Scott's Altima Coupe 2.5L Turbo Build

[QR25DE]

This is where I will be updating my thread. It's officially started...

Things to keep in mind:

1. Budget Build: The whole build is on a budget of 2800 bucks.
2. The components will be a mix of eBay/Brand Name.
3. Lots of trial and error will be involved.
4. Don't try this unless you have a backup fund when everything catches fire, your house burns down and your girlfriend leaves you for a woman.

Ok, so let's get started:

The QR25DE guys and their Sentras have been doing this for awhile now. Playing around with different setups, blowing up motors and so on. Mostly everything is the same besides a few things.

The list:

1. Basic Turbo Kit from eBay! That's right, eBay Turbo "kits" contain about a 1/4 of what you need to get started. But they are a good starting point if you do not have a lot of cash and to find "everything at once".

Note: I'll be selling the FPR and the Boost Controller right away... Also my Bully Dog Power Pup is for sale... http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAP...21058 Comes with original box, cables, manuals. Loaded with 1.2.3c latest.

So here's my pile in shipping:



AEM FIC Ordered: eBay!



Boost Gauge Ordered: eBay!



*Waits for it to arrive*

Injectors Ordered! Subaru WRX STI (ANd they're AWESOME PINK!)

SUBARU Impreza WRX STi Injectors with connectors 565 cc DENSO

Part No. 3321-010-565




So while that is on the way, and until I get paid again so my credit card doesn't take a super hit I need the following:

Turbo - Check
Manifold - Check
IC Piping - Check
IC - Check
Oil lines - Check
BOV - Check
WG - Check
AEM FIC - Check
Boost Gauge - Check
Downpipe/5bolt turbo flange - Check.
Injectors/clips - Check
Proper Heat Sparkplugs - Can pick up locally, check.
Wideband - Friend has one to borrow for tuning.
Vacuum Lines - Check.
MAF Adapter - N/A - Might have to get something made... we'll see.
Air filter - Can pick up locally, check.
Oil Restrictor - Check.
Heat wrap - Check.
Fluids - Check.

Misc things you run into putting it together that piss you off... N/A


I'll add more as it becomes available. Hopefully this will be done by September... early October.

Please keep your negative comments to yourself, I want a serious constructive discussion and tips, experiences with turbo QR25DEs, etc. I want to keep this thread clean and productive. Again, this is a budget build, and not OMGWTF 8 grand TURBOBBQ.

[fun240]

SOOOOOO......

There's a car and a motor this is all going on??

Pics pics pics!!!!

[QR25DE]

SOOOOOO......

There's a car and a motor this is all going on??

Pics pics pics!!!!

I'll post pics once everything gets here and we start installation... but that wont be fore a few more weeks at least...

Here's the car:

[ESP]

Kudos bro. I was going to start this little project myself...but then I bought a house.

[QR25DE]

Kudos bro. I was going to start this little project myself...but then I bought a house.

I'll pretty much live at home forever .

[D-Roll]

I cant wait for the outcome bro!!

[headhunt3r]

Subscribed!

[Hussain]

I'll pretty much live at home forever .

dad bought me a new car (my altima coupe), pays my insurance, mom and dad pay my gas and give me spending money... not giving that up for a while lol

[mcheddadi]

subscribed!

[Coop'sCoupe]

dad bought me a new car (my altima coupe), pays my insurance, mom and dad pay my gas and give me spending money... not giving that up for a while lol

Wow, I don't know you but you really sound spoiled. I'm 19 and I pay rent, I pay insurance, and I spend my own hard earned money.

[Bmore-coupe]

Wow, I don't know you but you really sound spoiled. I'm 19 and I pay rent, I pay insurance, and I spend my own hard earned money.

Although I usually will be the first person to jump on the spoiled folk, this has all been addressed previously. It frustrates most of us, but hey, I would take it if I could get it.

/end rant

To the OP: Good luck with this. Do you have any previous experience building a motor up like this?

[coderedk]

To the op, thanks for taking innitiative and being the first 2.5 to attempt a turbo build and good luckk

[mikegtr06]

To the op, thanks for taking innitiative and being the first 2.5 to attempt a turbo build and good luckk

and make sure that you make the parts list as complete as possible...... because if yours turns out good im going to have to start next.

[FGFCacoupe]

Good luck bro

[Hussain]

this has all been addressed previously. It frustrates most of us, but hey, I would take it if I could get it.

/end rant

exactly! i mean i have friends who got brand new BMW and benz from there parents but you cant hate because if you were in the same situation, you wouldnt refuse. i hear about ppl hating on young ppl with nice cars and i just laugh cuz 99% of those haters would have that same car if there parents had the money and gave it to them....

Wow, I don't know you but you really sound spoiled. I'm 19 and I pay rent, I pay insurance, and I spend my own hard earned money.

lol its a cultural thing. i have very wealthy family over seas who lived at home for FREE until they finished med school or started businesses. then with the car, our parents buy us our first car (my grandfather bought my dad a brand new camaro way back in the days when he was my age). My dad wanted to buy me a new car that was reliable and also something i'd be happy with and i chose the coupe and sort of "forgot" to mention they make a 2.5s also and not only 3.5se

and to the OP, good luck! i'm really interested to see how this turns out. how much power are you aiming for? do you plan to upgrade the internals?

[AkAd3MiKs]

whats that wastegate set at? if its set for a high psi, id keep the manual boost controller. you dont want to blow your engine to soon. also that wastegate is known to have major boost spikes. Id replace it ASAP with a Tial wastegate. Are you using that AEM for your fuel management? If so, I think that the SAFC would be better. I never really seen anyone use that AEM. Since youre gonna upgrade your injectors you should order that fuel pump too. Also one more thing before you go on with your project, try to see if ARP has a set of headstuds for our engines. Also, if youre gonna boost, try to see if ACT has a clutch kit also. If not, ask them to make some. You'll want these if you dont want your tranny to start slipping or your head blown.

[mikegtr06]

I found that eBay auction it comes with a 7 11 and 15 lb springs. Make sure you look into upgrading the blvd springs

[Zerep]

stillen you see the you no the demand is high when people start building their own setup i would pay 4grand for a bolt on kit with out major modification

[QR25DE]

Thanks for the input so far. As for the wastegate stuff, engine internals, etc. This will all be addressed as I get to it. We were looking at a few different things including balance shaft removal, valve springs, pistons, head gasket, etc.

I'm trying to stay in my budget, but certainly if it's going to be more reliable and cause less problems i'll end up splurging for the part.

And the Stillen comment: I believe the issue is for a company to invest so much into a full kit not knowing what the "actual" demand is could be profit hurting. It would take a lot of R&D for a simple bolt on kit. Plus it would be expensive, $4500+ not including other odds and ends if you want to build up the motor. I don't blame them one little bit on not making one at this current time.

Anyways I think that this may turn out well. Now... to decide on a Boost gauge (This is taking the longest LOL). 2 5/8"'s will fit in the air vents. Maybe AutoMeter Ultra Lite or something. Already have an AEM UEGO/Wideband as well.

As for familiarity, my friend has built numerous turbo systems for civics, integras, and so on. He knows his stuff. Obviously he uses the best components but again, my build is for low boost and high reliability. Looking for at least 230WHP though, but i'll be happy if it runs at all LOL.

As for the SAFC, I used an SAFC Neo on my Dodge Neon when I built a motor for that with Crane 16 cams, Mopar ECU, bored out, etc. Very familiar with the SAFC stuff but I wanted something a little more this time. It really sucks doing street tuning based on what you can see. Unfortunately with the SAFC Neo at the time we did not have anything hooked up for datalogging. This will be addressed with the AEM FIC and we'll be able to log everything and adjust as needed.

[l33th41]

Good luck man! Can't wait to see the results!!

Anyways I think that this may turn out well. Now... to decide on a Boost gauge (This is taking the longest LOL). 2 5/8"'s will fit in the air vents. Maybe AutoMeter Ultra Lite or something. Already have an AEM UEGO/Wideband as well.

I wanted matching AEM gauges but only came in 2 1/16". I searched around and found some gauge adapters. They aren't meant for our car but they fit and worked perfectly! Check 'em out:

http://www.speedinc.com/cont.cfm?cid=C0000803

[PHENOMenalVinyl]

keep us updated

[chiapetchua01]

bless your soul
2.5 more poower

[Rob.Vegan]

I was thinking about this the other day, either spend my money on IHE or save up and have a turbo built.
I'm eager to see your results to make up my mind

[QR25DE]

Man, no wonder that Stillen header does so much. The OEM one is retardedly restrictive. Like holy s*** there's probably 10-20hp tied up in the exhaust alone restrictive:







If you are debating about getting a header, I would just get it along with a header back exhaust. There is also a flat spread out piece of exhaust right after the header that is restrictive as well, along with the tips on the OEM muffler. Go take a look how restrictive the neck gets on the pipes coming out the muffler, holy geeze...


Looks so ugly with the cover off. Hopefully it'll go back on once everything is done... with little modifications... haha

[rjdmmfl1]

To the OP.... that's what the phuck I'm talking about.... finally somebody stepped up, stopped talking, and took the initiative to try and turbo a 2.5... all the best of luck with this my dude

and as you've mentioned, many folks with Sentras have done most of the hard work.... with a little patience, and a bit of advice from folks that do this for a living, this should turn out nicely!!!

[AkAd3MiKs]

man if youre gonna work on your internals, then you would need to greatly increase your budget. Also why even do that when youre gonna boost low. 6psi is a safe boost for engines with no upgraded internals. Only thing you would want to change is your headstuds because they can only hold so much pressure. You dont want a blown head now right?

[QR25DE]

man if youre gonna work on your internals, then you would need to greatly increase your budget. Also why even do that when youre gonna boost low. 6psi is a safe boost for engines with no upgraded internals. Only thing you would want to change is your headstuds because they can only hold so much pressure. You dont want a blown head now right?

Yeah you are right. It's all being taken into consideration. Once everything gets close to getting here we're going to see what can be improved for little cash, etc. I thank you for your concerns . We were actually talking about head studs tonight. It'll certainly be up for review.

[XXplosive990]

You dont want a blown head now right?

Ugh, i have such a dirty mind

[JDRosenberg07]

Damn finally... Lol I can't wait to see this out. We've waited this long for it so I guess another 2 or 3 months will be okay.. Lol I'm really curious to see exactly how much power it will add.

What mods do you already have? Could you try and get your car dyno'ed before and after you put the kit on so we can see what the QR is capable of?

[Hussain]

Lol I'm really curious to see exactly how much power it will add.

i think he said hes going for 230 WHP and thats what the 3.5se puts down but the 2.5s is like 100 pounds (or more) lighter then the 3.5se.... so if it ends up like the OP is planning for it should be like a 3.5se with exhaust and say Y-pipe and MAYBE pulley... but hopefully after the kit is in for a while and the OP saves more money, maybe he'll upgrade the internals and go high boost and s*** on the 3.5se