kit vs diy prices!?!?
 

1st a little background, I am new around here but not to cars. Pro mechanic. Currently searching for a car to buy. Planning on a 94> and hoping for around 220 Hp. Just researching things.

So I was recently advised by samnavy that rather than by a kit I should just diy it. So I looked into that route, and as far as I can tell the kits are cheaper. The Begi mani retails around $400 on its own, the downpipe is 300, and all the turbo prices I have found for the gt2554r, and 60r have been just under a grand. So if the basic begi kit is 1700 and includes all the hardware, lines, and fittings isn't that really the way to go? you boys know of deals on turbo's that I haven't found?

And on that subject, what is the SR20det T25? thats a nissan unit isn't it? what kind of performance do they yield? I am thinking of a gt2560 as I rather enjoy a "little" turbo lag, but if those ex nissan units are going for peanuts then I could certianly be swayed. I saw a couple of them for under 300 on ebay.

And for the record, I did look thru the diy faq and it answered allot of my other questions but the actuall turbo itself is not covered. Thanks for any advise you can offer.

The SR20DET t25 is the stock turbo off of the SR20DET...the motor that 240SX's came with in japan...so yes it is a nissan product, can be found pretty cheap on ebay...

Most people going the DIY route (atleast here) are using homemade mani's and DP's but some are using the BEGI units as well, they can be found much cheaper used than new, also you're going to wnt to be looking for something to do for cooling, either an intercooler set-up or meth/water injection, that is something that the basic begi S kit doesnt come with so you would need to knock your timing back and keep the oost down.

I just realized you'e from the U.K., there may be other avenue's for you over there, other kits offered things that we don't know aabout, so before doing anything you may want to get input from one of the coule guys on here from over there or ask around local forums just to make sure there's nothing better offered that we simply don't know about or have access to over here in the states.

Yeah that has occured to me. The 240's over here are the same as in Japan so those turbos are all over the place on this side, on the other hand the exchange rate really works in my favor being damn near 2:1 so everything from the U.S. feels like it costs half as much (I am not in the military, my wife got a job with the bbc. so I am earning in pounds). I didn't realise you were all building your own exhaust parts, that explains it. I however for all my talents, have never had a job that required welding. Therefore I am so so at best, and don't have the equipment. I could of course buy what I needed for what the parts would cost, but I still cant weld worth a damn. and as I said, if I buy from the states, the parts cost less than the tools.

Oh and yes I will be intercooling it, decent I/C's can be had here for not too much (turbocharged cars are alot more common this side), and I will just pick up one of those ebay pipe and clamp kits.

And as far as kits on this side, its the same ones with the price hiked up.

The manifold will be a bit trickier aand more expensive to have made, but you should be able to have a custom DP made up at any reputabale exhaust shop for not much at all..cheaper than buying a pre-made DP for sure, although possibly slightly less efficient and probably wont look as pretty under the hood if those things matter to you.

Well, I wouldn't say that all of us are building our own manifolds. In fact, I suspect the truth is closer to a few of us have built our own. Many of us started out with a whole or partial kit from Bell, Flyin' Miata or Greddy, some have purchased manifolds from ETD racing or JGS, and as of very recently, some have been experimenting with a very inexpensive cast iron manifold sourced from a seller on eBay. Specifically, here's the thread:
https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20070
https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20845

The part that does frequently require fabrication is the downpipe from the turbine exhaust to the cat. If you use a manifold from Bell or FM, you have the option of buying their downpipe as well. Otherwise you're pretty much on your own. On the plus side, downpipes are a somewhat less critical part, and more easily made.

The T25 off the SR20DET is said to be good for 225-250 HP, depending on whose stories you believe, so it may very well suit your needs if they are readily available in your area.

The t25 is produced by Nissan but the fact that it comes on a Nissan doesnt make necessarily make it a Nissan product, just FYI.

Make your own manifold. It's easy :)

Defy DIY. To me that means fabricate everything except the turbo/WG/BOV for obvious reasons. Some consider DIY as parting together pieces that will work together, so what DIY are you talking about?
Piecing together a kit can be very time consuming and may not save you any money, or even cost you more unless you are buying everything used.
If I was you, I would put the decision a month away and just spend some good quality time learning about what it all takes to get where you want to be and then decide which route to go. Do not buy anything until you decide what you want, the cheapest way to do something is to do it only once.