So I have decided to boost my S, and sort of wanted to piece together the kit from various good deals I've found. I know this line of questioning will be dumb, but here goes:
I would imagine my first step would be to select the turbo I would use. My question is how does the turbo I select affect the rest of the kit. Or better yet, how do i know where to go from the turbo i select (for instance which intercooler to get or which manifold to choose)?

 

what power level do you want?

 

Better to figure out what sort of power level you are hoping to achieve and then choose the most ideal setup for that. (with a little bit of playroom incase you think you might want more power in the future)

Choose manifold + turbo first!

 

I'm thinking 400whp range (I'm sure I'll eventually want more but that's my current goal). Would the 3076 be a good turbo for that range?

 

The 3076 is ideal, if you can swing it, get the optional TIAL stainless steel turbine housing with V-Band. I believe the Borg Warner s366 is a comparable offering but costs a lot less than the Garret turbo.

 

Hmm im actually quite impressed with the power people have made with the s366. For the price, I'm considering going with that.

 

Better to figure out what manifold/ turbo combo you want for your goals then you can build everything else around those. I started with a ramhorn manifold and GT3076R, then fabricated the downpipe, exhaust, and intercooler setup around it. Couple more fittings, lines, and couplers and I'll be ready to start tuning

 

What manifold would you guys suggest running with the BW s366?

 

From what I've heard BW turbos have a rly large compressor housing so a sidewinder manifold like FullBlown would give you the best fitment and not get in the way with with other stuff in the engine bay. Not sure if the s366 would fit on a top or bottom mount manifold.

Maybe some one who uses that turbo can chime in with what kind of manifold is needed to fit everything nicely.

 

OP,

Not everyone wants to hear this but if you take the time to read through this it should give you, not only the knowledge to make more informed decisions, but more insight into how everything works with one another. It took me only 2 days to get through it (and that's re-reading most of of it a few times).

This book brings everything together and is actually geared towards imports in some respects:

Street TurbochargingHP1488: Design, Fabrication, Installation, and Tuning of High-Performance Street Turbocharger Systems

A good plan can't really be formed until you have a good foundation of knowledge.


In reference to your original question. Everything effects everything. There are tipping points/ranges for everything. At some point your drivetrain comes into question as well. It's a lot to think about.

Good luck,
--Matt