Turbo "Kit" questions

[MPFab]

Wow. That's a good idea. Is our manifold the same as the Cruze's?

If so then it looks like the stock turbo + manifold is easily available on Ebay for $300-$400. Add another $50 for the flange, and $50-$100 to have someone cut and weld it.

Then you'll still need compressor outlet piping or adapters and maybe some intake piping or adapters ($75-$150); custom downpipe or modified downpipe ($200-$300); Turbo ($700-$1000); oil feed/return lines ($100); tune $300; injectors ($300) and maybe valve springs (don't know exact prices for these lets say another $150).

So, without any other exhaust, intake, intercooler, or BOV upgrades you're looking at $2100-$2900 for a full "kit" depending on some of the prices and if you need valve springs. That's also doing all the bolt-on work yourself. If you can do the welding yourself then you could probably get it under $2k or right at $2k.

The point is that just for the turbo and manifold you're looking at $1100 to $1500, which I think is pretty reasonable.

@MPFab: Why not just take stock manifolds and weld on flanges and sell them for $500-$600? You can even have an additional $200-$300 core charge built in where people can send back their old manifolds to get a discount, so they're basically just paying for a quality flange and weld and shipping. This way you won't have to do much R&D, and then everything else you sell will basically be add-ons for the "kit," or they can source stuff elsewhere if they like.

The problem as I see it is coming up with useable cores. I don't think you can buy just the manifold/turbine housing from Chevy, and the ones I've seen on ebay have cracks around the wg hole. If I could fine a source for readily available manifold/t-housings, I would not be opposed to that.

 

[firstorbit84]

It looks like a lot of the manifolds on Ebay are from wrecked cars.

If there's not a fabricated manifold available if/when I go for a turbo upgrade then I will probably go with the stock manifold route.

 

[Preloader]

There are pro's and cons of each.

Tubular: Much sexier, freedom of design for preferred flow.

Cast: Almost indestructible, less distortion from heat soak, and cost savings from less involved labor.

I posted a link not long ago in the Teardown thread of a barely used turbo/mani assembly for like $350. Even though only the manifold is needed for the turbo upgrade, you could recoup most of the $$$ by selling the CHRA from the purchase.

 

[Colin]

Assuming you (or someone else) can prove the 1.4L motor/transmission can reliably hold ~250whp... build a proper tubular kit in the 3-4k range with all of the components and you'll have buyers. I can't imagine an external waste gate being worth while at those power levels, but it would all depend on how well the internal gate could control boost in our application.

If you're serious about building a kit pm me. Your work looks top notch btw.

 

[NewZJ]

I'd buy the quality higher price kit. Might not be soon but it would be done eventually.