Lots of newbies posting about 400 WHP goals and what not. To many people on this board are recommending going turbo when there not turbo themselves. Newbies need to come on the board knowing how much $ it costs to make our cars fast. Heres a break down on what you need to spend.....
-Star Stage 2 turbo kit- $3000
-Howell Bottom end kit- $1100
-Machine shop working- $500-750
-Head work (not many have done head work including Hahn)- $1500 including labor
-Clutch, flywheel and LSD.- $1000-$1500 depending on Quaife or cheap LSD
-Full exhaust- $500-600
Gauges(boost, EGT, A/F), boost controller, turbo timer, S-AFC- $1000
-Suspension- $750-$1000
-RX-7 rims and drag radials- $1000
-Fuel upgrade (Corbins 8 inj setup, standalone)- $ Varies
Thats over 10G's w/o labor if you dont know how to do any of your own work. So if you want some major power (Stage 4) be ready to spend $10-$15G's.
MODS please feel free to add stuff to this post or bookmark it so people dont ask the same questions all the time about "how much it costs to do this..."
-Dave

why's it gotta be a star kit.................j/king
good break down for the newbies.............:thumbsup

yeah those are about right, but i would tend to say that most "newbies" coming in would not, and should not jump straight into a 400whp set up.

i would suggest
turbo kit -from $1500 to $3000 depending on which one or if you custom make it.
injectors -$300
clutch- $500
s-afc-$270
bottom end -$1100
machine work-$500
gauges and gauge pod -$400 you can go with autometer
exhaust $400 custom made (no need to pay for a name brand)
mbc (manual boost controler)-$50

with that basic set up you should be able to run about 15psi which should be about 300 whp
I think even this set up is probably a bit too much for true newbies that don't know much about forced induction. It will take some tuning and a watchfull eye to make sure it runs well.

I would agree with all of that except for the safc... I really dont think using the safc with our cars is a very good idea. Remember that when you mess with the MAP sensor signal on our cars, you are changing more than just the amount of fuel delivered. The computer takes that voltage and uses it to calculate engine load and ignition timing as well as how much fuel to deliver. Because most people use the safc to run larger injectors, they wind up leaning out a significant amount with it which lowers the map voltage enough to increase ignition timing to the point of detonation. If you do use it, I would try to keep the settings on the afc as close to 0 as you can get by lowering the fuel pressure and using the proper rise rate on your regulator. Otherwise, you may wind up with a pinging motor that doesn't last 10k miles.

I agree with you mat. The 8 injector or other systems are more ideal for fueling.

an LSD isn't a MUST for performance. its damn nice to have, but the car will make power without it.

Headwork is non-essential.

RX7 rims are cheap. I picked up a set of 4 with tires for under $500.

Some people don't necessarily want 400wHP. For them, buy the kit, and leave it alone, and you have a peppier, more enjoyable daily driver. You don't HAVE to build the motor to run the turbo kit. Just because you blew your motor, DualGen, doesn't mean everyone does or will.

:-( Dino dont like me. I was assuming that w/ the RX-7 rims you weren't getting drag radials already on them. Figured it would be hard as hell to hook up on regular tires. Even I had problem getting traction and my car is slow. Figured LSD would be nice once you reach those traction problems or you get slicks. Im not assuming everyone will blow up. I just dont want people thinking that there safe even w/ a Stage 1. DSMnt96 blew his motor Stage 1 at 5-6psi. Maybe us Marylanders got bad luck.
-Dave

Cut out the $1000 of gauges too. That is highly unecessary.

I don't mean to sound like i'm ragging on you, but i can't help but defend my platform and choice.

I like everybody, except that KaptainMyke fellow.. he's a strokeass. :-)

That doesn't all sound true. I've spent less than a grand and my kit is almost complete. I wanted to go to about 15psi but I guess 9 will have to do. I have also just done a complete rebuild and that was under a grand as well. It's just a matter of finding the right parts, people, and time.

>That doesn't all sound true. I've spent less than a grand and
>my kit is almost complete. I wanted to go to about 15psi but I
>guess 9 will have to do. I have also just done a complete
>rebuild and that was under a grand as well. It's just a matter
>of finding the right parts, people, and time.

a lot of the noobs seem to just say 400hp, like it is as easy as making apple pie.

dino, brynden (i think is spelled that right) are making slughtly under 300hp, super20g are making around stage 4 or 5, and some other 2gnts are also stage 4or 5. point is, they spent THOUSANDS just to make their cars run that well and it takes MORE THAN just wanting 400hp.

even some people say that they want 250hp out of stage 2 are just dreaming.

from reading this board, going turbo with 5-9psi, that is a very feasible goal. after that, you better be highly knowlegable.

There are a lot of things on the original list that can be dropped, however, you've also got to know that 400hp on pump gas is well, damn near impossible! Unless you want to be paying $4 a gallon for high octane gas then you can say you have a 400hp daily driver. Lets be realistic, the best and average goal is around 325whp. To be honest, that's easily acheiveable with not a lot of money.

325 WHP easy w/o a lot of $ 98Turbo420A? Depends what you think a lot of $ is. Even w/ whodatt's shorter list thats still about 6-7G's w/o suspension, stock wheels, and a crappy MBC. You could put out a lot of power but its gonna be hard to put it to the ground and get traction. Me no like my Joe P MBC(mine spiked). Ask Dino how much $ is in his car. He is over 325 WHP I believe. Ask Brynden to cause he is a little below 300 WHP. Your right about having to use race gas once you get near 400 WHP but I think your average 325 WHP goal w/o much $ is a little off. Also SlowATTalon, you spent 2G's on your rebuild and custom turbo kit? Your lucky you found parts for cheap. What did u use on your rebuild if you dont mind me asking? Did you just buy pistons and kept the stock rods?
-Dave