Why do Turbos/Superchargers cost so much?
#1
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Why do Turbos/Superchargers cost so much?
Ive been very impressed by some of the boosted Stooks ive seen and am a bit confused as the the high price of supercharger or turbo kits.
Here is a turbo kit for the stook and what you get:
- Spearco Intercooler 28" x 6.5" x 3"
- Tial 38MM Wastegate
- Vortech Blow Off Valve
- Vortech 12:1 Boost Dependant FMU
- High Volume Fuel Pump
- Billet Map Diffuser (check valve)
- 2.25" Aluminized Mandrel Bent Piping
- 2.5" Downpipe
- Oil Filter Relocater Kit
- Silicone Hoses & Clamps
- Steel Braided -3 Oil Line
- All Necessary Hardware & Fittings
Cost- - $4259.00
And i assume a supercharger kit would come with similar items.
My question is what is it in that package that costs soo much??
Good inter/aftercoolers can be bought or made for less than $200
A turbo (i dont have an experience with SC's) can be had for $800 max
Fuel Pump $100-$200range
FMU/FPR (rising rate) $200 max
Piping can be made for cheap including high wuality manifolds for less than $500
And some injectors
Apart from that, all thats in the kit is hoses and clamps.
And if you want, a blow off valve,although ideally you dont want to lose
measure air.
I know for a turbo you generally want to drill for oil lines depending on if its oil or water cooled or both. And thats really about it.
None of the kits ive seen seem to include an ECU of some sort which is what you would really need if you wanted ot reliably make a lot of power, i think that without an aftermarket ecu, you could only realize minimal gains(safely) by tricking the map sensor to run rich.
Am i missing somthing? Why do these kits cost so much?
Im really asking because i haev anumber of smaller turbos lying around and feel like i might as well use them on the stook, because i dont think that a big turbo would be a smart idea for such a high compression motor.
Here is a turbo kit for the stook and what you get:
- Spearco Intercooler 28" x 6.5" x 3"
- Tial 38MM Wastegate
- Vortech Blow Off Valve
- Vortech 12:1 Boost Dependant FMU
- High Volume Fuel Pump
- Billet Map Diffuser (check valve)
- 2.25" Aluminized Mandrel Bent Piping
- 2.5" Downpipe
- Oil Filter Relocater Kit
- Silicone Hoses & Clamps
- Steel Braided -3 Oil Line
- All Necessary Hardware & Fittings
Cost- - $4259.00
And i assume a supercharger kit would come with similar items.
My question is what is it in that package that costs soo much??
Good inter/aftercoolers can be bought or made for less than $200
A turbo (i dont have an experience with SC's) can be had for $800 max
Fuel Pump $100-$200range
FMU/FPR (rising rate) $200 max
Piping can be made for cheap including high wuality manifolds for less than $500
And some injectors
Apart from that, all thats in the kit is hoses and clamps.
And if you want, a blow off valve,although ideally you dont want to lose
measure air.
I know for a turbo you generally want to drill for oil lines depending on if its oil or water cooled or both. And thats really about it.
None of the kits ive seen seem to include an ECU of some sort which is what you would really need if you wanted ot reliably make a lot of power, i think that without an aftermarket ecu, you could only realize minimal gains(safely) by tricking the map sensor to run rich.
Am i missing somthing? Why do these kits cost so much?
Im really asking because i haev anumber of smaller turbos lying around and feel like i might as well use them on the stook, because i dont think that a big turbo would be a smart idea for such a high compression motor.
#4
Registered User
i see why he asks.
most of the turbo "kits" are just a collection of parts readily available cheaply. most of these "kits" only r&d was making the piping fit.
now, the comptech and vortech units did require a bit of r&d, especially in comptech's fuel management and such.
most of the turbo "kits" are just a collection of parts readily available cheaply. most of these "kits" only r&d was making the piping fit.
now, the comptech and vortech units did require a bit of r&d, especially in comptech's fuel management and such.
#6
a lot of people do actually like to go with just buying all the seperate parts, taking them to a good shop and have them custom build it, including all the welding and fitting, etc. I guess just the fact that it is ready, and perhaps the quality of the pieces may be top priority for that company. It may also just be the name. Like everyone likes to say the s2k is basically a porsche, and WOULD cost 60 grand if it had "Stuttgart" written on it somewhere. If you trust your mechanic, just buy the parts seperately!
#7
It seems as though parts for cars are related to the cost of the car.
The same turbo could should be less for, say, a Civic, while more for an NSX.
A lot of R&D is hokey-pokey anymore as most of the knowledge is transferrable. It's more test fits.
The same turbo could should be less for, say, a Civic, while more for an NSX.
A lot of R&D is hokey-pokey anymore as most of the knowledge is transferrable. It's more test fits.
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#9
Since we are working on a kit right now, I will share alittle of what I know.
1. The mainfold. Someone had to take some time to design and test one (this fall into the R&D). It went through a few changes.
2. The manifold is cast. The foundary takes a large bite of cash up front to make the production molds. This cost will be spread across the kits. Since the number of kits sold will be smaller then say a Civic, the price to you will be higher.
3. There is a number of other fixtures that need to be made. Their cost is also passed along.
There is more, that those are some big ones. There is a few members that have gone the custom route. A few have had limited success where other have spent far more then the car is worth looking for that peak WHP.
1. The mainfold. Someone had to take some time to design and test one (this fall into the R&D). It went through a few changes.
2. The manifold is cast. The foundary takes a large bite of cash up front to make the production molds. This cost will be spread across the kits. Since the number of kits sold will be smaller then say a Civic, the price to you will be higher.
3. There is a number of other fixtures that need to be made. Their cost is also passed along.
There is more, that those are some big ones. There is a few members that have gone the custom route. A few have had limited success where other have spent far more then the car is worth looking for that peak WHP.
#10
Originally Posted by tizbad2k,May 7 2005, 08:54 PM
Here is a turbo kit for the stook and what you get:
- Spearco Intercooler 28" x 6.5" x 3"
- Tial 38MM Wastegate
- Vortech Blow Off Valve
- Vortech 12:1 Boost Dependant FMU
- High Volume Fuel Pump
- Billet Map Diffuser (check valve)
- 2.25" Aluminized Mandrel Bent Piping
- 2.5" Downpipe
- Oil Filter Relocater Kit
- Silicone Hoses & Clamps
- Steel Braided -3 Oil Line
- All Necessary Hardware & Fittings
Cost- - $4259.00
My question is what is it in that package that costs soo much??
...
A turbo (i dont have an experience with SC's) can be had for $800 max
...
Am i missing somthing? Why do these kits cost so much?
- Spearco Intercooler 28" x 6.5" x 3"
- Tial 38MM Wastegate
- Vortech Blow Off Valve
- Vortech 12:1 Boost Dependant FMU
- High Volume Fuel Pump
- Billet Map Diffuser (check valve)
- 2.25" Aluminized Mandrel Bent Piping
- 2.5" Downpipe
- Oil Filter Relocater Kit
- Silicone Hoses & Clamps
- Steel Braided -3 Oil Line
- All Necessary Hardware & Fittings
Cost- - $4259.00
My question is what is it in that package that costs soo much??
...
A turbo (i dont have an experience with SC's) can be had for $800 max
...
Am i missing somthing? Why do these kits cost so much?
Secondly, there are turbos out there that cost a bit more than $800. If u can find a GT35R that costs less than $1200, let us know.
Third, there are kits out there that offer ECU and injectors included. I think Lovefab is one example.
Finally, the reason kits cost so much is b/c someone else took the time to put the kit together and make sure it works reasonably well for this application. They (rightfully) expect to be compensated for their time. They also expect to make a profit on the parts they pieced together and purchased from the manufacturers. All this adds up.
If u want to save yourself a bundle, piece together the kit yourself, and learn to tune the AEM EMS. That's worth about $3K right there.
P.S. Check the link in my sig. I have a partial kit for sale to get u started.