The speed-craft kit is a major rip off. I recently built my own turbo kit and it added up to around $2600, or around there.(w/o installation and electronic accessories) The kit i built includes:
t04b 60-1 ball bearing turbo ($480)
tial 35mm (not 45mm) wastegate ($260)
Rev Hard custom built manifold ($500)
Rev Hard custom built intercooler ($600)
Apex'i twin chamber blow off valve ($200)
Vortech fuel management unit ($175)
walbro fuel pump ($160)
and the Greddy oil filter relocation kit. ($160)
pricese may vary.

you can get all these things piped in at your local muffler shop, or car shop for about 300-500 dollars depending on their prices per bend.
Most shop are 30-40 dollars a bend.

All the parts i got are new too, and they are pretty much the exact thing speed-craft uses. The manifold is better than speedcraft kits. I suggest running 6psi instead of 8psi though, but that's up to you. Hope this helps anyone that's looking for a turbo kit.
Sorry for those who bought the speed-craft kit, they must feel a bit ripped off right now.

 

i always knew that too just decided to keep it too myself cause someone is gonna start flamming.

 

do you have any dyno results to see how much gains you get? im really curious to know. that's a really good price you custom built it for.

 

it wont seem like much a rip off when you start having problems and have no one to turn to...

 

I was going to have my brother in law build me a turbo kit. He's built a few kits for a civic and he's finishing up a kit for a Mirage right now. I'd have him do it if I could convince my wife

Its just so much cheaper to do a custom kit.

 

Economics my friend. They are expensive because they can be.

 

Did you install the components yourself? Does anyone know of competent shop in the LA / West LA area?

 

You could've saved more money by buying a less expensive BOV.

Also, what Downpipe are you using? Material of downpipe? What material are you using to build all the piping?

 

the only thing that holds me back from getting a turbo is the problems i always hear about on cars they are installed on.

e.g.: shortened engine, tranny life, etc.

I'm not as inclined as you guys, so fill me in if I'm wrong. It just seems the cons far outweigh the pros. The only pro is the increase in power and kickin some a$$.

 

Where did you get a T04B 60-1 ball bearing turbo for $480? When looking at the Turbonetics price list (http://www.turboneticsinc.com/pricelist.html) I see the same turbo (reference code HJ Turbo or HK Turbo) going for a minimum of $1500 and as high as $1800 depending on config. Even just the cartridge (you'd need to have a housing) goes for more than $1000. Hell, even a basic T3 cartridge (no ball bearing, no housing) goes for $500.

Using your prices, but adding in the retail price on the turbo I get a total kit price of $4000-$4300. For those people not experienced with putting together a turbo system, the extra $2k for the Speedcraft kit is probably worth it. In return, you get a kit that is already put together, a source of technical support and good quality fit and finish (the kit definitely has a nice appearance to it). You also save the hassle of trying to find the right shop to do the piping, the difficulty of hanging your own intercooler, etc.

Its all good if you know what you're doing, but lets face it, _most_ people don't. I've done a fair bit of work on FI systems myself, and (if I wanted FI on the S2K - which I don't) I'd probably be tempted to just spend some extra $$$ to let someone handle the hassle of putting all the pieces together. At what my time is worth work wise, if I spent more than 10-20 hours assembling my own kit and dealing with various issues, my self assembled kit would cost me more than the Speedcraft.

BTW, I'd like to see your dyno sheets too.

UL