1.8 diy turbo first timer!!
 

Hi everybody, this is my first post here. I've been looking around on the site a lot, and this site is badass! Lots of good info and cool ideas.

So I have a 95 with torsen lsd and I wanna turbo it... bad! I drove someones 1.6 greddy @ 9psi intercooled and can't stop needing miataspeed.

I bought a TD04l-13g off of a 2006 wrx with only 4000 miles and that is going to kickstart the project. I am a newb at this and my turbo knowledge is from the internet and my mods and experience with my girlfriend's wrx.

My goal is to be somewhere around 200rwhp. between 180-210rwhp(maybe that's about 9-11psi??)
So can you guys help me out setting up a reliable low cost DIY turbo?

I'm gonna list the stuff I think I need and if there are things I'm off on please call me out I wanna learn.

*TD04l-13g turbo (purchased)
*JGS prewelded manifold (plus buy an adaptor flange to match the turbo)
*Greddy Emanage Blue (with both harnesses)
*Walboro 190lph hp in tank pump
*ebay intercooler (any suggestions for IC piping???)
*custom downpipe
*o2 clamp
*hallman MBC
*Prosport gauges (electric boost, WB o2 (when available), and EGT)
*305 or 330 injectors (are these necessary????)
*some recirculating bypass valve (maybe stock wrx)

*Then... I have no oil or coolant lines in mind for the turbo (any suggestions)
*Should I get different plug wires (I have ngk blues)? I'll get different spark plugs.

I am not an expert at electrical stuff, so will it be hard to set up the EMB by myself so that it's driveable, or should I get help? Also should I pay for some dyno time and get this running correctly asap?

Does this pretty much sum up the stuff needed??:ugh2:
Can you guys help me out with suggestions or your experienced advice?

Thanks for taking the time to read all this too!

-Scott
(I'm guessing this will cost somewhere between $1500-$2200, not including the clutch and flywheel I'll need soon after...sound about right?)

You are probably going to want something to bump up the fuel pressure, such as a vortech or begi FPR. That way the injectors that you listed can supply the motor the required fuel. Good luck

Scott,

A couple things to consider:

• I am grateful to live in a state as far away from California as possible, so I don't have expertise, but I can tell you that a DIY turbo kit isn't going to be street legal in CA. If that's going to be a concern, you need to pick up a "kit" that comes with a CARB EO sticker. The least expensive is the Greddy kit. BEGi also makes a turbo kit. FFS has a supercharger kit.
• The BEGi and FFS kits will both give you the power you're looking for in their out-of-the-box, street legal forms. The Greddy will need a little help and will technically no longer be legal.
• If you go DIY :nono: then IMO the turbo you've picked out is on the small side, which means you'll get into boost quickly, but sacrifice ultimate power. It also will heat up intake charge temps, so you'll have to be careful with your intercooler (or water injection if so inclined), timing controls, and radiator.
• You'll definately need a new clutch. I would go ahead and get the clutch swap out of the way first. Then you don't have to worry about lack of self control during clutch break in.
• I think your budget is a bit on the low side.

if you make the manifold yourself your budget is tight... if you buy it pre-made then your are certainly on the low side. Of course it all depends on quality of the components and how many you can get a killer deal on used. I think I'm in for just under $1000 at the moment and still don't have a downpipe, IC, IC piping, WBO2, or a knocksense. One the bright side I do have a megasquirt, BEGi manifold, and a T3 :)

I was right about at the $1500- 2000 range with my build including clutch but I bought most of my stuff used from other members. I also don't have any aftermarket engine managment (yet).

prety much the same thing as I was doing. I think if your smart about it, your budget is tight but do able. I asked the same questions about the 330cc injectors and 200 hp and got the answer that I didnt need an aftermarket pump or fpr for them since I was going emanage... so maybe everyones right? I dunno.

I would budget in a wideband to. I forgot to, and Im saving up for one now

If your going for DIY turbo without a carb sticker good luck. So cal cops are not only smart but on foothill blvd in la crescenta not too long ago, they set up freaking SMOG machines on the street and would do random smog checks on cars. Courtesy of the california highway patrol. I still dont care though and I refuse to put a cat converter on. STRAIGHT PIPING ftw!

Your car with a turbo, as long as it passed smog before, should have zero problems with the sniffer after the turbo. Just keep the cat in there. Instead of a bipes/mbc/fuel pump/AFPR, consider a pre-built and pre-modified Megasquirt. Easy to install, and it gives you total control over both timing and fuel. You won't need a fuel pump or an MBC, but you'll need larger injectors, probably something in the 460-500cc range, since you aren't using as much fuel pressure. You also will need a wideband O2 sensor, which is about $180 shipped from eBay. The MS/WBO2/460cc setup lets you bypass the fuel pump, the MBC, and the O2 clamp, since you aren't restricted by the stock MAF sensor anymore. It also gives you the option of running a full VTA BOV if it suits your fancy. :)

you guys are missing that he lives in CA where a diy turbo is illegal. :mad:

It's illegal in Milwaukee and its surrounding counties, too.:gay:

The don't even accept CARB certified parts here, but they also don't open your hood unless you fail the first two tests.

Thanks for all the replies guys.
California does suck for sure about smog and such, and that is a concern somewhat, but I'm willing to take the risk. I'll run a hi flow cat to pass a sniffer, and feel like I'm doing my part for the environment:D

The megasquirt sounds like a really good idea. I know absoluteley nothing about it, other than seeing it mentioned a lot. I looked for one and saw a preassembled one at diyautotune.com. I'll need to learn more about that setup. But basically i'd just need MS, turbo/oil/coolant lines, manifold, DP, IC and piping, larger injectors, BOV, and WB02/ other gauges?? If that's right I'll definately do that!!!

Do you guys think I should start with a different turbo? I picked this one up for real cheap, but I could sell it or keep it around for the WRX. Anything else out there cheap and good? A turbo from the 1.6l Greddy sounds good too.

Oh, if you guys need gauges you should check out prosportgauges.com They're popular in the subaru community and really cheap but high quality and accurate! I have no affiliation with them, just trying to help out cause I know how expensive gauges seem. It seems like no one in the miata community uses them.

Thanks for the help so far,
much appreciated!
-Scott

yeah... you JUST need that $2K worth of stuff ;)

I personally am t3 fan because the upgrade path is excellent. I can, however, see a need for large T25s and medium sized T28 depending on the power goals one is shooting for.

Is a chiropractic website :(

Haha yeah. Less parts at least though.


Oh, whoops... fixed the web address, sorry.:inout:

True, but we missed it on purpose. :cool: