Rb30 Turbo Conversion

[sweefu]

Hey all,

I've been on these forums for a few years, and have now finally bought myself an R31 aus delivered. sedan, series III with 220 000k's on the clock.

Over the next few months i would like to get the parts together for a basic turbo conversion. I'm not chasing any huge power at all, this is for the fun as much as it is to learn about forced induction. What am i looking for is advice on how to do this properly and with a low budget. Would ~$1000 - ~$1200 see the car with a turbo setup? More than happy to buy online/second hand whatever i need. A few questions:

1. My friend has an R33, he has offered me his stock T3 turbo with stock wastegate (7psi?) would this be okay on the RB30?

2. Would i be better to buy a second hand cast iron turbo manifold or buy an 'eBay Special' manifold? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HOLDEN-VL-CALAIS-RB...=item5193b07dd5 Something like this, though i have heard monsta products can be rubbish.

3. Can i use the stock ECU for the time being? Or is a turbo ECU a necessity?

4. I am unsure on the oil lines i will need, as i have heard that the series II RB30 blocks have the taps already in the block?

5. Will compression be an issue?

Any light shed on these unknowns would be great,

Thanks,

Anthony.

[R31Nismoid]

Just buy a "VLt" conversion off r31skylineclub.com or calaisturbo.com

people selling them all the time

[sweefu]

Okay cheers mate i'll keep an eye out for that. If i do choose to get the parts together myself would the R33 T3 be okay?

[Shane_954]

Compression will be fine, im making just over 300rwkw@17psi with a stock unopened 30e and mild wade cam tuned on 98.

As Nismoid said, stock vlt setup is the go for you. Dont bother with the ebay stuff.

[JonnoHR31]

no a rb25 turbo wont work easily. need a custom dump as the vlt manifold mounts the turbo completely different to a 25 manifold.

as said buy a basic vlt kit with manifold, turbo, oil and water lines, dump, injectors and ecu

[sweefu]

Shane_180sx how many k's on your engine? Thats impressive!

Thankyou for the help, i'll keep my eye out for a vl turbo kit on calais turob, r31 skylineclub and eBay.

Are the 'monsta' eBay products terrible/going to break or are they still usable?

[Shane_954]

Shane_180sx how many k's on your engine? Thats impressive!

Thankyou for the help, i'll keep my eye out for a vl turbo kit on calais turob, r31 skylineclub and eBay.

Are the 'monsta' eBay products terrible/going to break or are they still usable?

Well over 250,000kms at a guess.

Monsta stuff is rubbish.

Car ran 11.6@122mph 2 weeks ago in a manual r31.

[sweefu]

Thanks for the help with this. There aren't any decent VLT conversions around that i can see at the moment, for under $2000. So i have decided to go with:

Stock cast iron t3 manifold = $150

R33 cermaic bearing T3 turbo = $200

3" custom dump pipe = $220

FMIC w/ piping = $350

How does that sound so far? Still have to sort out some injectors/ecu/rest of exhaust.

Cheers.

[VB-]

stock cast mani

big aftermarket T3 - should be able to score a decent hiflow for $500 second hand

oil lines

fmic

custom dump pipe

nistune

gtr injectors.

add a second standard fuel pump in parralel

2k in parts should see up to (just shy of) 300rwkw depending on the turbo you get. more than enough to fry your clutch/auto. throw in some s13 coilovers and brakes and you will have a fun as shit 'budget' built car

[STATUS]

Just buy a "VLt" conversion off r31skylineclub.com or calaisturbo.com

people selling them all the time

yep least it will fit.... not like most of the ebay rb30 manifolds which need the stud holes reamed to bolt up.

[sweefu]

VB- I'm not hunting too much power at all, anywhere around 160rwkw i'm happy but i will keep going until maybe 180 - 200rwkw. Not after any crazy power at all.

So the parts i have planned out, do they seem okay so far? I'm not looking to spend $2k on a VLT kit when i can get parts that i know are good, from friends/new for less than that.

[R31Nismoid]

the VLt setup will have all you need.

you'll find once you source injectors, ecu and so on the end cost will be the same and you've spent endless hours more... time is money, and less effort.

upto you of course.

[sweefu]

Yeah fair enough mate, i know i'll come in well under 2k and thats with the 3" dump pipe new exhaust etc, injectors i'll pay aroud $150 and same again for ECU and then i'm done? at around $1200 - $1300?

[Rolls]

then when you fry your clutch and realise your tyres aren't up to the job, then you have to replace all the other broken stuff that isn't up the job like fuel pumps etc, you might get lucky but I doubt youll get there for less than $2k

[sweefu]

Ah yeah thats true, clutch i'll just wait till it goes i'm not fussed about that because i know it will need doing, for under $2k i was just talking about the turbo setup.

Wheels/tyres/brakes suspension are another story and another budget. With a bit of luck i'll have some Rays Sebring 17x8 & 17x9 wheels with federal 595-ss 215 front and 255 rear soon, everything else will be up to the job just focusing on the turbo setup at present. Car also has had all front end bushes replaced with polyurethane, already have stiffer springs in and think i'm going with KYB monotube shocks.

Cheers mate!

Edited November 9, 2010 by sweefu

[Rolls]

well without a lot of those bits the turbo setup will be useless, hence why I would lump it all together and expect to either be without a car until they are done or you can afford to do it all.

budget for absolute worst case as there will be things you haven't even though about that will pop up.