5S-FE Turbo project, Would like comments/critique Options

[Syaoran]

Hello, this would be my first elaborate post on here and I thought I'd get some feedback from you, the more experienced people.

I would like to know what your opinion on my idea for a boost build would be.

First off, I'm not going to use a CT-26. I would really like to, but the reason is that the ones I've found, that are NOT supra CT-26, are either in need of a rebuild or way too expensive for a small, old turbocharger, that isn't even a ball bearing to justify the price. That is my take on the CT-26. The CT-20b is way too rare, and expensive to rebuild in case I were to find one.


That leaves me with brand new eBay turbochargers. I have first-hand experience eBay turbochargers and I can say that some sellers do sell decent stuff. Ilovetacotaco sells some good turbo chargers.

My main question in relation to this topic is whether I should get a .50/.63 or .60/.63 turbo, considering I'll be using MegaSquirt-II or MS-III, undecided yet (have a friend that's been using them for more than 10 years now, he knows these EMS)

I plan on getting a cast T3 manifold with external wastegate. I'm looking to obtain above 250whp. I believe I should run relatively large injectors, right? Something like 460cc or more? Should I look into forged pistons and rods or should I just keep stock internals until I decide to go more boost?

My budget is about $2700, and this is what I've broken it down to.


1. Cast iron manifold $200 (add $50 for inside-out ceramic coating from a friend who does that)
2. Turbocharger ($150-$300)
3. Wastegate + BOV ($100)
4. Lines, flanges and welding work ($300)
5. TMIC or FMIC (~$300)
6. Pipes/t-clamps/silicone joints ($100)
7. MS-II ($400) / MS-III ($600)
8. 460cc RX-7 Injectors ($100)
9. Fuel Pump + Regulator ($200 if needed in the first place)
10. Gauges (Wideband, Boost, Oil Press. / $350-400)

Total: $2600

I know it'll be more expensive. I'm just wondering if I'd be able to get some things cheaper. I KNOW cheap/fast/reliable, but there's a fine line between what's considered "cheap" and just shelling out money for overpriced stuff.

I know I can rely on some eBay stuff. Most of the time cheap knockoffs are just as good as the originals, as most companies sell you something cheap for a lot of money because their brand name is on it.


Should I do TMIC or go for FMIC? I've already got the All-Trac hood, so I can fit a nice, small FMIC as a TMIC. I'd rather have a more simple setup, boosting 10-12psi. The less lines/pipes/etc, the better.

[Syaoran]

Thanks for your comments presure.

I was looking to stay sub 300whp as I know that coupe Celicas are on the lighter side of the spectrum, and something like 250-270whp on this car is near as fast as +300whp on a car with 500lbs more (like a Subaru, Scion, Genesis, etc...)

I have a friend who's done a turbo on his '93 MR2 which has the exact same engine as my Celica (rev2)

So I was going to see how his setup fares in a couple of months, and see where I'm going to go. I want to keep some of the parts as inexpensive as possible. If I can get a cheap turbo from say, eBay, that's going to last me a year before it goes bad because it's only oil-cooled, and it's only costing me $120 brand new, I'd rather keep buying the same turbo for 6-7 years, than get an 800-900 turbo because the expensive, higher-quality turbo will take a chunk off my wallet at once, rather than little chunks every year.

I'm not cheaping out on the manifold (even though I sort of cheated because it's an OEM one...) because I don't want stainless steel manifolds cracking on me and heating up my engine bay unnecesarily.

Not cheaping out on the oil lines, because I've known people who've had burned oil lines crack and turn the oil on fire inside the engine bay. Not something I wanna go through with my car.

I'm not cheaping out on the waste gate, so that it doesn't lock up on me, puts in some more boost than what my car is tuned for and blow my engine. I've had friends with stuck wastegates doing 16-17psi when their tune is for 12-14 psi. Don't wanna go through that either. Getting a tial wastegate, or something of better quality.

Basically, I'm going to "cheap out" on the turbo and spend that difference in money on other components, rather than the turbo itself which is just ONE part of the whole puzzle.

That's my idea.