I already posted something loke this in someone else’s thread, but it wasn’t getting enough responses. Here’s my situation: Currently, I am searching for a G2 Teg: LS, GS, or GSR (if I’m lucky). I have big plans for this car. The number one thing I am going to do is install a Clifford Solaris alarm. After that will come a sound system (Yes, I know it adds some weight, but I’m sorry, I LOVE music!!!), then finally, a turbo. The turbo I get will be a custom setup, so I can save alot of money AND have a better turbo setup. Now, as it stands right now, I am making $500-600/month that is totally free to spend. I have no bills to pay and that money is for whatever I want it to be for. If I get this new job, then that amount per month will probably almost double, and be near a grand per month. The first think I intend to buy will be an engine hoist, followed by an engine stand. I’m guessing both of these together will cost around $250? If you have any brands you would recommend/warn me about, please tell me. After that, I have two choices: The first choice is for me to build an engine from scratch. The only problem here is I have no experience doing it, so it would be a learning experience. I would of course buy a book (or more) to help me along. Also I have a neighbor who has rebuilt a few engines, so if I don’t know how to do something, I’ll get him to help me. Supposedly, engine blocks of this sort go for $150 or so with crank. I would then have to get it sleeved at a machine shop, which would cost about $800??? After that, I would buy the internals (one’s that could handle high boost) such as pistons, rods, etc. I figure all of the internals would cost around $1500. After that, I would finish up by adding the other necessary parts (taken from the original engine), such as raditator, heater core, water pump, fuel pump, ect., and adding another $1500 for miscellanious parts. I would implement the turbo parts as I went, so I wouldn’t waste time or money on the stock part that would have to be removed and replaced by something incorporated with the turbo. Once it was all assembled, which I’m guessing will end up being $5-6k (tell me if I’m WAY too low on my guess), I’ll remove the old engine that was in my car using the hoist, and add in the new one. Yeah, I know it’s alot harder then all of that, but this is a project, and something I am willing to take my time with. By then, the stock engine I had would probably have about 130-150k, which I could sell for about a thousand bucks, right? I would want boost somewhere in the 14+ PSI range. That’s Plan A.
Plan B is much more simple: I will buy the custom turbo setup, put in a block guard, and be on my merry way. How much do block guards cost anyway? The only problem with this setup is that I could run nearly as much boost (probably like 7 PSI) and the engine would have about 100-115k on it, which might not be super reliable with added boost, I just don’t know.
Sorry for the super long post, I just want to know your opinion. If you think I am too dumb to build an engine, tell me. I want to know which way you think I should go. The first is expensive, time-consuming, and adds LOTS of power, and the other one is cheaper, easier/quicker to do, but done on a high mileage engine, and less powerful.