Which is better and cheaper to build?

[billyNOTnice]

I am wondering what is cheaper to build if you have the main part.. Would it be easier to build a turbo kit if i already have the turbo or a S/C kit if i already have the head unit? kinda stuck here

Scott, The S-trim would be way more cost effective. Namely they are a dime a dozen on Corral.net. i've seen them go as cheap as $1000 complete with power pipes and pullies... now average cost of a complete kit is usually in the $1700 range. People are constantly selling misc pieces on there though. I'm not sure what your plans are exactly, but If you already have a head unit, you might be able to buy a cheap complete kit and then sell your head unit for a nice amount to offset the price. Sorry if i'm not exactly helping.

[scott5]

just what Ed stated a little earlier, i am just building this to have fun this summer in.. I do not need a race motor cause that project already started, but can not be finished till i get out of school. I currently have a chance to buy a kit from a 87-93 but the brackets are different and i also have my throttle body set up fox style, so if i would just buy a head unit, i could piece together a kit the way i want it needs to be and be able to buy a little at a time so i will not go broke at once, And he offered to sell the head unit only and then i could go from there, but then i got on corral and saw some t70s and 67mm turbos good ones priced around 600 or so, thats why i started this thread cause the only power add that i had hands on experince with has been spray. And i would like a car where the power is there and would make the fun factor through the roof. I just recently found a polished s-trim that i am pm'in the guy back and forth. So i think i am going the S/C since there is alot less into it. I just need to piece a kit together so it would work for my setup.

[Rodeheaver's]

let me give you my $0.02, if you wanna save alot of cash, dont build anything at all.... either way you are gonna have alot of money in it, besides even if you do get turbos or a charger on there you still need (at least) a fresh bottom end or you will waste it.. I would say either way it is gonna run you at least 5000$ and if you write down all the money you really spent on it, you will be amazed trust me..

[fastfox91]

for what hes doing his stock bottom end will be fine as long as he gets a tune that isnt crazy and he keeps the boost some what in check. ive seen stock untouched bottom end last 4 years on a healthy diet of 15lbs and the car was drivin daily that entire time (it was the only car he had for a while). millcreekmafia has a stock bottom end car with a hp stage 1 kit we put on and its held so far other than 1 head gasket (he hooked up his broken boost controller lets just say he had a nice big boost spike) scott i wouldnt peice together a kit however i would try to find a complete kit that u need. in the long run u probably be better off and not out bolt searching or anything like that. s trims are going cheap these days, i watched one on ebay the other day sell for 1150 complete kit look really nice and had every part there including the fitting that goes into the pan. just my .02

[scott5]

well i called vortech and i need parts from both kits.

[wick]

.. I would say either way it is gonna run you at least 5000$ and if you write down all the money you really spent on it, you will be amazed trust me..

Got that right!!! I started with a "simple" blower upgrade, next thing I know, the motor is getting a re-bearing, 7qt canton pan and a K-member. It turns into one of those "well, since I am this far I might as well...".

It gets real expensive either way. Or you can cheap out, toss on the blower, drive normally and get lucky.

[low12lightning]

No shit! The point of his whole project was to make one as cheap as possible and see how long the enjoyment will last not to build a race car to run all season.

So if he built a kit as cheaply as possible and dident plan on it lasting more then one summer, then his argument that he could build a turbo kit for the same price as a blower kit is pretty much rediciuolous. I never thought the point of this thread was just to build a kit for lowest possible price, not to be concerned with reliable parts whatsoever.

[low12lightning]

Personally I didn't find the install of the turbo that much harder than the install of the blower... Other than the obivous exhuast changes i thought the installs were both cake. And another question... if an intercooler isn't needed... why would companies include them in their kits... Wouldn't that make the intercooler a waste of production money?

They sell intercoolers with kits for 2 reasons. One, they make more money by selling more parts. Two, an intercooler does boost power by a decent amount. The point i was making that an intercooler doesnt make anymore power when added to a turbo kit, than it does when added to a supercharger kit. Many production turbo cars do not use an intercooler, and do just fine. Since it is a "budget" kit he would need to run lower boost levels to keep the bottom end together. Lower boost levels mean cooler air, and less of a need for an intercooler. I would run an intercooler on any of my projects, super or turbocharged but you can get away without one.

[billyNOTnice]

They sell intercoolers with kits for 2 reasons. One, they make more money by selling more parts. Two, an intercooler does boost power by a decent amount. The point i was making that an intercooler doesnt make anymore power when added to a turbo kit, than it does when added to a supercharger kit. Many production turbo cars do not use an intercooler, and do just fine. Since it is a "budget" kit he would need to run lower boost levels to keep the bottom end together. Lower boost levels mean cooler air, and less of a need for an intercooler. I would run an intercooler on any of my projects, super or turbocharged but you can get away without one.

ok i misunderstood your point.

[scott5]

so if you guy's opinions, think i should just take this money (1400) and just do maybe a lil stroker with and heads and cam? I got all the supporting mods already from talking to my buddy..

[wick]

so if you guy's opinions, think i should just take this money (1400) and just do maybe a lil stroker with and heads and cam? I got all the supporting mods already from talking to my buddy..

That would be about triple what you have in your hand. Heads alone are gonna run $900-1500 depending on what you get. New or used. Stroker assembely, at least 1500 for decent parts and machine work. Perhaps more. Cam, that all depends on what you get. Then you need lifters, 150, rockers, 300, gasket kit, 100, push rods, 100. The list goes on and on. Do the blower and dont open the motor up. You will be happy. I see you over on corral, keep looking. People sell brackets all the time.

[fastfox91]

not trying to be a dick but in this hobby 1400 doesnt get u very far unless u are still in the bolt on stage

[wick]

not trying to be a dick but in this hobby 1400 doesnt get u very far unless u are still in the bolt on stage

[scott5]

yea i think thats what i really want to.. I was just over on stangnet and read about h/c/i compared to a s/c for the street and it made me wonder about a h/c/i

[Rodeheaver's]

not trying to be a dick but in this hobby 1400 doesnt get u very far unless u are still in the bolt on stage

yah, i have 1400$ in my new carb...

[scott5]

this is all the money i have to play with for the car, since i just had to write a 4600 check so i could stay in school 3 more months and the last thing i want to do is get out a loan to build a car

[J-rod]

this is all the money i have to play with for the car, since i just had to write a 4600 check so i could stay in school 3 more months and the last thing i want to do is get out a loan to build a car

since you're past easy bolt on's. the bset thing i think you can do is throw that $1400 into a savings account. keep looking for great deals on corral, and buy h/c/i parts as deals come along. or just leave it there and when done with school buy a complete h/c/i kit.

i know the feeling about school. its going to cost me another $600 to complete my second degree. then another 6-15k to get my GIS Masters from Penn State. (online)

[stieny]

not trying to be a dick but in this hobby 1400 doesnt get u very far unless u are still in the bolt on stage

Good point and its the exact reason why I don't have my GT anymore. Hell, I spent $1400 just on my N20 kit with all the safety stuff, and that didn't include the tune and other misc stuff. Stuff does add up quick and with me trying to finish my degree, it makes things difficult.

Don't want to sound like an ass but my .02 cents is just to finish school and save you're money until you're done. But to each their own.

Good luck on the build tho with which ever you choose to do.

[scott5]

well this plan has gone all down the drain since i just had this accident.. though i got alot of good info out of this thread for when the time finally comes that i will be able to complete a project like this.