Hotrodpez Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 This is to show that a turbo swap can be a very cost effective path to decent horsepower... or as I have discovered in budgeting my turbo build... a fast road to bankruptcy. Your choice... how fast do you want to spend?? EFI Turbo Swap - Complete L28ET with harness 350.00 - Fuel Pump 100.00 - Misc Hoses and electrical 100.00 - Total $550.00 -- 175 - 180HP That is about the same power I'd be making if I spent twice that on a N/A motor that would have very little potential left without major modifications. Immediate Upgrades - MSA Downpipe 100.00 - Intercooler and piping 300.00 - Total $400.00 With about a weekend's worth of work, I am now easily in the 200+ HP range. Future Upgrades - SDS EM-4 6F 1700.00 - 2 Bar MAP 80.00 - TPS 90.00 - Fuel Pump relay 30.00 - 60mm TB 50.00 - Taylor 10.4mm plug wires 130.00 - Fuel Injectors 200.00 (estimate - haven't decided) - Fuel 120.00 - T3/T4 turbo (ebay) 200.00 - Harmonic damper 90.00 - Aluminum radiator 460.00 - Electric fan 150.00 - Fan relay 30.00 - Centerforce II clutch 295.00 - Oil cooler 200.00 - Total $3825.00 and round it up for those random little parts I didn't think of... $4000.00 and 300+ HP So, in total, I am left with a screaming 300+ HP motor for under $5000 EDIT: You will also want to save money for things like boost gauges, AFR meters, etc... they are quite useful... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffer949 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 I have way less than 5k into my set up and im over 300hp. Id say more like 2k maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrodpez Posted October 3, 2008 Author Share Posted October 3, 2008 I know it can be done for cheaper... that estimate is WAYYY over budgeted, (I rounded up by the tens) I just wanted to see, if money was no worry, how much one could spend... And that setup above would easily make 450+ HP, but that would take a little work on the longblock itself. Plus... I'm tired of under-budgeting everything and then coming up short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 In your "future upgrades"... - SDS EM-4 6F 1700.00 (check sdsefi.com for price increases) - 2 Bar MAP 80.00 (3 Bar one should come with the SDS) - TPS 90.00 (Should be on the 240SX 60mm Throttle Body already) - Fuel Pump relay 30.00 (Use the stock one, it works fine) - 60mm TB 50.00 (Junkyards have these a dime a dozen...Thanks Dorifto Ricer Boys) - Taylor 10.4mm plug wires 130.00 (NOT recommended for use with SDS, See their tech page) - Fuel Injectors 200.00 (estimate - haven't decided) (Gonna cost more for NEW ones) - Fuel 120.00 (Shouldn't be included in build cost, but ok) - T3/T4 turbo (ebay) 200.00 (Good luck with that) - Harmonic damper 90.00 (Nothing wrong with the Stock one, ask me how I know) - Aluminum radiator 460.00 (Chevy type from Summit, $250 tops) - Electric fan 150.00 (Taurus 2 Speed from junkyard ($25)) - Fan relay 30.00 ($15 at NAPA all day long) - Centerforce II clutch 295.00 (If you really want it) - Oil cooler 200.00 (Should have come with the "Complete" L28ET) There, I just saved you a BUNCH of money...At least enough for a decent Boost Controller and a gauge or two. (Just suggestions, not criticisms) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffer949 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Going over that 400hp mark is when it starts getting expensive. The cast pistons are good for right around 400hp. So if your wanting to go for over 400 your basically looking at a full rebuild to do it correctly the pistons alone are around $500-$700. At the psi its going to take to get that much hp your gonna want a metal head gasket. Which are I think 150-250 depending on thickness. Plus all machine work and new bearings. Thats when it starts to add up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffer949 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Also the centerforce clutches dont hold up to well in turbo applications. Id stick with a ACT set up or maybe a Comp Clutch one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 EFI Turbo Swap - Complete L28ET with harness 350.00 If you have the engine already, it was a deal. If not, this is more like $500. - Fuel Pump 100.00 A Walbro is $140. - Misc Hoses and electrical 100.00 A reasonable first estimate. - Total $550.00 -- 175 - 180HP That is about the same power I'd be making if I spent twice that on a N/A motor that would have very little potential left without major modifications. Immediate Upgrades - MSA Downpipe 100.00 You forgot exhaust and muffler. Add another $400. - Intercooler and piping 300.00 BOV. Add another $100. - Total $400.00 With about a weekend's worth of work, I am now easily in the 200+ HP range. Future Upgrades - SDS EM-4 6F 1700.00 Far too expensive and does not do half of what Megasquirt can do. I bought my Wolf EMS for this much in 2007. - 2 Bar MAP 80.00 You want a 3 bar MAP sensor. Two bar only takes you to 15 psi. - TPS 90.00 Nope. Included with the 60mm TB at $50. - Fuel Pump relay 30.00 Try $5 at an electronics store. - 60mm TB 50.00 - Taylor 10.4mm plug wires 130.00 All show. For this much money you can get a nice set of Magnecors which are much better. - Fuel Injectors 200.00 (estimate - haven't decided) A reasonable first estimate for rebuilt injectors. - Fuel 120.00 - T3/T4 turbo (ebay) 200.00 You are dropping all this coin and then cheap out on a turbo?! Bump this to $500 for a decent quality turbo. - Harmonic damper 90.00 - Aluminum radiator 460.00 Bling item that you do not need. - Electric fan 150.00 - Fan relay 30.00 Again, $5. - Centerforce II clutch 295.00 ACT is a better bet at this price. - Oil cooler 200.00 Not necessary. - Total $3825.00 and round it up for those random little parts I didn't think of... $4000.00 and 300+ HP So, in total, I am left with a screaming 300+ HP motor for under $5000 EDIT: You will also want to save money for things like boost gauges, AFR meters, etc... they are quite useful... lol See my edits above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proxlamus© Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 This is to show that a turbo swap can be a very cost effective path to decent horsepower... or as I have discovered in budgeting my turbo build... a fast road to bankruptcy. Your choice... how fast do you want to spend?? EFI Turbo Swap - Complete L28ET with harness 350.00 - Fuel Pump 100.00 - Misc Hoses and electrical 100.00 - Total $550.00 -- 175 - 180HP That is about the same power I'd be making if I spent twice that on a N/A motor that would have very little potential left without major modifications. Immediate Upgrades - MSA Downpipe 100.00 - Intercooler and piping 300.00 - Total $400.00 With about a weekend's worth of work, I am now easily in the 200+ HP range. Future Upgrades - SDS EM-4 6F 1700.00 Megasquirt ~$400 - 2 Bar MAP 80.00 MS comes with a 3 bar - TPS 90.00 $5 on ebay or a junkyard - Fuel Pump relay 30.00 ?? im still using the stock fuel system - 60mm TB 50.00 junkyard for cheap - Taylor 10.4mm plug wires 130.00 dont need them - Fuel Injectors 200.00 (estimate - haven't decided) 440cc injectors from a Supra.. i got mine for $30 on ebay - Fuel 120.00 ??? - T3/T4 turbo (ebay) 200.00 Holset HY35 $300 on ebay - Harmonic damper 90.00 stock is fine - Aluminum radiator 460.00 stock is fine - Electric fan 150.00 Like Warren said, Ford Taurus fan $25 - Fan relay 30.00 explained above - Centerforce II clutch 295.00 I love my ACT - Oil cooler 200.00 I dont run one - Total $3825.00 and round it up for those random little parts I didn't think of... $4000.00 and 300+ HP So, in total, I am left with a screaming 300+ HP motor for under $5000 EDIT: You will also want to save money for things like boost gauges, AFR meters, etc... they are quite useful... lol Wideband is a must!! ~$199. Boost gauge is like $50 It can be done for MUCH cheaper... like Bo and Warren stated above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben280zx Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 I've built mine for 1700, using used good parts from the junkyard and check on the classified ads often. My next built is going after JeffP hp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrodpez Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. Some of the things I need because my 280 was converted to carbs and no longer has ANY of the original fuel injection stuff. I priced that all off websites, so its good to know I can do it for cheaper. And regarding SDS... I might go MS if I do some more reading up on it... but as of right now it kinda scares me and SDS seems alot, well, simpler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six_Shooter Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 I'm not exactly a "fan" of MS, not that I don't like it, I'd just rather use other non-conventional EMS. In this case, I'd go MS. It's a lot less expensive than the SDS and from what I've read, and after talking to people use or have used either/both, MS has a lot more capabilities and would be better for tuning with. Also reviews suggest that the MS is a lot more "street friendly". One person that I have talked to that currently uses the SDS wishes that MS was around at the time he built his car. He biggest complaint was lack of datalogging capability. Datalogging to me is very important and was surprised to hear that it didn't do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrodpez Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 Doesn't SDS now come with a logging capability? I believe it is more limited than MS though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 Good thread and great feedback from the wiseold sages like Jeffer, Bo and Ryan! I went overboard with my L30ET build and lots of spit and polish and bling for the aesthetic appeal. I agree with all the feedback and the scrapyard is your friend here, the Centerforce Clutch is rubbish and I would not even consider it. Regards - Yasin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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