Would it work if you bought a used turbo from some other car, RX-7 or otherwise, and installed it? You would have to buy a new ecu and some new sensors, but would it work fairly well?

 

no

"turbocharging on a budget "

there is no such thing...

 

Depends how small your budget is really...
I think my(so nearly finished....) turbo conversion has been done on a very tight budget..

 

If I were you I would wait until your financially stable and know exactly what you're going to do. If you're going to do something.. you might as well do it right. Just my opinion..

 

Tell me more about what you have done and used so far.

.......and the costs too of course.
John

 

It would take me awhile write down everything i've done so far but i'll have a webpage up for that soon enough i'll just be very brief.

All Prices in Aussie $
Turbo - $80
Custom Manifold (mounts turbo more forward) - Free
3l Supra turbo intercooler - $150
Stainless steel piping - Free
Full gasket Set - $160
12in thermo fan - $50
Oil return welded into sump - $80 (only labour i've paid for..)
Still deciding what im doing in the way of a ECU/fuel system (only reaon why it's not finished yet actualy..) either buying a new microtech LTX8 or a 2nd hand Haltech E6k... (~$1000) un sure what ECU yet..
either way i'll also be buying 2x1000cc injectors for my secondries and MAYBE some bigger primaries depending on how bad the crossover point is between the two, i guess i'll have to wait and see about that...
Bosch motorsport 044 pump ~350ish

not directly related but i also had to buy 2new engine mounts - $67ea.


So it turns out to be about $2000 Australian half of which will be my new ECU which i was going to get even if i kept it N/A...

Edit: Oh yeah forgot, i'm going in on monday to price up some braided lines that I'm going to get made and also some misc. nuts and bolts so i'm estimating about another $200 all up

 

Sure it can be done. Buying a used turbo off a different vehicle and putting it on another one is PERFECTLY FINE... as long as the turbo is correctly sized for the new appliction.
Turbocharging on a budget can be done. I hate it when people are ignorant and think that you HAVE to buy the top name brand stuff all brand new from a store or the company and then probably pay someone to put it all in. ****, if you do it that way then yeah, there is no way you can turbocharger on a budget.
If you have the ability and patience to search for deals on parts, buy parts used that don't matter if they are used (Ie: BOV, boost gauge, intercooler, etc), then hell ya you can turbocharge on a smaller budget. Anyone that says you can't is stuck with the comman "3rd Gen Owner Mentality"
Geeze, this ticked me off, sorry, I just had to rant

 

Well said, couldn't have said it better myself!

 

I did it! Heres a list and prices. Obviously I got lucky.

1) J-spec '89-'91 style T-II longblock assembly : $Free!!!
I actually bought the entire assembly from a place in California that only wanted $650. They shipped me the engine and then went out of business before charging my credit card! I sold the turbo off of it for $350 and the injectors for $125. I also sold the electronic oil metering pump for $250. I came out on the plus side $725! Now for the subtraction...

1) IHI big single turbo and Tial 45mm wastegate : Free!!! Actually since I was a custom car stereo installer for several years and had a whole lot of old equipment lying around I traded my time for building and some equipment for the turbo and a brand new Tial 45mm wastegate. I probably only had 3 days of work in the car and I had very little expenses due to hookups.

1) Big *** intercooler : $150 I used 2 starion cores. One I purchased for $40 from a junkyard and the other one a friend gave me. I spent $110 making custom endtanks and welding the two cores to one massive core. It may or may not be as good as an aftermarket unit but for only $150 I'd be stupid to care.

1) Custom built aluminum upper intake manifold: $400 give or take a little. This is where I started paying. I did all the cutting and designing myself but had to pay for materials and welding.

1) 75mm Mustang Throttlebody: $200 I am using a big single plate for power since it is just a toy car and I have a Honda for gas mileage.

1) Haltech : Market price. You all know how much these are. If you need to go even cheaper use a distributer and a Megasquirt. Just be careful due to lack of timing control.

1) Custom made downpipe: $100 Since I can fabricate my own stuff I just pay for materials and a little welding. The welder is a friend so its all cheap.

1) Turbo XS blowoff valve: $125 Standard unit that many people are using.

Currently working on a V-mount system with a custom radiator and ducting. Shouldn't be more than about $400 when I'm done with it.

Add up all of these prices. Had I not have gotten the engine and turbo for free it would have been much more expensive but it is an example of how you can get something very cheap if you know how.

 

Interesting stuff, I need to get my freind to teach me how to weld. My only fear is that I will go crazy with the new knowledge and try to weld everything in sight. I can picture it now..........a sleeper............. a Yugo with a 13bt drivetrain and 1st gen suspension. totally stock looking and ready to leave you dumbfounded at a redlight............ hmmmm..........

I will be starting my project soon, I already have a S4 turbo but I might want to get the better S5 one, hell if I blow the motor so what....... I only paid $1000 for this vert and I have a company car and Expedition to fall back on.

 

No it can't be done. Buying a used turbo off a different vehicle and putting it on another one is PROBABLY NOT GONNA FIT... because the turbo is correctly sized for the old appliction.
Turbocharging on a budget can't be done. I hate it when people are ignorant and think that you HAVE to buy the cheap generic brand stuff all f**cked-up from a junkyard or the company and then probably convince someone to put it all in. ****, if you do it that way then yeah, there is no way your turbocharger will run on a budget
If you have the ability and patience to search for deals on parts, buy parts rebuilt that don't matter if they are new (Ie: BOV, boost gauge, intercooler, etc), then hell ya you can turbocharge on a smaller loan. Anyone that says you can is stuck with the comman "non-turbo Gen Owner Mentality"
hahaha...Geeze, this cracked me up, sorry, I just had to laugh!

Sensei

 

Go back and re-read my reply. TURBOCHARGING CAN BE DONE ON A BUDGET!!!!!! I DID IT!!! Define budget first of all...under $1000, $2000, $5??? Your ultimate goals will affect your budget and what is possible.

Bridgeported said "..as long as the turbo is correctly sized for the new application" I like the response that restates this that said "...because the turbo is correctly sized for the old application". How did the same statement just get used in two different ways? If you can find a used turbo off of another vehicle that fits well with your goals then it will work. Please restate that again so I can rebut myself. I think the real issue lies with the people who did spend inordinate amounts of money on their project only to be matched or possibly outdone by someone who spent a fraction of the price. How many 2nd gen owners are young people in school getting paid hourly? Most of them I would say. I'm not but I'm still all for custom work that I can be proud of and about saving money. I can claim no bragging rights to something that everyone else already has. Every looked at RX-7 engine bays in magazines? If you've seen one you've seen them all. They are all clones. Some may be painted, chromed, or polished but what is so unique? I like the custom done jobs that are one of a kind or at the vey least show creativity.

I believe there is a very well known quad turbo V-8 Chevy out there running Indy car turbochargers. Many people here know what I'm talking about. I have the magazine article from last summer. The turbos were designed to work as single units on Indy cars. By using 4 of them he made them work to his advantage. Buying 4 of those was cheaper than buying 2 new Y2K turbos, they spool faster, and they look cooler so who the hell says it can't be done. Anyone saying this doesn't have the personal ability to do...but I and others do and it works.

One thing you have to remember about turbocharging on a budget is how much power do you want? Yes you can just throw a turbo on a completely stock ecu n/a RX-7 with nothing more than a rising rate fuel pressure regulator and get a power increase. Thats all that is done when the Paxton superchargers are added and they work well putting out about 210-215 rwhp non-intercooled with a stock port motor. Sure its not 400-500hp but its more power than a streetable n/a can put down without some serious engine work. If you want mega power done properly its gonna cost you. If you want a noticable gain but don't have alot of money then it can be done...at least by people smart enough and creative enough to try. The hardest part is the research. The easiest thing to do is to not have the courage to try at all and then claim it impossible when others try. I pity these people.

Whether I just ticked you off or cracked you up doesn't bother me because I know better. Sorry for wasting a few minutes of your time.

 

Well put rotarygod!

 

Ditto, I would be very happy with about 200-225 to the wheels. I just can`t stand the lack of power that a vert. normally has. If I wanted a race car I would buy a TII or a 3rd gen and take out a home equity loan. I just want a nice looking convertible that can hyold it's own on the street.

John

88 vert.
Corksport kit/rear spoiler, and custom tailights/headlights, being done at the moment. Turbo to come soon.

......looks kinda like the pic now but with 17" crome 5 star speedy wheels

 

Nice job rotarygod.

 

yeah, 225 hp would be just what I want. I'm not looking to push some used turbo to the limits for 400 hp. I just want more straight power. It can handle great, it just needs more power.
Are you sure an N/A ecu could handle 6-8 psi boost? seems kinda risky to just increase the fuel pressure. Maybe if you got a nice knock sensor and a kill switch I'd feel safe.

 

Arron Cake says his is running well on a stock ECU with a few mods, it seems it could work. All the ECU does is look at fuel and air so if you had a turbo and brought in more air it would see it, you would just have to make sure not to over advance timing and to crank up the fuel I think.

 

Damm all this talk of turbocharged N/A's!
I want mine running dammit!!

All I have to do is get some damm braided lines made up (turbo oil/water..) and some gaskets for the manifold -> turbo..

 

I am constantly checking the junkyards around here for turbos. Sometimes you can get lucky and find one in good shape, all you have to do is rebuild it and your set! What would be preferable is to find a RX-7 of the same or close to the same year, and take everything that would be needed to install on your car, kindove a package deal. That way your not mixing and matching parts. allso you will get a better deal on the whole thing!

 

You can turbo on a very tight budget. I had a mk2 VW golf that i turboed for around 1800 that ran low 12's. You just have to look for good deals. I made all my piping and my turbo manifold. So that really cut the price. But if you have welding and machine skills it can be done very ezy. Good luck!

 

Yeah I think that is the best way to do it. My brother is selling his 87 T2 with a just rebuilt streetported motor in the FS section his name is Gold7 you might want to check it out if you are interested in the na -> turbo conversion

 

QUOTE]Originally posted by rotarygod
Go back and re-read my reply. TURBOCHARGING CAN BE DONE ON A BUDGET!!!!!! I DID IT!!! Define budget first of all...under $1000, $2000, $5??? Your ultimate goals will affect your budget and what is possible.[/QUOTE] Okay, okay, relax...you need to go back and re-read your reply, on the first line you say, "Obviously I got lucky When using the word "lucky" I normally associate that with "uncommon or rarely happens" Of course turbocharging can be done on a budget but simply getting "lucky" isn't what one should expect.The post is "turbocharging on a budget" not "turbocharging on a lucky break" Obviously you got lucky, not I, nor should one make it seem so cut and dry. You know as well as I know, even with your good fortune, tinkering with cars, any cars for that matter, will never go as planned. Therefore I did not finish reading your post because it wasn't a good example, nor did I make any direct comment to your post to deserve this. And may I also remind you it's rotary>piston who needs to define his budget first...but, I now have re-read your post and I will gladly reply... only because you are asking for it. ...if you know how to what? I am beginning to question the validity of your luck

Obviously, since he hasn't replied with any numbers, he hasn't a clue? But, that's perfectly understandable, because this is all so new to him. Do you always encourage beginners to start tearing apart there cars and to build their own turbo systems? You make it seem so simple? Wasn't this your post from a previous, Do you also throw in the element of "luck" when you go on the endless mission in search of what ever will fit? Like yourself, I have been there, done that, regret that, and will also share that! Will you answer to ones prayers when the sun is down, the night is cold, the parts don't fit and your friends are not home? Tell the truth now, cause I know you have never answered to mine... although I am still a faithful rotary believer.(lord have mercy) So I ask you my lord... where is it you lead thy... the gates of Rotary Heaven or Rotary Hell? Oh, well if you go back and re-read my post you will see that I merely re-posted his post, word for word and then simply gave it a 180. I just found it rather amusing...did you read the "ha,ha,ha" part? Again, I'm sorry if I offended Bridgeported(or in some way did I offend you?) but he did state... "I just had to rant." Not sure that I understand you there, but how would one, such as rotary>piston be able to determine what fits well. Why not spare us the suspense and just rebut the different vehicles you two are talking about? "Buying a used turbo off a different vehicle and putting it on another one is PERFECTLY FINE... as long as the turbo is correctly sized for the new application. I am unaware of the different vehicles, although since you have done this already, I'm sure you can name a few vehicles off the top of your head, that do have turbochargers which will fit.
No, I think the issue is that you are deliberately trying to publicly humiliate me! How many 2nd gen owners have 2 cars like yourself, who need not worry about being stranded? My prayers to the ones makes an attempt to slap on a turbo based on your vision and one's faith on your knowledge. And as for the term custom parts... there is a definite line that runs between homemade and custom. That's nice but not everyone is as talented as you and remember the key word here is"budget"? 4 turbos = 4 wastegates, 4oil feeds, 4 oil drains, 4 separate exhaust manifolds, 4x the space needed..so what was the actual budget amount?. A Quad turbo V8 Chevy...how inspiring, so what is the relevance here?

No YOU have to remember...how much money and time you are able to afford. Not everyone has the talent or tools that you or you friends do. Not everyone has the experience or creative capacity that you have. Not everyone has the time or the down time you have. Well then...with the understanding that you know better... Saiyonara

Sensei The S5 TII's at their best were rated at only 200hp at the crank, the 3rd gen's only 255hp at the crank.

 

Turbocharging is cheap if you're willing to do a little work. It's only expensive if you're fast and furious and need brand name stuff and/or are going for huge power.

 

correctly stated.

 

One of the most crazy fast fun cars I've ever been in was a 240SX with a junkyard turbo conversion. He was using a Volvo turbo that he rebuilt himself, an intercooler off of some random car, and a few other bits.

Stock block, custom manifold, exhaust and intercooler piping he welded himself, and he was running high 13's at the track for $500 invested. Then another $500 for a fuel controller and fuel pressure regulator and he was all set at mid 13's out of the car on a slipping clutch.

Junkyards are gold mines, especially when it comes to old turbos and intercoolers. ...and if you want something new try www.cheapturbo.com , awesome prices. I'm gonna buy a Super 60 for my R/T from there.

Speaking of cheap...

$400 -> 3" exhaust + MBC = +60 hp to the ground, +80 lb. ft. of torque @ 13 psi on a Garret T03

Finish that off with an upgraded MAP sensor, injectors, and a fuel pressure regulator and I can up the boost a little more.

When the stock turbo runs out of breath and I upgrade to a Super 60 for $650 I'll be pushing about 350 hp to the ground. ...doubled my horsepower for less than $2000, on the stock block.

Turbocharging is cheap. If it wasn't there wouldn't be so many nutty turbo Chrysler enthusiasts out there.