So you want to do a turbo upgrade, but on a budget?

haha nice thread. no need to lock it, as others might have tid bits to add

turbos - i have had good luck with used turbos. just make sure w a used turbo that shaft play is minimal, and that it didnt burn oil

fuel - my opinion is to always have a wideband if you're going to upgrade, regardless of how much boost you are running/turbo/fmic/other upgrades etc. i personally had solid a/f ratios on my turbo upgrade @15psi with everything else stock. once i upgraded to 2.25 hardpipes and a fmic, i could hardly run 10psi before leaning out. every application will be different, so be smart in what you choose to do

manifold- rebel2k4 used to weld t3 flanges on manifolds, and would probably do other styles is anyone is interested. all done at a resonable price. i dont know if he still sells them on ebay

good power can be had for cheap, granted you dont cheap out on the wrong things

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defiler

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 2, 2008 (Edited)

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Fastest95PGT

· #8 · Oct 2, 2008

Props on taking the time to make this thread and repped. :tup:

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Rizzo90

· #9 · Oct 2, 2008

:tup: nice one Tony....no kiddin, I am under $340, also keep in mind I had to sell my tbird setup to get it, so more like $150 out of pocket or so.
I was glad to read what you're runnin afr-wise, I plan on runnin this new turbo @ about 7psi till I get a feel for what this monster is gonna dish out. Fuel is allready upgraded via an mk3 fuel pump & a direct 14ga wire to the hot side of the pump, so it's gettin better & more constant power to it.

I was a tad worried till I read that. I plan to get a better fpr setup as soon as "santa's bill" is paid this year. thanks!!!

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mazdacar707

· #10 · Oct 2, 2008

!!holy blazing information batman!!
this should be a sticky

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Mazda Carnage

· #11 · Oct 2, 2008

Must spread.....

If you want the simplest and cheapest T3 upgrade I would suggest using a Saab 9000 1989 T3 and downpipe, it lines up straight with the cat.

My original T3 upgrade costs:
-100$ Junkyard turbo
-10$ for inlet turbo coupler (used saab elbow after the turbo)
-(Cut and Iron flange from another seized t3 turbo) 10.99$ for mild steel flange and gasket on ebay.
-12$ manifold to turbo gasket from Saab dealer (bought 2 packs for 6$ each, there where 2 in each pack so I used 2, much cheaper then the stock gasket from the Mazda dealer).
-20$ copper fittings and coolant hose (Gas line).

My total was 142$ to upgrade to a T3 that has boosted 17 to 20 Lbs for about 20 000KM now, Best 142$ I have ever spent.

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defiler

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 2, 2008 (Edited)

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SD6

· #13 · Oct 2, 2008

Just want to chime in on the subject of welding mild steel to cast iron.

We do this ALL THE TIME at work, with flux core wire. Granted we're running very nice, very hot 480v rigs, but we also do it on a much larger scale. HUGE cast iron pieces get welded to HUGE mild steel structures.

I will recommend that you preheat the cast iron before, and during welding. Getting it a nice cherry red will assist the melting/fusion process. Make sure you try to keep the temperature consistent during the process, and allow the piece to cool slowly on it's own, don't help it along with a bucket of water.

That's all I've got, nice write-up Defiler.

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mx6gtboi

· #14 · Oct 2, 2008

I know that the stock fuel system is pretty good, with a simple walboro 190lph and Aeromotive FPR I was getting around 17-18psi on stock injectors, easily making excess of 250whp. Now with my 39lb injectors(400cc) im making 20psi and made 280whp and 336 ft/lbs torque with 12.0 on the wideband. I know I need to go standalone badly.

And about Turbo budget builds... It all depends the extent of what your looking for, because I spent a big amount of money on my setup, but didnt skimp on 1 thing along the way. Bran new Ball bearing turbos aint cheap, but man my powerband is sweet, gotta post the dyno sheet one day. Plus you have to take into account if your not the greatest at fabrication or running custom oil/feed lines that the labour alone for this custom work will cost a lot of money. Ive been through it all, now I really need to go MS to complete the setup, bigger turbo on stock chipped ECUs can only go so far.

BTW, what is a good FMU that is compatible and available for our cars? I may need to pick one up.

Great Post Defiller:tup:

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defiler

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 2, 2008 (Edited)

....................

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SiFlyBy

· #16 · Oct 3, 2008

defiler said:
Oil feed lines are simple to run. Drains lines... well those can get tricky.

The compressor housing on my t3/t4 is so large that I couldn't make it to the stock location. I tried and the oil would back up and burn out the exhaust. Had to tap the pan and JBweld a fitting in. Works good now though.:tup:

(nice write-up by the way)

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defiler

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 3, 2008 (Edited)

..............................

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SABBAi

· #18 · Oct 4, 2008 (Edited)

2

Great guide for those who are wanting some insight into getting some decent go.

I've built 2 setups with excellent results. Both are running completely stock fuel systems, with a Chipped ECU only.

R33 T3 ball bearing turbo setup. 161.7kw = 216.8hp. Sorry about image quality

http://www.mx6.com/forums/australia-new-zealand/180009-r32-turbo-cooler-zorst-install-pics-56k-go-home.html

S13 T25G bush bearing setup. 170.5kw = 228.6hp.

http://www.mx6.com/forums/australia-new-zealand/203946-my-gv1124.html

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ademan

· #19 · Oct 4, 2008

mx6gtboi said:
I know that the stock fuel system is pretty good, with a simple walboro 190lph and Aeromotive FPR I was getting around 17-18psi on stock injectors, easily making excess of 250whp. Now with my 39lb injectors(400cc) im making 20psi and made 280whp and 336 ft/lbs torque with 12.0 on the wideband. I know I need to go standalone badly.

And about Turbo budget builds... It all depends the extent of what your looking for, because I spent a big amount of money on my setup, but didnt skimp on 1 thing along the way. Bran new Ball bearing turbos aint cheap, but man my powerband is sweet, gotta post the dyno sheet one day. Plus you have to take into account if your not the greatest at fabrication or running custom oil/feed lines that the labour alone for this custom work will cost a lot of money. Ive been through it all, now I really need to go MS to complete the setup, bigger turbo on stock chipped ECUs can only go so far.

BTW, what is a good FMU that is compatible and available for our cars? I may need to pick one up.

Great Post Defiller:tup:

point is i dont see you running 17-18psi on stock injector with just pump, without detonating the crap out of your car. i have 4 f2T with t3/t4e of varous different sizes and unless your car is not putting out anypower or just a crap inefficient turbo i doubt its running that much boost.
also just dropping a bigger injector on your car without any control is a quick way to dyno 170 whp at 20psi. show some of your dyno sheet.

back to the topic,
defiller..... great writeup :tup:

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zlyricist

· #20 · Oct 4, 2008

ademan said:
point is i dont see you running 17-18psi on stock injector with just pump, without detonating the crap out of your car. i have 4 f2T with t3/t4e of varous different sizes and unless your car is not putting out anypower or just a crap inefficient turbo i doubt its running that much boost.
also just dropping a bigger injector on your car without any control is a quick way to dyno 170 whp at 20psi. show some of your dyno sheet.

i agree that the stock fuel system probably wouldnt keep up with 17psi on a t3/t4, but he could have been running higher fuel pressure to make that setup work :shrug:

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