First time turbo, DIY.
 

I have about $1000 budget, I can go alittle over if needed, but not much. I have a 97 M-edition, not really any mods to it engine or exhaust, just replaced wheels, new brakes and comlete maintinance excpet timing belt which i'm doing soon. But I want MORE power, I have a friend with a 02 Jetta with the 1.8T and its got quite some kick to it, and his jetta weights over 1000lb more than my miata. I want about 160~180 hp at the wheels, I do drive it every day, but I also like to take it to the tack. I've never done a turbo kit before, and all of the kits are 2500 + that I can find.

What parts would I need for a reliable fully functioning turbo kit? I'm not going to worry about upgrading right now, a Greddy T25/28 turbo is about the only one in my price range at $230 ish(e-bay). Any suggestions for the turbo headers, downpipe, intercooler, bov, any electronics that I need to make it all work? I'm only going to go with about 6~8 PSI boost since I'm not racing and its a daily driver, just looking to up the fund smoke my buddy's Jetta :) A complete parts list would be helpful.

Check the DIY FAQ that can be found through the search function. Also, list your location in your profile and year and mods in your signature. That will allow us to help you out by targeting our suggestions toward your specific year Miata.

I am starting a project that is almost exactly the same as yours. '94 with goals of between 180 and 200hp, on a $1000 budget. (I'm going to be starting with MS on the car though.)

Can anybody tell me the difference between the T25/28 and the T3/T4? I don't know much about different models of turbos, but I'll probably end up with a T25/28, and a small intercooler, and about 10psi.

With a $1000 budget and being new to the world of turbo miatas its going to be an interesting build. The manifold, downpipe, turbo, and fuel/timing management will have to used and dirt cheap to make that budget.
You should look into something more like the BEGI-S kit that is sub $2k with megasquirt but and FMU is more in your price range.
Reading around the forum will help you understand why your budget is low. Watch for used parts and grab them up quick as they come around.

what the fuck is up with all these non search shit. come on read around and you will find your place in the world not everything is to be served to you on a platter. 1000 is not worth shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe 3 is good. once you spend 1000 you will notice that you just made a mistake and wasted 1000. just read more about it there are many people like you looking for a 1000 fix.

Skidude and Thing:
Here is the DIY FAQ that I mentioned in my first post above:
https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4288

Read up on that and you will have a good idea of the parts you will need to assemble for your turbo kit. As Chad mentioned, your $1k buget is pretty tight if you want to push 180+hp because eventually you will need a clutch which adds $$. I've seen a few used BEGi manifolds and BEGi downpipes sell for between $200 and $250. If you can snatch those up when they come around, you will be on your way to a cheap setup. Check out turbos from nissan SR20's for a cheap solution.

A new Begi-S turbo isn't bad at all, 1800 for a new turbo system is pretty good price. I think that I may be able to build my own Begi-S turbo by finding used parts, like the exhaust manifold, downpipe, and just buy a brand new turbo for it. Maybe I can squeeze it into the 1200~1400 range then. I'm already going to replace the clutch with that economic stim payment, I'll have about $200 left over from that because I'll put it in myself.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep post on what I find as parts come along.

Good luck finding the parts. Took me a good 3 - 4 months to accumulate all the parts needed for my DIY build and it cost me 2500 bucks.

What is your problem, dude? If you don't like somebody's post, don't read it. I'm looking for a $1000 starting price. If I can't make my power goal with $1k, I'll scale it back a little and add more later.

His problem is very simple. We dont like answering the same questions over and over again. The questions you guys are bringing up have already been addressed numerous times and the answers can be searched for.

Also the questions you are asking like the difference between turbos is a very easy one to find answers for yourself. It can be googled fairly easily, or you can even go to the turbo makers site IE Turbonetics or Garrett and they explain right there what it is.

Ask questions that are interesting or complicated, maybe something your confused about, something substantial then you will get an abundant amount of help. If you bring up easy shit, no one will pay attention to you or think you are serious about this and are just wasting our time.

Not trying to ward you off, just trying to show you whats up and believe me I speak from experience.

Chances are you won't be making any power with only 1k invested and you're not the first one to show up asking this question before doing research.

Lurk more.

I'm not even the one who asked the question! I just mentioned that I'm looking to do the same thing as the OP. My question was about two common turbos, and I was just hoping somebody could answer it quickly. Forgive me, I will not ask any more questions lest I waste somebody's time. Screw this thread; you guys aren't being helpful at all.

just dont be a pain in the ass well get along just fine

Skidude/TheThing, maybe this flash will help you with future questions:
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

TheThing, do not buy anything on eBay that resembles "turbo kit"... JUST DON'T! None of the commonly advertised kits are any good. They are all crap and all of them lack several key pieces of hardware to make them work.

There are guys here who have made the power you're talking about with the budget you've got... but all have sourced used parts (usually homemade) and cobbled something together they've mostly come to regret. If you've really only got $1k total, I'd skip a turbo setup all together. You're not going to be proud of anything you can assemble for that money.

Your goal of 160-180whp necessitates an intercooler, BOV, clutch, fuel pump or injectors (or both) on top of the main parts assuming you fully retain the stock ECU. If you lowered your goal to 5-6psi and 150whp, then you could come close to meeting your budget.

Here's "budget":
Used HKS mani ($200)
Used DSM T25 ($150)
2piece crossover pipe w/fittings for IAC+breather ($50)
Couplers ($30)
Begi 2025 AFPR ($100)
Fuel Line ($10)
Supra 305's+cleaning ($125)
Custom DP (or maybe used w/purchase of mani) ($250)
Test Pipe ($100)
Oil and Water lines/fittings from local hydraulic-rubber shop ($100)
Sunpro Boost Gauge ($30)
Heat Wrap for heater core lines: ($20)
DIY heat shield ($10)
5ft of vaccum line ($20)

That should get you to an easy 5psi, quite probably 6psi... and between 150-155whp. Your next upgrade for 7-8psi is an intercooler, and you can re-use your x-over pipe cut into sections. Any higher than that, and you're gonna need fuel pump and BOV, and clutch (if you didn't already need one). By then you're already into the low $2k range excluding the clutch. You'll need to hit the dyno once at a cost of $100 to see where you're fuel is each time you "UP" the boost.

Right now, the most bang for your $1k performance wise would be to go Megasquirt. MSPnP+LC1+IAT can be done for $1k and you would pick up 10-12whp and a few MPG. Then over the next year or so, purchase parts used as they pop up in the classifieds with a well thought-out plan of attack.
Mani/DP/Turbo/IC/BOV/Fuel-OilLines/Injectors/Exhaust/Clutch... are always for sale used.

goddamit Sam, if i see that link one more time i'm gonna piss myself from laughing out loud here at the office, it cracks me up everytime you post it...freaking hilarious, thank you

Freaking funny! That link should be a sticky at the top of every forum here.

search nazi's FTL!!!!

HAHAHAHAAAAA!!! Dude, you are so finished.

Next time you're in South Cackalacky, I'll take you for a ride in my $1000 kit.

:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:
omg im saving this shit...:bowrofl:
Hey there guy, i have 4 words for you:
SHUT THE FUCK UP

Im assuming you have or had a wrx from your user name, well dont be a douche and give us a bad rep. Shut the fuck up, search, this shit has been discussed so many fucking times Ive been lurking around reading shit for a couple months and still havent read everything. The info is there, if you're too lazy to read it then dont fucking come here....and if you're stupid enough to whine about it, I will check into every thread you post in and laugh because you will get fucking owned by sam and some of the others. may God have mercy on your soul

I guess if you tried pretty hard, you could do it for close to 1000 but it wont be that great, and it will take you a long time to build up the parts. I am about ready to put a new turbo system on my car but I have been acquiring my parts for about six months now. When I get my wideband, and some other shit, I will be up to about 1400. Im sure I will get tagged with at least 150 more in random bits and pieces. Unless you are planning on building a lot of your own shit, 1000 dollars is not gonna happen.

(The 1400 does not include the 600, + maybe 200 for misc shit, that i spent on my used hks kit, but I should be able to make most of that back)

Also the search nazis are right, so start figuring some shit out for yourself. If you look at my posts, you will find that I did not get much advice on any of the shit I bought. Personally I feel a lot more comfortable about things when I find out the information for my self, from as many sources as possible. That way, when I find something I need help with, hopefully I will know WTF I am talking about.

if you were Kayne West, that would only be two words: SHUT THE :line break: FUCK UP.

A day or 2 ago there were 2 greddy kits forsale on this forum. I would check to see if one of them are left. Done deal. Bolt it up.

Free food at work today. That is what I get for being nice.

https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23213 is forsale.

my COMPLETE kit was 1100 ;p
Im boostin well around town @ 10 psi :)

for how long though. i can tell you i paid 1000 but it would be a misleading statement. consider clutch, and all other little things involved that happen after the turbo kit.

well i can help if ur intrested i have a greddy kit ready to bolt on for 850its a good start and will get u 5 psi comes with msd k&n + others stuff pm if ur intrested or look for my thread

my thread
https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23213

Turbo Kit for $1000-ahem!
Let's see:
Turbo-150
Mani-150
Dp-100
IC & piping-150
Lines-75
heatshielding-20
Clutch-250
Exhaust-200
Injectors-75
MS-300
AEM WB02-245
harness-75
misc. nuts and bolts-20
bov-25
misc. hoses and clamps-50
and more I am sure I left things out.
Total if you are lucky to find these prices-1885

I just don't see it unless you can build most of your kit yourself.

Here are the parts that i have currently collected.
Parts Description Price
Megasquirt With miata mods and Harness 300
EBC + AIT Harness + GM Boost sensor + AIT Kit 86
Turbo Ebay, S14 BB Garrett 2560. 201
Turbo Manifold Used Begi with EGR. From Clubroadster.net 230
Injectors 460 PnP Turbo RX7 Injectors, from RX7 Classifieds 45
Downpipe Made for NB. Old style FM. From Ebay 81

Figure 150 for ebay's special clutch, ~150 for intercooler + piping, ~120 for oil fittings and other BS, 60 for injector cleaning, 170 for a LC1 and about 100 for downpipe fabbing. This brings the total to just under 1700.
If you want to go a "cheaper" route, Ebay manifold and turbo will bring the price down.

this thread delivers, no lie