, discontinued version)
Megasquirt V3: $187
LC-1: $200
BEGi Downpipe: $400
eBay Intercooler setup: $250
RX-7 Injectors: $17 (not a typo)
Cleaning of injectors: $60 or so
Adapter plate for turbo to manifold: $75
Misc parts (oil lines, etc): $200
eBay Clutch: $150
#11
When I am done ill have less then 2000 in my full kit, aiming for <1800 because toping the begi s is my goal.
The major components are:
Nissan T25
Begi mani+dp
MS I v3 + LC1
TurboXS Bov
RX7 460's w/cleaning
the rest is all random **** to tie it all together.
Right now im at $1651 and I think thats pretty damn decent when I look at my excel sheet that breaks down all the expenses by part.
The interesting thing I noticed, the major components are not really the biggest expenses in DIY builds its the other little **** that you need to make it work.
The major components are:
Nissan T25
Begi mani+dp
MS I v3 + LC1
TurboXS Bov
RX7 460's w/cleaning
the rest is all random **** to tie it all together.
Right now im at $1651 and I think thats pretty damn decent when I look at my excel sheet that breaks down all the expenses by part.
The interesting thing I noticed, the major components are not really the biggest expenses in DIY builds its the other little **** that you need to make it work.
#15
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,103
I don't know how DIY my setup really is, since I used a lot of pre-built components, and it's not cheap by any stretch of the word, but I'm pleased with the result. I also purchased nearly everything new (except the turbo). My numbers include shipping and tax.
BEGi manifold + 3" stainless DP: $900
GT2554R: $300
IC/couplers/clamps/BOV: $300
Enthuza 3" stainless catback + 3" metal-core cat + flanges to mate it all: $600
Oil/water lines + fittings + heat sleeving: $170
MSPNP + KnocksenseMS + knock sensor mount + injectors: $850
Autometer boost/oil temp + Innovate LC-1/DB + 3-gauge pod: $540
ACT HD/6-puck + resurfaced OEM flywheel: $410
CSF 2" radiator: $310
oil cooler setup: $240
$4620
Could I have done it cheaper? Yeah. Am I happy with the setup? Absolutely. Would I do anything differently? Aside from maybe start with a BEGi-S kit, no. For a street car, I could have shaved bucks in several areas; mild-steel exhaust vs. stainless, stock radiator, no oil cooler, softer clutch. I didn't feel comfortable skimping on any of those items because I track my car quite a bit, and the only problems I've ever had were high oil temps (pre-oil cooler) and loose/broken studs (8mm, replaced with 10mm after that happened).
Nice part about my setup is that once I gather the funds to build a shortblock and swap a 6-speed in, I can replace the GT2554R with a GT3071R and make 300+whp without changing a thing.
Last edited by Savington; 02-14-2008 at 12:53 AM.
#16
Mike: I would say if you shop smart and buy used parts (when it makes sense) you can definitely have a reliable sub-$2000 turbo set up. If you want all new parts, then I'd budget for mid-$2000's (begi-s, ms, clutch, injectors, etc.)
#17
Elite Member
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Posts: 5,360
Total Cats: 43
I'm still not done yet, but I'm not doing too bad... The expensive parts are the collateral tools purchased so I can complete this and other projects..
T3 Turbocharger -- Free
T4 Compressor -- $100
Megasquirt -- $300
LC1 -- $180
DIY Manifold -- $110
Intercooler / Plumbing -- $203
Clutch -- $410
Turbonetics DeltaGate MKII -- $100
Hobart IronMan 210 -- $1098
Horizontal Bandsaw -- $190
Still missing KnocksenseMS, larger injectors which I'm going to wait on, and exhaust piping to build my downpipe. Downpipe should cost me around $90.00 if I figured correctly.
We'll see...
T3 Turbocharger -- Free
T4 Compressor -- $100
Megasquirt -- $300
LC1 -- $180
DIY Manifold -- $110
Intercooler / Plumbing -- $203
Clutch -- $410
Turbonetics DeltaGate MKII -- $100
Hobart IronMan 210 -- $1098
Horizontal Bandsaw -- $190
Still missing KnocksenseMS, larger injectors which I'm going to wait on, and exhaust piping to build my downpipe. Downpipe should cost me around $90.00 if I figured correctly.
We'll see...