I am relatively inexperienced with forced induction. I have wanted to add power to my 95 Z28 for awhile now but was not really considering adding a turbo until someone I know locally offered me their kit at what seems like a good price. I have read the sticky threads and done a lot of reading here to get a better idea of what I'm getting into. I am not here to ask how much boost I can run or how long will my engine last etc I want to know if it's worth putting this kit on my car and I figured you guys will know!

It's a single turbo kit from tubotechnologyinc.com (I am not sure if they manufacture it or if it's made by someone else for them..) It's air-air intercooled and comes with a BOV and FMU. There are injectors but they are only 24# which I don't think will be sufficient. There's also an HPP3 which IMO is useless for a setup like this. The kit is supposed to have about 500 miles on it and has already been on 2 cars. I inspected it and it looks to be in good shape other than a cut down pipe which will need to be welded etc.

In addition to purchasing the kit I know I will need:
Injectors, fuel pump, PCM programming etc (is there anything else major?)

But I can pick up the kit for around $2000. I also have to have it all
installed becuase I think it will be too much for me to do alone. I got a quote of $1200 for everything from someone who has installed this kit before. I am very concerned about tapping into the oil pan but I see plenty of people have done it..

So Is it worth it? He said he paid almost $5k for it new. My intentions are to get around 400-450 HP at the motor with my bolt-ons and this kit. I am not looking to make a monster with this car but I need to wake the car up a little!

Thanks in advance guys, I welcome any opinions and appreciate any feedback..

 

anyone? good, bad or otherwise?

 

why not get nitrous and be a little safer, if you only want 400-450, these motors take nitrous A LOT better than boost

 

See if you can locate someone running this setup. LS1Tech is a good place to do a search or ask questions on turbo setups. If it turns out to be a good kit and you are comfortable with the cost, go for it. Be aware that demanding another 100-200 horsepower out of your motor puts heavy strain on internal parts and drive train components. Most people going with boost will either run a conservative amount of boost with a good tune, or increase power and replace parts. The key to successful build will be supplying sufficient fuel, good cooling and a tune.

 

I'm thinking conservative boost and a good tune. But then again nitrous is a lot cheaper.

 

The kit itself should be great

 

Do you know what turbo it is?

Typically, 9psi is as much as you would want to run with an FMU (boost-referenced fuel pressure). If you are looking for 400-450 FWHP then you can get away with stock injectors and a 6:1 FMU. The numbers in my sig were with a small cam, ported stock heads, 9:1 forged pistons, stock tune, stock injectors, T-rex pump, and at 7psi with the old-school A-trim. However, take caution if you have a completely stock short block with high compression cast pistons.

You can follow Vortech's instructions for tapping the pan for oil return.

-Scott.

 

RealQuick -- I was just on your website and I am very impressed at your builds.. This kit is a little different than your setups but as you said the kit itself looks like a good buy...

boosted-lt1 -- According to the manufacturer's website, it is a 60-1 hifi unit supplied by Turbonetics... here is a link to more info and a better pic of the kit..

http://forum.turbotechnologyinc.com/viewtopic.php?t=52

My main concern is about the fuel supply.. The kit comes with injectors but it says they are 24# which is the same as stock, I don't see how that's an upgrade.. I know I'll also need to get an inline fuel pump.. And I have to get all the oil lines as that stuff is gone..

I would like to try and get a set of the install instructions, but as you mentioned I could always use the vortech's instructions too for the oil lines..

I am having a hard time making the decision.. I figured by the time it's all said and done I'll be about $4000-$4500 into it..

 

Well you don't need an inline pump, get a racetronix kit with a hotwire setup, it will be more than enough.

 

Is that like a booster for the stock in-tank pump?

 

Dave,

In the descrption of the kit it says it comes with an intake pump.

They are probally SVO injectors which work well at high fuel pressures (when using an FMU). Again, if you're going for ~400 at the crank the 24#'ers and an FMU will be okay.

Here's a link to a map for that turbo too if you're interested.

http://www.bsmotor.com/restricted/t4-60-1.gif

$2000 looks like a good buy for what you want to do.

-Scott.

 

no it's a new intake walbro 255 pump and a dedicated larger wire setup, my car has made 520rwhp w/o a blink with this setup

 

I'd ditch any fmu and just get 60# injectors.

 

Dave,

I have had experience with that kit on 2 different cars, and I would say run away and do not purchase it. I stuck so much money into it upgrading stuff from the base kit you are describing that it would be worthwile to buy someone elses kit. I could never keep the exhaust leaks under control, that kit was always leaking. I ended up upgrading (from the base kit):
-Fuel system (got rid of the Paxton fuel controler) and got a dual intank setup
-Upgraded to a PT76 turbo
-Had to upgrade The wastegate to a DeltaGate when I upgraded turbo
-upgraded to 3" down pipe, stock kit had 2.5"
-ditched the small intercooler for a twin intercooler setup

At 7 psi I think I made 372Hp with the stock motor and ran a best of 13.2 in the 1/4 mile and this was tuned by Ed Wright.

After all the upgrades mentioned above I made 542 Hp tuned by me running 18 psi (would not go any higher) and I had constant problems with my heads lifting and leaking coolant when I would go in boost most likely caused by the high backpressure of the small 2.5" log manifold. I ended up making my own twin turbo system and have never looked back.

Don't waste your money. I would look into RealQuicks Hot Parts and make my own cold side. If your planning on putting a turbo on your car plan on working on it alot, especially if your putting it on a stock motor. You will be pulling it off sooner or later anyway for a new motor, and paying a guy $1200 to install this kit is unbelievable. After you have done it once you can pull it off and put it back on in less than 4 hours each way. It's just nuts and bolts!

Bill

 

Bill,

That was pretty much the answer I needed.. I don't want to buy something that is going to give me trouble all the time.. As I said before I was never really going to do a turbo on my car until this came along, it's a little pricey for what I had in mind for the car.. Which is the main reason I was considering this kit becuase it was a lot cheaper than buying everything brand new, or buying the custom hot parts and then still having to get everything else..

But good deal or not, if it's going to be trouble I don't want to mess with it.. As far as the installation I too thought that was high.. If I had the time and a lift I could maybe do it with some help but it would take me a few days as I'd only have a little time each day to work on it.. A friend offered to do it/help me for a few hundred which I thought was reasonable but I am very concerned about messing something up on the engine...

I may go back to considering a self-contained supercharger setup...