I think you can definately DIY. The only thing I wouldn't do myself is tap and weld the fitting into the oil pan. Everything else should pretty much be a bolt on. It can be done in 1 day.
I think you can definately DIY. The only thing I wouldn't do myself is tap and weld the fitting into the oil pan. Everything else should pretty much be a bolt on. It can be done in 1 day.
Everything but the tuning...thats the only thing you won't be able to do by yourself in one day.
If you're fairly well-versed with cars, and work carefully- can a turbo kit, FMAX, or DRAG, etc, be a DIY job over the course of 3 days?
OR! Is it something that should really be left to a "mechanic", just because they have tools to reach hard places, and tools to do certain jobs?
thanks
I've never installed a turbo kit myself, but I think you should be fine. Is this car your daily driver?
If you run into problems, you could just keep the wastegate open all the time to prevent boost. That would allow you to drive the car around with the kit installed, until the problem is fixed.
I would say go for it. I have tons of good turbo kit links in the FI library, so use them to make sure you have all the little parts you need. Planning is the key to success in 3 days.
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I read the Toronto lude's page, lots of good small tips. Looks like the oil pan will be a basic issue, have to look into how i can remove this ahead of time. No crazy special tools or anything as far as I can tell. And so far I'm planning for Jeff Evans to do a Neptune tune.
Preplanning, I guess I should:
1) Compression Test, make sure I'm strong
2) Seafoam, to clean out **** for the sake of cleaning out sh*t.
3) Oil change, never hurt. Or is this better off after I install? I would imagine before.
4) New fuel filter, might as well.
5) TIMING BELT TENSIONER :-O :-O
If you are going to go with a kit, definitely look into each before purchasing. Many of the kits require some fabrication of something to make things fit. Make sure you know what each requires so you can gauge if you can in fact install that particular kit yourself.
If you are going to go with a kit, definitely look into each before purchasing. Many of the kits require some fabrication of something to make things fit. Make sure you know what each requires so you can gauge if you can in fact install that particular kit yourself.
I'm looking at a brand new FMAX kit at the moment, a friend checked it out said the guy was cool etc. (Just to make sure i'm not sending a good amount of $$ to a stranger) From my understanding, and reading so far, it looks like everything is a go, and no welding will be required. I have a friend that welds, but I'd rather not deal w/ it.
Tools are also looking good, between me and a few friends, we'll have more then we'll need. Liquid wrench also seems to be very important, I'll have to remember to start applying it a few days before doing the parts removal.
And, just out of curiosity, why should I skip seafoaming? I thought seafoam could clean out gas tank if i put it in, and also inside the engine itsself?
If you have friends helping you then you guys should be able to have it installed in two days tops. The first time I installed the F-Max kit I was confused on how to wire up the BTM and MF2(the little blue box that controls the 2 extra injectors that goes into the charge pipe). The oil pan is a PITA to get off, it just takes some prying. The downpipe doesn't fit properly onto the turbo either. I think they give you five bolts to bolt the downpipe to the exhaust side; the bottom hole needs a smaller bolt because of the bend of the downpipe (4 of the 5 fits). I also needed to cut the hole bigger on the driver's side to fit the intercooler piping through. Those were all of the problems that I encountered during the install. Maybe I was just unlucky and nothing fit for me. They lied, it's not a true bolt on kit. Ha ha. Good luck and have fun with it!!!!
The downpipe doesn't fit properly onto the turbo either. I think they give you five bolts to bolt the downpipe to the exhaust side; the bottom hole needs a smaller bolt because of the bend of the downpipe (4 of the 5 fits). I also needed to cut the hole bigger on the driver's side to fit the intercooler piping through
So I'm going to be leaking exhaust like crazy? If it made it freeflowing, would it be safe to say that my boost was rise?
Also, think there's gaskets I can buy (metal & liquid) to make the seal happen? I'd really like to avoid an exhaust leak at all costs.
Another thing that has me thinking is how emissions work. How do you guys pass, and if you don't pass, where do you get your stickers, or where can I get inspected at a price to get a sticker? I'm assuming I'm not giong to pass straight up, especially with who knows what kind of CEL's i'll be throwing.
So it looks like it'd be in my best interest to have a welder near by, that should take care of a potential exhaust leak ( that i have to consider this! )
How much power do you want? If you would like about 230 whp and a BOATLOAD of low end torque (great for a daily driver!), go with the Greddy kit with intercooler and some sort of programmable management.
That's the kit I'm looking at right now, what I find attractive is the price, and the fact that it's brand new.
My goal is to have somewhere around 240-250whp, with as you put it- boatloads of torque. I'm reading up on this turbo, and I think it might hit the spot. What do you think?
Update: Getting my compression test done around 4:30 today, praying for 220's.
Compression test done! Something was wrong with the gauge, but it got 130's on cylinders 2, 3, and 4. And then it got a 75 on cylinder 1. They did another test, leakdown maybe? And it got a 98%, they said the gauge was getting old and was a pile of crap. But from the way it's looking, and feels, I'm in good condition. Motor has 63k miles, so I'm not sweating compression
So next step, I decided to go with Neptune, so I need to get my hands on a P28 ECU that's socketed!
So I'm going to be leaking exhaust like crazy? If it made it freeflowing, would it be safe to say that my boost was rise?
Also, think there's gaskets I can buy (metal & liquid) to make the seal happen? I'd really like to avoid an exhaust leak at all costs.
NO, I used the copper exhaust gasket to seal up all the exhaust components such as exhaust side to downpipe and downpipe to cat. So far I've had no exhaust leaks.
NO, I used the copper exhaust gasket to seal up all the exhaust components such as exhaust side to downpipe and downpipe to cat. So far I've had no exhaust leaks.
Hmm, I read something, SOMEWHERE, about someone using copper gaskets and having one burn up? Maybe I read wrong :dunno:. Where did you pick up these copper gaskets?
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thanks
They lied, it's not a true bolt on kit. Ha ha. Good luck and have fun with it!!!! 
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