Who has the cheapest-reliable DIY build?
 

Hey Guys,
I am new here. My friend just bought a 1997 Miata and we are thinking of going a DIY build for it. We are trying to work with a budget, below $2500. We are not looking for huge horsepower, and definitely would not expect from a low budget build.

Anyways, would like to see some of your builds. Who has the cheapest but yet reliable build? I'm sure someone has done a turbo set up for under $1,000 using savage parts from a turbo car. Post them up!

just over $500 in mine, 13g turbo, megaquirt, starion front mount and rx7 460s. already had a clutch and AEM wideband

It's gotta be Lazzer, he's the king of cheap.

Turbo, manifold, Dp and FMIC $500
1.8 injectors $50.00
IC Piping and couplers $160
Begi AFPR $ 90.00
Misc stuff about $200
Clutch $200
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I found that it wasn't the big parts that really hurt me, it was the constant tinkering, reworking, blowing a head gasket, Dremel parts, brass fittings, expiriments, junkyard parts, making little brackets, bolts, nuts, washers, rods, etc...

Begi Mani and DP: $800
SR20det T25: $150
Intake/IC/Piping/Couplers: $280
Megasquirt: $450
Injectors+Cleaning: $130
Spec Stg II: $310

But I bet you I've got an equal amount again more than that in failed parts, things I didn't use, extra pieces... etc.

$2,500? Hell, that's not low-budget!

BEGI-S, minus AFPR: ~$1,600 (a guess)
Intercooler system: DIY maybe $250
LC-1 wideband: $180 here
MS-I, R3: $187
Second MAP, GM IAT, modkits: ~$120
Boost gauge: $46
RX-7 injectors: ~$100

= $2,483. And with that you get the best manifold and ECU in the business.

edit: oh yeah, and a clutch.

Mine

Turbo: $140 (Subaru WRX TD04-13T)
T3 Manifold: $175 (BEGi, discontinued version)
Megasquirt V3: $187
LC-1: $200
BEGi Downpipe: $400
eBay Intercooler setup: $250
RX-7 Injectors: $17 (not a typo)
Cleaning of injectors: $60 or so
Adapter plate for turbo to manifold: $75
Misc parts (oil lines, etc): $200
eBay Clutch: $150

lol wow. Can anyone post links of there writeups? I'm coming from a BMW where turbo kits are close to 8k. I have a supercharged M roadster by the way and the price of the kit can definitely give you a nicely done, freakin fast miata!

Also, any of these DIY turbo kits dyno proven? What increase in WHP are you seeing?

Check Brain's FAQ at the top of this section.

When I am done ill have less then 2000 in my full kit, aiming for <1800 because toping the begi s is my goal.

The major components are:

Nissan T25
Begi mani+dp
MS I v3 + LC1
TurboXS Bov
RX7 460's w/cleaning
the rest is all random shit to tie it all together.

Right now im at $1651 and I think thats pretty damn decent when I look at my excel sheet that breaks down all the expenses by part.

The interesting thing I noticed, the major components are not really the biggest expenses in DIY builds its the other little shit that you need to make it work.

460cc injectors $100
AEM F/IC $400
Ebay FMIC $80
Exhaust, piping, couplers ~$175
BOV $30
Walbro 190 $85
Homemade manifold $70
Oil Lines $85
AEM UEGO $225
DSM 14b $85

That's around $1350. 10k miles so far, no problems, 14.0 @ 99mph with a semi-cruddy tune. Daily driven

New BEGI Manifold/DP/Oil Lines/Water Lines :760
New GT2860: 600
MSPNP: 700
I/C: 190
Piping: 100
Clutch: 300

begi-s: 1800
uego: 200
f/ic:300
fmic: 400
dyno:400

...i couldve just bought a begi s1 lol

Isn't that the truth.

I don't know how DIY my setup really is, since I used a lot of pre-built components, and it's not cheap by any stretch of the word, but I'm pleased with the result. I also purchased nearly everything new (except the turbo). My numbers include shipping and tax.

BEGi manifold + 3" stainless DP: $900
GT2554R: $300
IC/couplers/clamps/BOV: $300
Enthuza 3" stainless catback + 3" metal-core cat + flanges to mate it all: $600
Oil/water lines + fittings + heat sleeving: $170
MSPNP + KnocksenseMS + knock sensor mount + injectors: $850
Autometer boost/oil temp + Innovate LC-1/DB + 3-gauge pod: $540
ACT HD/6-puck + resurfaced OEM flywheel: $410
CSF 2" radiator: $310
oil cooler setup: $240

$4620 :vash:

Could I have done it cheaper? Yeah. Am I happy with the setup? Absolutely. Would I do anything differently? Aside from maybe start with a BEGi-S kit, no. For a street car, I could have shaved bucks in several areas; mild-steel exhaust vs. stainless, stock radiator, no oil cooler, softer clutch. I didn't feel comfortable skimping on any of those items because I track my car quite a bit, and the only problems I've ever had were high oil temps (pre-oil cooler) and loose/broken studs (8mm, replaced with 10mm after that happened).

Nice part about my setup is that once I gather the funds to build a shortblock and swap a 6-speed in, I can replace the GT2554R with a GT3071R and make 300+whp without changing a thing.

I think your statement is misleading. Dyno time would still cost you and so would the f/ic and uego.

Mike: I would say if you shop smart and buy used parts (when it makes sense) you can definitely have a reliable sub-$2000 turbo set up. If you want all new parts, then I'd budget for mid-$2000's (begi-s, ms, clutch, injectors, etc.)

I'm still not done yet, but I'm not doing too bad... The expensive parts are the collateral tools purchased so I can complete this and other projects..

T3 Turbocharger -- Free
T4 Compressor -- $100
Megasquirt -- $300
LC1 -- $180
DIY Manifold -- $110
Intercooler / Plumbing -- $203
Clutch -- $410
Turbonetics DeltaGate MKII -- $100
Hobart IronMan 210 -- $1098
Horizontal Bandsaw -- $190

Still missing KnocksenseMS, larger injectors which I'm going to wait on, and exhaust piping to build my downpipe. Downpipe should cost me around $90.00 if I figured correctly.

We'll see...

I notice the begi mani and DP, why? Is this the cheap DP, that one looks very bad to me? What about the Manifold, what makes this one the choice of so many?


Thanks!!

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! I'm so excited I can barely type. How hard should I be on this guy? Should I help him out or put the biggest hurt on him this board has ever seen? Please, please, please.... I haven't put the screws to a NOOB in 2 weeks....

homemade manifold $60
homemade downpipe + 2.5" exhaust $100
460's $125
F/IC $400
FMIC $80
piping $80
BOV $25
14b $80

got 17-20k miles on the setup. Not so much as a blown off coupler.

I had an M roadster before too. The miata is a better car in nearly every way.

Unrelated, and more pertinent to the topic of this thread, you'd be well advised to use the search button, review the FAQ sticky, and go through vBgarage before Sam goes off.

Nekkid pics of your girlfriend will gain you much leeway.

While I sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm and can understand your NOOB-crushing withdrawls, at least the guy posted on an old thread, which meant he was digging, searching and reading. Although, it was a bit of an unorthodox first post, hammering one of the favored purveyors of tubo bits so a mild hazing may be in order.:)

What I was asking should have been a questions and a statement.

I notice a lot of people use the Begi Manifold, how does it compare?

The Begi-s DP, from my observations doesn't seem to be a great design. Maybe a compromise for cost sake.

Sam if you feel the need to bolster your internet-ego by flexing your internet muscles please feel free... i've seen it many times and rarely does it phase people.

including the clutch, 3" exhaust, stainless downpipe, megasquirt, injectors, turbo, manifold, coil on plugs, intercooler, piping, clamps, couplers, sensors, and wideband.

I have a ---- hair under $3K into it, but it's capable of destroying the stock transmission :)

For $2500, you can get 250 whp if you buy most of the kit used and/or fab some stuff yourself (downpipe and exhaust). 250 whp is what is considered the "max safe HP for a daily driver"... aka 270 will blow your trans, and 300 will blow the motor (quicker than normal)

Just bought a Turbo miata for $2500. Had to fly out of state to get it. I like this one. Less work.
Like said earlier. All the big parts arent so bad. It is the experimenting and tools of trial and error $$$$$.

Ill update this with a final price in case someone finds this thread again.

$2600 when everything was said and done for everything.

In addition to whats on top I put in an Enthuza cat back and COP's.

I have about $1000 into mine, running for about two weeks now @ 6 psi. That excludes the MS and wideband As soon as I can get a clutch I will up it to 10 psi.

Yes, I am very childish and mildly insecure, freely admitted. But seriously, 3 weeks ago and it bothered you enough to comment now (I would call that phased). You could have been an adult, ignored it, and stuck to the topic, but you didn't. What does that say about your internet ego? And still no location, sig, or pics.

The BEGi manifold is recognized as being the best cast manifold you can get.
The BEGi tubular manifold is a great design and comes with the backing of the company for warranty and trouble should some ever come up. There are a couple companies who will make you a manifold and some that even "produce" them that perform at least as well.

The BEGi"S" DP does not have their divorced gas design and is mild-steel... but should still last forever and will efficiently flow as much as the 2554r can put out. If you're going to explore the limits of the 2560, then perhaps a larger DP is in the cards, as well as your budget.

PS: a sense of humor goes a long way around here.

hehehe I didn't realize it had been that long, I just searched my posts.

Thank you for the information, that is what I was looking for.

I generally have a good sense of humor, I just get ruffled by internet bullies and search nazi's, of which you may not be, but that is how it appeared to me.

You do seem to be a voice of much knowledge though and for that I am appreciative.


back more to topic, how would you compare the Begi divorced DP to the FM cast outlet?

A quality cast piece will typically last longer than an equal quality fabricated piece. That being said, I've never seen a picture of a BEGi fabricated piece that failed simply due to being old.

Corky says that the further from the turbine that the wastegate stream is reintroduced to the exhaust stream is better. The FM piece is divorced, but immediately combines the 2 streams. The BEGi piece reintroduces the gas about 2 feet later. Corky claims measurable and significant advantages to his method. He'd be glad to tell you if you called him. Believe it or not, he answers the phone sometimes.

You'll also find that this forum isn't your typical touchy-feely-everybody's-opinion-is-as-important-as-everybody-elses place. We're hard on NOOBs so that the good information stays easy to find. 400 threads that start out "What's the best turbo for a Miata" would quickly make it impossible to find any information of any quality or consistency. That's why we have the FAQ and the USEFUL SAVED POSTS forums. If you don't SEARCH and ask a question that's been answered 100times, then prepare to get crushed. Fight back and prepare to get banned. NOOBs who take a hint the first time quickly realize that this forum is the best place on the internet for ALL ASPECTS of Miata performance... not just turbo stuff. All that's required is some etiquette and effort on your part not to be spoon-fed. We hate spoon-feeding NOOBs because a lot of us have gone to considerable length to create a place that spoon feeds you without needing to post at all.

Now you need to go to the Meet&Greet forum and start a thread... tell us your current ride, goals, plans, experience, stuff about you, etc. Just take a look through some of the other threads in there to get an idea of a good one so you make an awesome first impression. Also put your location in your profile and something in your signature.

LOL@ Sam ^^^

you left out the part about girlfriend titty pics.

fast,cheap,reliable

pick 2 and see what u left out and theres your answer.... imo

god I hate that saying, soooooooooo much.

Not as much as I hate when people say "And so it begins..."
FIRST POST!

Please change your SN or I will pay one of the mods to Ban you!!!

terrible first post...

Well I guess it can only get better from here then.. but I'll probably just go back to lurking for a while until I actually have something constructive to add to this forum.

why, he infringing on your rights to believe in jesus?

paypal $10 to me and it's done :)

I share the same feeling when it comes to religion...

Paypal on the way... :giggle:

Excellent idea!
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i think freedom of religion is fine.

i think someone forcing their religion on me is bullshit.

but i dont mind that username.

Freedom of religion is great, no doubt.

But did you have people showing up at your door all the time, telling you why you should join them and how you are wrong? I did, not fun: "Please leave my doorstep or I will cut your arms off and beat you to death with them."
No kidding, it left me sour, just don't know when to quit.
This is the last place I want to be solicited :giggle: I would lose it.

You don't have to worry about me dude.. I am an atheist.
My name is Jay, and Jayhovah is a nickname I picked up in college... Now, stop disturbing my lurking.

Ok Ok...you may live. :cool:

I am retireving my funds from paypal that i had sent to Brain... :giggle:

:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:

too late, drained my funds...sorry.

Oh well, there goes someones Turbo Blanket... :giggle:

ok.

so point me to the part where he did any promotion or soliticing.

you can't go burn down a church just because it's a church...

So basicaly what i am getting out of this thread is that most of you spend just and much or close to what a full kit from a manufacture costs and spent much more time and effort to piece the kit together right? Guess i kinda answered my own question with reading this thread. BTW great skills, shopping and kits you guys have built.
Randy

He didn't, never said he did, I only said I don't want to be solicited here, and with a name like that, I can't help but assume the same type of comments like we saw "repo4sale" doing. I jumped the gun, didn't give the guy a chance, but is over it and so am I. He assured us he won't do anything like that since he is an atheist, no further issues between us.
As far as me paying a mod, I was just kidding, Scott gets no more of my monies. That part was influenced by another comment of yours regarding banning warnings without a banstick...thought you would see the humor in that :giggle:


Something like that...except there are different types of DIY.
1. Cheap-piece together anything and everything for as cheap as possible...lots of those. Take a little bit of time and effort to piece it together.
2. Used kits-when you want a kit but want to save a few hundred bucks, you stalk the classifieds and anything that comes up you snag it. Take a little while and you can save some money, but can make mistakes and buy wrong stuff (ask Saml01)
3. DIY fabrication-when there just isn't anything on the market that is ideal for you. Spend more than on most kits unless you do all the work on your own. Take a lot of time and effort and money.

I tend to let things decide their own fate I guess.

and yeah, you can buy a kit or spend as much on your own setup OR you can go super cheap and maybe get something fair and semi-reliable. the choice is yours.

I did the non-kit-spendy version because the journey is more fun than the destination. but at this point, I'm pretty over working on my car.

unless you get lucky like I did and find a professionally-built custom manifold for dirt cheap.