I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

Hey folks, I'm relatively new to HMT, I've got an '07 Scion tC.

I've been doing piles of reading online and looking at the dozen or so turbo kits available for my car. None of them ar really what I Want, so I'm planning to piece together a setup from scratch. I've been doing some shopping and the local shops will charge between $1200 and $2000 for the fab work necessary to create an Equal-length Manifold and all the internal hard pipes form scratch.

In short I want to do all the Fab work on my own. I've never welded, and have minimal fabrication experience. I realize this is not something I can read a book and go do next weekend. I'm planning on taking some welding classes as a starting point.

Realistically I won't have the skills or cash to make this happen for at least a year, quite possibly two. I do have some questions for those of you who have gone down this road.
Do you have any resources I could study on Manifold construction? There are a few floating around in the local Scion community I could copy but I want to understand what I'm doing, not just clone someone else's design.
Is there a definitive resource for what Turbos were in what cars? I've found several lists online, but I'm not sure how accurate they are.
Finally any pointers in what to look for in a welding class? Tig or Mig??

Thanks!

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

Fabrication forum

Read the stickies, tons of great fab info.

Welcome to the site. Post some porn.

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

Don't take a class. Buy a welder and start ------- with it. When you want to learn, read about it online and then go to the garage for "the test". The components of the turbo kit aren't hard to figure out, so you should start looking into what engine management you should be using.

I know, I can't figure out why I'm not lighting your ass up. It must be an off day for me.

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

go here, www.homemadeturbo.com, there is alot of information.

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

I would love to run out to the garage and try welding stuff, but I don't have a garage.

Engine management Du Jor for the tC right now is the Hydra Standalone EMS.

Thanks for the feedback.

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

Thanks, where shoudl said Porn go, I've noticed it disappearing over the past few weeks.

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

dont listen to stealth, go take a GTAW (tig) welding class at the local tech college and learn to do it right, i dont know how long it would take to fugure it out on your own having never done it before. and it will probally be less then $250

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

what i did when i wanted to get into welding is this, i went down to the local wedling school and took the 8 hr tig welding class, it was $300 and it tought me the basics, then i bought a $400 thurmal arc dragster 85 and started welding. after about 7-8 months and 1 completed and running turboed car. i bought a synce 200 and then the rest just followed. but it will take time and lots of it to get it all down, ---- after 2 yrs i havn't even scratched the surface.....

Re: I'm gonna get me some learnin to be a fabricator..
 

Thanks that's the info I was looking for! 'casue I've looked at welding classes before and wasn't sure what they were offering.

-Sean