Cost for upgrading turbo and tune

midwestX · Oct 28, 2009, 03:39 PM

Hi all

I am new to upgrading cars but would like to get my X to around 450hp

keeping it street legal

. My question is how much should I be looking to spend including installation and maintainance etc. for an upgraded turbo and an ECU tune from AMS etc. Would I run into any kind of problems? I have 15K miles currently on car and an aftermarket ACT street racing clutch installed by a dealer.

Also looking to get AMS downpipe and tp but no catback.

thanks

evoooo · Oct 28, 2009, 03:48 PM

Atleast 5k$

si_to_evo · Oct 28, 2009, 07:10 PM

3-4k

endGameXIII · Oct 28, 2009, 07:24 PM

just for turbo and retune...assuming you go for an FP red, walbro fuel pump, and upgraded injectors...3-4k is accurate. but to really reach 450whp you need bolt-ons as well.

tokeone · Oct 28, 2009, 07:40 PM

some simplified math:
1400 turbo
400 injectors
200 fuel pump/housing
500 downpipe
200 test pipe
700 install
500 tune
-------
3900

300 lower ic pipe
300 upper ic pipe
700 intercooler
700 cams
300 intake
500 install
200 retune
-------
3000

and now i just realized how much money ive spent

flyguycfi · Oct 28, 2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestX

Hi all

I am new to upgrading cars but would like to get my X to around 450hp

keeping it street legal

. My question is how much should I be looking to spend including installation and maintainance etc. for an upgraded turbo and an ECU tune from AMS etc. Would I run into any kind of problems? I have 15K miles currently on car and an aftermarket ACT street racing clutch installed by a dealer.

Also looking to get AMS downpipe and tp but no catback.

thanks

Although you are starting off in the right direction I would really recommend you decide what you want to do with the car before you start throwing money at it. Only reason I say that is to focus on turbo lag. I wanted a 35R very bad for the last few months for the raw power, but have come to realize the stock turbo is perfectly suited for my needs (autocrossing).

Just saying top-end horsepower isn't always the best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokeone

some simplified math:

1400 turbo
400 injectors
200 fuel pump/housing
500 downpipe
200 test pipe
700 install
500 tune
-------
3900

300 lower ic pipe
300 upper ic pipe
700 intercooler
700 cams
300 intake
500 install
200 retune
-------
3000

and now i just realized how much money ive spent

Never add up the cost! LOL

youlost · Oct 28, 2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokeone

some simplified math:
1400 turbo
400 injectors
200 fuel pump/housing
500 downpipe
200 test pipe
700 install
500 tune
-------
3900

300 lower ic pipe
300 upper ic pipe
700 intercooler
700 cams
300 intake
500 install
200 retune
-------
3000

and now i just realized how much money ive spent

Didnt include catback, gauges, or clutch...
lol 3-4 grand
try
8-9 grand

Hiboost · Oct 29, 2009, 07:41 AM

Do you already have a catback or are you planning on running an upgraded turbo with the stock catback/muffler? If the later, you are going to be quieter for sure but bottling up most of the exhaust side gains from the turbo to the test pipe making them minimally effective. You always want to improve your flow working your way from the outside towards the engine.

tokeone · Oct 29, 2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youlost

Didnt include catback, gauges, or clutch...
lol 3-4 grand
try
8-9 grand

i was including what he asked for. he already has a clutch and said no cat back...

although for me the gauge and cat back weren't that bad (700 i believe) and im at 51k with the stock clutch...

so for like 7500 you can have what i have.

midwestX · Oct 29, 2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiboost

Do you already have a catback or are you planning on running an upgraded turbo with the stock catback/muffler? If the later, you are going to be quieter for sure but bottling up most of the exhaust side gains from the turbo to the test pipe making them minimally effective. You always want to improve your flow working your way from the outside towards the engine.

I concluded that stock exhaust works best for me . I tried several different catbacks and it drastically decrease back pressure>? Thats exactly how I feel whenever I install a catback.

Anyway I will start adding money and i know I got a long way to go but I am glad I live 10 minutes from AMS

. Maybe by Christmas I will have a tune and bolt-ons and enjoy that first

before becoming a hardcore

Does anyone know if I can get AMS ECU flash just with dp/tp & AEM intake?

many thanks

Hiboost · Oct 29, 2009, 07:27 PM

A catback will reduce backpressure which is always good for a turbocharged car. The only possible time I can see it reducing power is off boost for under a second from 1500-2000 rpm, and even then some adjusting with Mivec settings can make that a non-issue.

On the same token you are reducing backpressure on the exhaust system bu replacing the O2 Downpipe and Testpipe but you won't see the full gains by doing those without the catback because the muffler section especially is still a bigger restriction.

ETS Michael · Oct 30, 2009, 09:59 AM

If you want to archive 450hp, you have a couple options. You can run a stock replacement turbo, but you will be running close to 30psi to archive the goal or you could go with a 35R kit and archive your goal at 23-24 psi.

ETS HTA3586 vs FPRED - 26psi

The turbo spools a little later, but you will see a huge difference in top end performance. Instead of going with an HTA3586 we could put on a Precision 6057 or 5857 and make 500whp and spool just as fast as the red.

My vote is on the turbo kit. Lower PSI and More Power.

Thanks!

Michael

murlo26 · Oct 30, 2009, 10:40 AM

If you want to run pump gas, sure get a big turbo.

As everyone knows the FPred isn't a pump gas turbo, it just isn't. But if you throw E-85 in there or Race gas, it really shows its true colors.

Pump gas I agree with ETS, probably better to go with a small 35r twinscroll for your power levels or a DOM2/FPgreen for spool if you need that.

However, I think he was just wondering cost. The full turbo kit will cost more always, so that is also an issue.

Your looking at 4 grand minimum plus all the supporting mods. Bolt on's are always cheaper and get most people to their goals with better spool.

midwestX · Oct 30, 2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murlo26

If you want to run pump gas, sure get a big turbo.

As everyone knows the FPred isn't a pump gas turbo, it just isn't. But if you throw E-85 in there or Race gas, it really shows its true colors.

Pump gas I agree with ETS, probably better to go with a small 35r twinscroll for your power levels or a DOM2/FPgreen for spool if you need that.

However, I think he was just wondering cost. The full turbo kit will cost more always, so that is also an issue.

Your looking at 4 grand minimum plus all the supporting mods. Bolt on's are always cheaper and get most people to their goals with better spool.

thanks