1990 TT Budget Build (NEW WHEELS!)

[Ace2cool]

I'm stumped by that intake as well. Never seen that before. Looks like it has an airbox, which I don't know how that would affect flow.

[XX7R]

I didn't know that deatschwerks still did that.. When I say a cheap turbo I don't mean chinese? The turbos I'm looking at run 300,000+ miles while still being efficient, it's just that nobody wants to take the time to actually build their own manifolds for different turbos then the typical 5 bolt/4 bolt. And yes these are literally 1/3rd of the price. I wouldn't have to pull the engine if I'm making top mounts?
And thank you Tdogg. I'll start the manifolds in a few months when I have to put the z away for winter (I live in Wisconsin). I'll be sure to make a build log for it

[Ziggy1621]

I'll back him up on the cheaper turbos with a custom manifold build. You could fit a stock diesel truck turbo on it if you work the fitment... Of course you will need lots of asprin when dry fitting

[XX7R]

I'll back him up on the cheaper turbos with a custom manifold build. You could fit a stock diesel truck turbo on it if you work the fitment... Of course you will need lots of asprin when dry fitting

Now your getting pretty close to what i was thinking of doing

[NolimitZ32]

You are losing efficiency by sticking old-school diesel turbos on this car, plus 1.5 liters just isn't enough to properly utilize those big journal bearing units. And more of a problem is not fabbing the manifold, its finding space because bigger than IIRC 3076s you have to either move the turbo down towards the trans tunnel or bring it forward and delete/relocate all your accessories. I hope you achieve what you set out to do and I hope you don't ruin a Z in the process but I can tell you right now you will never get it to spool like you would a good Garrett. There is a reason that the disco potato was for the last 20+ years the turbo of choice for upgrading Z32s its properly sized and doesn't produce as much drag (friction and air resistance) as these turbos you are talking about. I honestly do applaud ingenuity but I hate to see someone put in all that work and all that money only to come out with a much inferior product. Either way, best of luck to you and I wont be weighing in on this subject any more unless specifically asked.

[TTkickedin]

Quick .02. Lots of people on Miataturbo have done pretty successful budget turbo setups, mainly with used Holsets, china chargers, etc. Then again, some have also failed miserably, but not so much with holsets..

You can use chinese parts all day long but don't immediately except it to be the price they say when all is installed. You might be installing a new set down the line, or you might get lucky. Chances are greater to fail the cheaper they are, but theres still a chance they'll work. that goes with everything.

Some people here will tell you to only go with the most expensive parts, but they really don't seem to understand what a budget is. Budget's aren't usually a choice, it's what you have and that's it. they'll tell you to save up until you can afford it, but then you're missing out on the learning experience, and the potential for a good budget build, and a thread like this. Do what you feel is right, and completely within your means!

OP, for a good budget turbo, you can't go wrong with S15 oem turbochargers. ball bearing t25/t28's. They're pretty cheap if you can find them used, or on ebay. You just have to reclock them.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

I'm stumped by that intake as well. Never seen that before. Looks like it has an airbox, which I don't know how that would affect flow.

That intake sucks. It's similar to an old Blitz unit. Worse flow than a simple single POP.

Journal bearing turbos are fine, though not as efficient as ball bearings, but you can find good quality turbos for cheap, with a ton of fab work. You could even adapt IHI turbos from a Subaru or somethng. Those sell for cheap all day when they're blown. Get them rebuilt and have some unique set up for relatively short money.

[TTkickedin]

+1 on the IHI turbos.

K04's might work with some modification too. They're decently priced. K03's are used on b5 Audi S4's for twin turbo setups. They claim it as a stage III upgrade, whatever the f*** that means in the accepted standards of power, like horsepower and torque, and spool time in RPM on a V6

[Ziggy1621]

Journal bearing turbos are fine, though not as efficient as ball bearings, but you can find good quality turbos for cheap, with a ton of fab work. You could even adapt IHI turbos from a Subaru or something. Those sell for cheap all day when they're blown. Get them rebuilt and have some unique set up for relatively short money.

Good word brother... People forget that Budget means going MacGuyver. And going MacGuyver doesn't mean your going redneck with duct tape. Grant it, as you said, its not the most efficient. But I believe someone who is doing a budget build understands it won't be as awesome as a high dollar build. Journal bearing turbos adapted from another car, doesn't shorten their life, so XX7r I'm looking forward to seeing what your brain comes up with.. Good luck!

[XX7R]

Journal bearing turbos are fine, though not as efficient as ball bearings, but you can find good quality turbos for cheap, with a ton of fab work. You could even adapt IHI turbos from a Subaru or something. Those sell for cheap all day when they're blown. Get them rebuilt and have some unique set up for relatively short money.

Good word brother... People forget that Budget means going MacGuyver. And going MacGuyver doesn't mean your going redneck with duct tape. Grant it, as you said, its not the most efficient. But I believe someone who is doing a budget build understands it won't be as awesome as a high dollar build. Journal bearing turbos adapted from another car, doesn't shorten their life, so XX7r I'm looking forward to seeing what your brain comes up with.. Good luck!

This^ I just can't afford $2,000 turbos right now. Also to NoLimit, diesel turbos aren't all huge? I found some that are a little bit bigger then gt2871r's and they have a pretty good efficiency range on the compressor map even at the boost we run. If diesel technology is "old school" then how come some of them have had VGT systems on their turbos for years, while now borg warner and garret are JUST starting to use VGT on theirs.
I might have to do some more research on IHI's. I haven't looked into them at all.

[NolimitZ32]

Old school as in journal bearings, and beefy construction made to be bulletproof as it is needed for diesel abuse but translate into too inefficient for our engines to utilize to their full potential, and 2871s are on the huge side of turbos for a 300zx and will require you to spend some time and lots of cash on internals. Like I said do what you like but do your research on the VG first, I applaud all ingenuity and fabrication skill (god knows lots of stuff under my hood is one-off) I'm just saying if you want to make it worth your while there are better ways to go especially when in the grand scheme of things nice BB turbos wont be that much more than what you are proposing once you figure out how much you'll have to spend on the rest of the setup. I'm not filthy rich but after sitting down and counting everything up I went with BBs because it was the most wallet-efficient out of all my choices. But I digress, lets see what you come up with I really am excited to see something new.

PS, I love IHIs

[vulcanrush]

This^ I just can't afford $2,000 turbos right now.

that's fine, and there's nothing wrong with that.
in fact, budget builds have some advantages over monster builds, the more you mod the more things can go wrong.

but if you're on a budget, you shouldn't set unrealistic goals such as FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY HORSEPOWER.

that's not a budget goal.

what about brakes, traction, suspension, tires? it's not just turning up the boost and that's it.

[XX7R]

That was just a rough goal for now. I also just didn't write down what I would do for all of the other things i would like to do. 13" rotors, bigger calipers since the 1990 na's came with smaller calipers then all other model years, poly bushings for the suspension, wider tires/wheels.. etc

[XX7R]

This^ I just can't afford $2,000 turbos right now.

that's fine, and there's nothing wrong with that.
in fact, budget builds have some advantages over monster builds, the more you mod the more things can go wrong.

but if you're on a budget, you shouldn't set unrealistic goals such as FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY HORSEPOWER.

that's not a budget goal.

what about brakes, traction, suspension, tires? it's not just turning the boost and that's it.

So because I am going to be using oem turbos off of a different car and making my own manifolds something is goingto go horribly wrong? I still haven't decided yet on injectors

[Ziggy1621]

He just means you run more of a risk than staying oem

[XX7R]

He just means you run more of a risk than staying oem

Well that's true lol

[XX7R]

Got some new wheels! XXR 521's in hyper silver. 18x10" +25 front and back. Need some spacers for the front since they dont clear the calipers.

My big old smile while opening them up




Need some new rotors sometime soon


Money shot

[Ziggy1621]

Very Sweet brother!!!

[XX7R]

Thanks!

[Ziggy1621]

So what you plan on doing to the quarters/fenders? Definitely rolling and pulling the rear huh?

[XX7R]

Yeah I'll have to do a decent pull to the front and back. I also need like 10mm spacers up front to clear the calipers

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Good looking wheels, but the fronts won't fit

[XX7R]

There was a guy on a different forum with these exact wheels that fit them pretty decent with spacers, camber, and fender pull

[300ZXttZMAN]

Looking good!

[XX7R]

Thanks!

[BigTDogg (MA)]

I just hope you're not going to run some retarded 225-235 on the front wheels.

And with that I'll bow out, because Momma always said, if you don't have anything nice to say...

[300ZXttZMAN]

^

[Ziggy1621]

Lol, but yeah that's going to be tough.

[TTkickedin]

I like those in that silver! Nice!

You'll get em to fit dude. You do have access to a fender roller right?

[XX7R]

I personally like the look of cambered wheels with stretched tires but that's just me. I love the lip It shows off on the wheel especially when its chrome/polished.
But hey, you can't get everyone to like the mods you do to your car