Origin

hey guys, n00b here. first just like to say nice forum, hope to learn much.

anyways, to my question. i just got my obd1 b16a crx running and now i have the money to start my turbo project. im very interested in some of the lovefab manifolds and saw that they had a price of 900 for the one that i wanted. im very interested in learning how to weld and make my own things, but do you think i should just shell out the money for the manifold or try making my own. i know its a big chunck to take on by myself, but im willing to take the time to learn. this isn't my daily driver so time isn't really a factor. can anyone enlighten me on what the next step i should take?

quadnie

Since this is home made turbo I would say fab it up yourself. Makes it even easier if you decide to dump power steering and a/c.

$900 will buy you a nice TIG welder.

I would say spend $300-500 on a MIG, maybe a $100 in steel and all your time. Definately worth it to make it yourself, something to be proud of. Get a nice ceramic coating when you are done and have a nice piece to add to your project car.

Origin

well ac and power steering are gone already. no way i was paying extra to keep those :P. this is the manifold i was thinking of. http://lovefab.com/Sidewinder/index.htm. i had already relocated the battery. this is my first turbo set up. am i getting in over my head by wanting this kind of design, or should i go with something else like what some of these other guys are making? not saying these are easier to make, im sure they have their own in's and out's.

89dxhunchback

I'm kinda new to welding, but its fairly easy ( on steel ). I flux-core welded all my IC piping ( cutting and welding pre-cut angles to make turns in the pipes ). <--worked very well BTW.

After than I said,"man this welding stuff is way easier than everyone made it out to be". So I cut some holes in my Starion IC, fabbed some block off plates for the stock inlets and outlets, then I took it to the shop at my work. They have a very expensive "Miller Mathmatic" that has the right gas and an aluminum spool gun. I said " With the right stuff here, I should be able to do it"... WRONG The welding is extremly embrassing, prob. isn't strong at all, and had to be re-sealed with silicone !!! Yea, that bad.

From that day on, I swore I'll never weld aluminum again ( at least on something that is as thin as an IC ).

Well, I see companies having problems with cracking turbo manifolds ( not the $900 one of course ), and its makes me think that there's gotta be something more to it ( like welding alum. ) than just cutting, welding, and coating...

Anybody and there momma can jump on a street bike and do 160mph, but your much more likely to come out alive if your a pro-rider with lots of exp., vs just getting on, hitting the gas and becoming road pizza.

The point is that, I'd rather mig weld A LOT. And gain lots of exp. and master mig before I try to jump on the Tig or weld alum.

( side note ), it turns out the $$$$ welder at my work has a manual gas valve that desides which gun gets the gas ( mig or alum. spool gun ). Well, I was sending all the sheilding gas to the "steel gun" while welding with the Alum. gun. Of course the next day one of the dudes at work told me that, but that just "backs up" what I was saying about exp.

Also... SCREW $900 !!!!! $200 BMC racing !!! Swallow your bling bling "neat-o" pride, and get something that's going to do the job for $700 less vs $700 more and looking cooler... That is unless, you have a $10K built engine with bad *** sleeves and all that other stupid ---- ( anymore than 300whp ( let alone 600hp ) is too much in a FWD car, IMO... Hense me being a D-series fan, hehe.

Weld your BOV flange, IC piping, down pipe, entire exhuast, and ANY brackets that need fabbed up, just stay away from radiators, ICs, intake manifolds, and TURBO exhuast manifolds ( for a while anyway )... That's just my 89cents..

quadnie

No doubt that the lovefab manifolds are nice. Check out the links section off the main page for a few rarely updated links to various manifolds.

I would just make your own, either a log style or equal length. This depends direclty on the setup, wastegate.. and retention of a/c.

Check out Jeff's twin turbo setup at the top of this forum.. he might even have the entire outfit still for sale for a very good price - you need to pm him if you're interested.

-ryan

SpankedYA!

I made a log style with weld els from www.mcmaster.com It was fairly easy but I do suggest tig welding it. I migged some parts and I had to go over them with the tig later because I had pin holes.