Custom turbo kits

[ricodemus]

If any of you guys have home-made kits, what did you use? it seems the starion intercooler is popular - why? Is it a bitch to get piping (for the whole system)? Must you have someone custom make the piping or can you buy a kit for it? I think a custom turbo kit is a cool idea - does it really save that much money though? the reason I would like to do it this way is because I can buy the products I want, and also buy them when they come along for a good price. I'm in no big hurry, but I would like to be confident in picking up parts that I am eventually going to be able to install this thing and be happy with it. Maybe I should just go for a kit? thanks...

[EightOhOne]

people pick the starion ic because its cheap, flows decent and is good to like 300hp. You do have to reweld/jbweld new openings in the endtanks though, which can be a pain in the ass. you can pick up u-bends off jcwhitney.com and cut those to what you need for the charge pipes. there are a bunch of places online to get the couplings and hose clamps you need to connect the pipes as well. its a little cheaper, if you get the good parts the first time around, and you still have better shit than the kits. check out the turbo forum on coughhonda-tech.comcough and just search through the archives...lots of good stuff there
oh yeah...i was gonna do a homemade kit myself, but i think im gonna sell my shit and get somethin else

[Rgacke]

If I could buy a used kit, I would, easier than trying to track each and every part down for the best price possiable. BUT, you totally know the parts better. My goal is to keep around 1K but I'll have a good system, some kits still arn't complete and you need to shell out more dough for crucial parts. And as far as the starion intercooler goes, I've been meating a lot of DSM guys who hate 'em, they say their crappy, their words not mine. I don't know if their trying to scare people from buying them 'cause everyone and their mom wants one or if their is some truth behind it.

EightOhOne- if you sell any part let me know!
[email protected]

[threethirteen]

kits are usually better for installation. i have installed a couple rev hard kits and a drag kit and it was easier then a custom kit. i like the custom kits better cos you can use what you want...but sometimes everything doesnt fit right. so you have to make a kit out of it before installation. with a kit it is already fitted for your car.

but another plus of customs is the cost. you can buy stuff used, get stuff real cheap. i built my garret T3/T4 w/ HKS intercooler for around 1500.

[ricodemus]

I'm just kinda worried about clearance issues in the cramped engine bay. The guy that is doing my swap has a b16 in his 93 hb with a drag 3 kit, and I dont see how the piping and everything would fit the same in my car. I figure it would be fun to make my own kit, but I'm also worried that I would screw something up. I could go to him for help, but I wouldnt want to drag him into a mess because I'm trying to save money. Who knows...

[Dus10]

The starion intercooler sucks. It is a big piece of crap not even worth the trouble. The first gen eclipse intercooler flows 10 times better and is half the price and work to install. Never use the starion a very bad choice. People only use it cuz of the front mount look and makes people think they spent more money then they did.

[kris]

Originally posted by Dus10
The starion intercooler sucks. It is a big piece of crap not even worth the trouble. The first gen eclipse intercooler flows 10 times better and is half the price and work to install. Never use the starion a very bad choice. People only use it cuz of the front mount look and makes people think they spent more money then they did.

I seriously doubt people use it for looks.

[Marc-OS]

http://www.homemadeturbo.com/

[chknhwk]

ricodemus, where you getting the kit done? They do *other* stuff, too? I'm just north of you by Philly.

[ricodemus]

Originally posted by chknhwk
ricodemus, where you getting the kit done? They do *other* stuff, too? I'm just north of you by Philly.

First, welcome to the board. I was just trying to get some info, I haven't really pursued anything yet. In fact, I think I'm gonna lay back a little bit on the car, I've spent waaayyy too much on it in the last few months. I wanted to make a turbo set up with some used parts instead of buying something like the greddy kit. I just think there would have to be some fabrication required and maybe the custom would have been a better way to go.