(hoemade) Turbo Build Thread!

[slow325isedan]

This whole turbo build should only 2 weeks in total to complete so this will be updated often, Feel free to ask question and I will be sure to get back to you.

This was her when I picked it up last year. Found it on craigslist and felt like I got a great deal for $1200




Shortly after I bought GC coilovers with billy strut inserts an cut housings, along with ESM 003's 17x9 rears and 17x7.5 fronts



And not long after that I started to piece together a decent turbo setup for it, I still plan to DD the car so im shooting for 10psi, Ive done a bit of DFI tuning and things like that in the past so Im pretty sure the car will ok for daily use.

Here are some parts,







Well today I started the build, Got the AC and all that taken out. coil moved but not re mounted yet. Oil cooler removed "to be replaced" and got the intercooler where I wanted it and made some brackets and got it all mounted up. I forgot to take a finished picture but I will post that tomorrow.





Had to notch the core support a little bit for the IC to sit flush




Thats all for today, Tomorrow I plan to get a lot done so ill be sure to take a lot more pictures tomorrow.

[nomansland92]

Looks nice so far, hopefully Ill be right behind you in a few months haha. Just curious to why your going with a miller maf (if i seen that correctly) over ms?

[slow325isedan]

Looks nice so far, hopefully Ill be right behind you in a few months haha. Just curious to why your going with a miller maf (if i seen that correctly) over ms?

Well basically ease of use, this is going to be a daily driver and i really don't need to squeeze every ounce of power out of it. it will be perfect for what i need it for. I'm sure at some point in the future i will switch to MS but for now this will work.

[Pootis]

Are you changing the headgasket and upgrading to arps? Looks like a good start check the fitment of that adapter mine did not line up I ended up having to cut it and weld a sleeve to make it work

[BimmerJeff]

Which turbo manifold adapter is that? I'm just across the border in Erie if you ever need a hand let me know.

[chance]

What turbo is that?

[slow325isedan]

I only plan to run low boost, few lbs at first to get everything all broken in, then shortly after its all together I plan to drop the trans and do a clutch, and pull the head for port polish and cam. At that time I'm going to do a head gasket and arp's. just getting everything all together for now.

It's an OBX manifold adapter and yes it didn't fit very well lol, I pulled the cast manifolds off and bolted everything together on the bench then slipped the manifolds with the adapter on and it fit that way. But I'll pulled everything off to take it all to get high temp powder coated,

The turbo is a garret 3076R with a precision cold side housing, anti surge housing is much better. 82AR on the hot side and 72AR on the cold side, it should be perfect on the 2.5.

[slow325isedan]

Which turbo manifold adapter is that? I'm just across the border in Erie if you ever need a hand let me know.

Ill for sure keep that in mind! Thanks sir! It's an OBX adapter

[slow325isedan]

Also I noticed my engine mounts are total crap, any suggestions on where I should get poly mounts from?

[KEVORM]

Also I noticed my engine mounts are total crap, any suggestions on where I should get poly mounts from?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E30-M20-...4&cmd=ViewItem

These. Run them on my race car, as do a few others. (Full disclosure: they're made by a friend of mine who races and supplies parts to e30's)

[ak-]

Sweet!
What size intercooler is that if you mind?
I've eyed that turbo before and always deemed it too big for my goals. I'm interested on how it turns out on your 2.5!!

[Pootis]

I'm running condor speedshop mounts I like them

[pacmanE30]

nice intro. looking forward to see how she does all buttoned up.

[rmosca594]

Def gonna sub man looking good! I also have a champagne e30 in the build process check my thread :D

[slow325isedan]

Update!

So like I said, this is the finished mounts for the intercooler, turned out pretty nice!



I also got the exhaust, which was in way better shape then i expected, im just using the muffler off of it for the new 3in turbo back when i build it.



Was jacking up the engine a little to test fit the turbo manifold and noticed my passanger side engine mount had completely seperated, thats why i ask where the best place to get new ones was lol





The OBX adapter didn't want to fit so i took the cast manifolds off and bolted them to the adapter then side the cast manifolds over the studs and got it on for the test fit, sits pretty nice but a little closer to the spark plug wires then i would have liked.





Then I decided to take the intake mani off to clean and powder coat it, and since i was doing that i pulled the valve cover, so then i stood back and figured it was that far torn down i should probably just pull the head for a new gasket and ARP's, So i did.




And its a really good thing i decided to do that because when i started taking the timing covers off i noticed my timing belt was F'ed it for sure would have broke and i would have been pissed lol,



It doesn't look to shabby for 170k lol, the cross hatch is still visible and there is almost no ridge on the cylinder.




Off to powder coating!



Took about an hour to get the parts cleaned and prepped for powder. This is just some of them.



FYI Cast iron suuuucks to bead blast lol



Im headed over to powder coat all the parts today, just need to decide what color!



Also why are ARP's so damn expensive! jeez. and what are some recommendations for a good head gasket that will hold up to 15ish lbs of boost?