BloodlineX

which set up will be the most cost effecient? details please

anxiouz

iTrader: (9)

Turbo install no question IMO. If for labor over nothing else. But depending on the car/year sometimes it's better to just sell/trade the car for a different platform. What are you after? Do you love the car but just want more power? Or would a few-years newer car be fine stock?

What are your goals?

If you drove an Evo I would have dif advice but a Lexus IS (what year?) needs a different approach. It sounds like you want cheap power? And with a Lexus that's not as attainable as with a factory turbo'd car.

chaco

iTrader: (2)

^ good points.

I second that route, turbo kit will be cheaper, wayyyyy cheaper. A GTE swap and run up to 10k

Lux03lxus

A complete kit with install, properly running and everything else u r going to need will cost u this much too...

joshmannin

friends 1990 mk3 supra he did the GTE swap
engine/ecu/wiring harness 1295$ plus 300$ shipping
1000$ labor plus 300$ shop parts
vcv for his turbo that wasnt working was 395$ new from toyota
upgraded his stock fmic and all piping for 500$ custom kit
and you can throw in some money for bellhousing and stuff he had to buy like upgraded radiator and electric fans over mechanical or the water driven fans

i think he added up to 13,000$ including nice 1990 factory turbo mk3 with brand new leather interior, plus engine swap with everything, new suspension, paint job, xxr wheels, new targa cause his flew off when it was being towed to the shop, new mirror his was cracked, all his random parts again like water pump, timing belt that the shop did during the swap, autozone and advance auto receipts... lol he has a HUGE 2" binder with everything

joshmannin

you can get the turbo, manifold, wastegate, intercooler, and oil lines and gaskets for 1500$ from club na-t another 250$ for customer intercooler piping for 100$ if you cut your own kit

then $ ____ for your ecu or piggyback
then 300-400 for your tune
injectors/fuel pump


cant be that much

baadhabit

iTrader: (2)

the short answer is its cheaper to go NAT than do a swap

but i think it really depends on a few things like
1) whos doing the work? yourself diy? or a shop?
2) whats your goal? HP over 400-500+ or will you be happy with 300hp
3) how particular are you? does everything need to be the best of the best or is ebay stuff work just fine? is reliability a concern or are you ok with car running lumpy, really rich etc?

dsouthmia0

iTrader: (3)

Not true, I am on a full built (na-T) and still spending less than $6G with install. With a super reliable 500hp. Almost done, just waiting for the powdercoater to finish my engine parts

Lextrd016

can't wait till your build is done mine still running strong I'm currently getting parts here and there to move up in the 500hps just got sum rods and R-154 with clutch kit soon!!!

Lux03lxus

Wow..ur one of the lucky ones...good luck on ur build

Supra4dr

It's possible to do a swap for under $6k that's if your willing to do most of the work yourself. You can find GTE motor for under $3000 that you would have to rewire and drop in (most shop chrage $90 per hr and say its 8-12 hrs job to pull a motor out and put in the new one), a use piggy back ecu will cost you $300, tuning will cost you about $300-$400, if you have a auto to bulid the tranny that's $1000 and your good up to 500hp. If you have a 5speed manually your only good to 350hp. But that all depend on if you keeping the stock TT or going to a single setup.

dexlex2002

I like the swap option..either way you will spend about the same..and you are already gte.

baadhabit

iTrader: (2)

if you stay under 12psi ~400HP there no need to pull the motor buy/build up the bottom end

Supra4dr

This is true. But most of us say we only want 300-400hp and after having that for a while become power hungry and want more hp so I say you need to think about how much power your going to be satisfied with and then go from there.

2jz31

iTrader: (2)

Turbo kit, wayy better route in imo.