I am in the process of locating a carbed 350 to put in my RS and I read a post on ls1tech about a old civic with a turbo kit made from junk yard parts and it got me wanting to do the same. So what all parts would I need to make it happen? I should also be able to use an old deisel turbo too right?

 

Becareful, you will get hit with more 'use the search button' feeback than you can imagine. There are a lot of people on here that are or have done a J/Y turbo setup, so do a search to find out the specs, etc.

As for what you need:
Turbo Manifolds or Headers (very expensive or you can build them yourself)
Downpipes - No on makes them that I know of, build it yourself
Turbo (or two)
A way to get extra fuel to engine; inlines, etc.
Intake tubing, build that yourself too.
Intercooler (if you are going mor than 8 or 9 lbs, build or buy one)
Tubing from turbo to intercooler, build that yourself too.

As you can see, you will need to build nearly everything and retro-fit it to your specific car. You can use the diesel turbo, but only if it will work with the specs of your engine.

Read this to get and idea of how to find a good turbo:
http://www.turbomustangs.com/turbotech/main.htm

 

You know, this question gets asked all the time and sometimes turns into a real conversation about “you can do x or y…,” but really cutting through the BS (and don’t take this the wrong way but if you take it literally it’ll save you a lot of time and money in the long run):
- either learn how to read compressor maps, how to fit your engine to a compressor map and start collecting them for the turbos that you run across, or spend your money with someone who knows, and buy a good, new turbo(s). Yea they seem expensive new but you can spend a lot of time and money going the wrong direction trying to save a few $ on jy turbos.
- If you’re going gas engine/production turbos remember that you’re pretty much stuck with twins since you have 2x the engine that any production car turbo setup ever came with
- Diesel turbos are really quite small relative to the application that they were used for, but depending on the year, the standards they had to meet… the turbine side can be anything from way too small to way too large for a gas setup. Again, you’re wasting your time unless you know what you’re doing or are willing to sit down and learn.
- Plumbing and downpipe are the least of your problems, in a pinch a muffler shop should be able to help you for some $$$. Manifolds/headers done right are a much bigger issue.
- Lots of ways to add fuel… they all work, just figure out how you’re going to do it and do it. If you’re planning on carbed, blow through I’d suggest SWT racing’s FAQ on it off of turbomustangs.com on their blow through forum.

 

I have been looking around and found a guy that sells rebuilt T3 twins on ebay for around 450 shiped. I was planning on either going with some of the vette manifolds turned upside down or I saw some patriot tight tucked headers that look like they may work when they are upside down too. I am more than willing to sit down and learn about turbos. What turbo books would you recomend?

 

dude if u didnt live in Texas i know some one who could build u a set of headers for ur car, but what numbers are u looking to see?

 

I have a set of T3 60's I'll sell ya for $300+shipping.

 

If they headers are good I might still want em I would pay extra to ship em. I am hopin to see 400-450 rwhp
vwdave I want to learn everthing I can about turbos before I go out and spend $300. If you still have in a couple of months I might be intrested.
One more thing how much would I likely spend on the complete twin set up? It sux cause I am only making $5.65 hr

 

On a $5.65/hr budget you're not likely to get anywhere fast unless you have absolutely nothing to spend money on except this. In theory it could be done, but reality is often much more harsh. Keep that in mind. Search for 89JYTurbo's posts, his first (and mostly still his current) JY turbo setup came in right around $2000 IIRC, and that's with an EFI setup (stock L98) which makes a few parts more pricey. His made 328whp, but 467ish rwtq. It won't be very easy AND cheap (maybe one or the other) to get 400+rwhp, but again it's possible to do (just don't expect it to last forever). Read this guy's post. Crazy! (Also note all his problems along the way).
How long till it grenades? (10.26 @ 134!!!!!)

It's somewhat ironic, but the topic of which books to buy can also be found in a search. Turbochargers by Hugh McInnes and Maximum Boost by Corky Bell will come up as recommendations a million times. I think they're a really good primer, but you'll need to research in more places that just a couple books to figure out what'll work specifically for your application.
Read these pages as well, and several times to get it all straight.

TurboByGarrett.com - Turbo Tech101
TurboByGarrett.com - Turbo Tech102
TurboByGarrett.com - Turbo Tech103

You're on the right track by wanting to research, research, research. When you have a really good handle on it all, dive right in and do it (if you can afford it). Good luck.

 

I have around 1k saved up by now it took 2-3 months. How much does this nickle n dime you to death? The turbos are around $400-$500 for the pair.

 

SS parts?

Head Flanges, $50.
T3 Flange $80
1 3/4 U-bends $40x8

External Wastegates are around $200/each

Its going up from there.

 

thanx for the links

 

agreed I am gonna readeach one of the 3-5 times per day until I have them memorized lol

 

Street-assassin, why not consider an older, and used, Vortech supercharger set-up. I've seen quite a few of them go for pretty cheap (again, used), you just have to play the waiting game of course. Don't get me wrong, Turbo's are definitely worth delving into... but you might be in a little over your head here. JMHO.

 

I think that I will be able to do it by the time I have the money and time. I am thinkin around feb-march I am only 17 but I know more about cars than almost every one my age. Hell I have even corrected people when we are talkin about their own cars. When ever I get the chance I am goin to try to get the books mentioned ealier. I can already see how every thing would be set up in my head. lol It is going to be a father son project will my dad since we wernt able to do it with the other car he had gotten me

 

You can always do a Rear mount Turbo. That way you don't have to deal with manifold manipulation. That is what I am planning to do.

 

There is just somethin about opening up a hoog and seeing 2 turbos right there. There is a guy thats posts on here with a turboed red camaro, I think he is from Australia?, he has like a half circle for part of the turbo to poke through, and I thought it would be cool to have two of the scoops.

 

Oh no doubt it looks totally wicked seeing turbos right there.

 

I have just found out that if I want to do the turbos it would take over a year becuase we are in the process of buying a house and fixing it up.
I was thinkin about checking out the weiand 174 pro street blowers

 

Screw that, go big single. We do this to Mustangs all the time.

Go to a yard, and grab a Holset off of a newer Dodge Cummins truck. Port your manifolds, and use those.

Build a y-pipe ti come around to where the battery is now(relocate it to the trunk).

Build/buy a flange for the turbo, fab up the plumbing, and start tuning. For the intercooler you can usually watch the local Semi truck dealers, and pic up ones they scrap for nothing, and have them cut down. We did this a bunch and the cut down Freightliner IC we used on my buddies turbo Dodge cars flowed better and cooled better than my Spearco I had on the Supra, and they were the same size! I had $2000 in my IC kit, he had $200.


As long as you have access to a pipe bender and a GOOD welder, and can do the work, you can build a good big singel kit for far less than a grand and have it reliable.


Btw, check out Mike's Home Page for a few ideas on JY turbo systems. The guy really knows his game and there is a lot of good info.