Dirt cheap turbo build here I come!

[DJLimes]

Ok guys, its time for my little 87' 325is to get some boost. I have the pleasure of living right next to castro motorsports so they'll get her all tuned up, but I'm going to build it myself in a buddy's garage.

I'm trying to do everything on the cheap, and yes I know things will break. This is a beater, and I'm ok with that!

This is what I'm thinking parts-wise...

-Ebay manifold or this one: http://www.cxracing.com/mm5/merchant...ory_Code=MFBMW

-intercooler off a volvo 740

-gonna weld up a 3" exhaust

-new head studs to keep everything from blowing up

-megasquirt of course

-turbo? This I'm not sure. I'd like to pay as little as possible, so used/junkyard is fine. Any recommendations? I'm not sure what will bolt up to the manifolds I picked, kind of a noob.

Thanks a lot guys, please let me know if I missed anything!

[TheTacoMan]

Considering the cheapest build possible that will work somewhat consistently will cost 2k+.
Junkyard turbos, never used them but why when you can get an ebay turbo that is brand new and somewhat proven(as long as you stick to cxracing).

[DJLimes]

I'm not familiar with buying turbos on ebay, but I've read plenty of stories where people get a garbage turbo on ebay and end up disappointed. Junkyard I can at least see the quality before I buy. I'll check out cxracing though, I'm basing my opinion off of hearsay so its not set in stone.

[MaxBell]

If you can get a Volvo or Saab turbo, you're good, otherwise grab an eBay one. I have a friend daily driving his boosted E34 with no issues.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

You can can pick up a eBay turbo kit for under a grand. It won't last forever or be nearly as good as a precision or garret turbo but it's a turbo and if it blows up they aren't to expensive.

[Jahman093]

If you can get a Volvo or Saab turbo, you're good

+1 you can usually get these pretty cheap and a rebuild kit is between 30-60$

You'll also need injectors. how large of injectors you choose will depend on much boost you will run.
A new upgraded clutch should be on your list as well. The stock is good for about 220hp
Blow off valve, wastegate(if not internally wastegated), intercooling piping, oil lines

[Pootis]

What's the point I understand its a beater but you are going to spend more fixing/replacing your cheap parts especially if you blow an engine than just buying quality parts in the first place. Imo


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[MaxBell]

What's the point I understand its a beater but you are going to spend more fixing/replacing your cheap parts especially if you blow an engine than just buying quality parts in the first place. Imo


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You can actually get pretty far with cheap shit. The key is to not jerryrig anything. Using used oil lines is fine, but don't try to use something not designed for it.

A Volvo turbo is a fine turbo, as are their intercoolers.

[DJLimes]

I should have prefaced that I'm an mechanical engineering student and this will be more of a project for me than anything. I can always replace parts with higher quality pieces when I can afford it. I want to explore the world of boost and tuning first hand.

[FLG]

Parts wise, you can maybe get by with cheap things (intercooler, exhaust..stuff like that)

Expect to spend between 700-1k for a tune, building a reliable turbo motor (assuming there are not parts issues) is all in the tune.

[DJLimes]

Parts wise, you can maybe get by with cheap things (intercooler, exhaust..stuff like that)

Expect to spend between 700-1k for a tune, building a reliable turbo motor (assuming there are not parts issues) is all in the tune.

Yeah thankfully I'm right next door to castro motorsports, theyve tuned a lot of turbo e30's so I trust theyll get it right the first time around

[jim325]

I had an ebay turbo on my car for about 3 years, something like 20k miles. It pooped recently and is now spilling oil everywhere.

On my M30B34 it made about 310hp/340tq at 10.5 psi. Ebay turbos can get you places, but it is really hit or miss. We hear so many ppl say their ebay turbo pooped quick, n like me, 3 years is pretty freakin good for $350 SHIPPED.

I have ordered a new Comp turbo from TCD to replace the ebay 1.

I bought wastegate/bov/turbo/injectors/intercooler/tubing off ebay. In the end, what did I really spend? Maybe $600-$700 for all of it? With the exception of the intercooler, everything will have been replaced with quality, new parts when the turbo comes in and will have cost me around $1300. So, for nearly double the price(depending on the brands you buy) you can have parts that are proven to work and a LOT of piece of mind. And you will have saved around $500. Im not sure if you got money pouring out ur ass but $500 is kindof a good chunk.

My setup ran just fine on the cheaper stuff, but I knew I would need to upgrade them if I wanted this car to last.

TL;DR I wish I woulda just bought the proven turbo parts first.

[Q5Quint]

if you are going with headstuds and megasquirt you might as well use a holset and go for 400+hp. However, I don't see a new clutch on your list.

If you want to cheap out just do what I did on my first setup- set your sights for the stock clutch limit of 250hp or so. A t3- super 60 or t04 ebay or used worked great, and you are still 70+hp over stock which feels ridiculous but not horrifyingly insane, and you don't have to buy a new clutch.

Swap clutch ($500-$800) and swap bigger turbo... and boom 400+hp.

Super cheap w/ room to grow would be stock bolts stock clutch, 8psi w/t3 60 (came on thunderbirds~ $150 ebay) intercooled ($200) w megasquirt ($600) and 42lb injectors ($200) stock exhaust even flows just fine if you let the wastegate flow open into the atmosphere. WG and BOV $100. Gauges oil lines and crap $200. = $1450

Add clutch $500-$800
Swap in holset $2-300
Headstuds - $500-$800 (you are changing your timing belt and head gasket and water pump and fluids when you pull the head.... right?)
Retune (free because you are a boost master now)
$300 bigger exhaust if you hate talking to people in the car
400hp of not exploding m20-horay!
+$2200 or so.