Need help piecing together a BT setup

[travis_gli]

I've been wanting to go BT for over a year now and I'm finally coming around to having the funding to do it. However, the funding is not shall we say "great". My paychecks and credit card allow for a little wiggle room but not everything can be done at one shot. This is why I'm trying to open up myself to options. I need opinions on what I should do.

As of right now my factory k03-052 has a cracked exhaust housing however is still operational. My kinetic high flow exhaust manifold has a cracked turbo flange however also is still operational. My exhaust was self fabricated with a buddy maybe 2-3 years ago and it's seen its better days. All things of which should be replaced in the near future.

With all that in mind I'd like to start replacing everything with BT parts. Considering the car is a daily and keeping my budget in mind I'm looking for a setup that can perform well without over doing it as well as something I can tune down until I can afford internals such as rods and clutch. I'm open to all opinions and suggestions. I don't want to hear anything about BT on stock internals is a bad idea blah blah. The limits of the stock internals are good for around 300ft/lbs and I'm well aware of that. I would never try to push more on stock internals but I want a setup that is capable of exceeding those limits (something that is so to say "future proof".)

Thanks for reading, all help is appreciated to every extent.

[xpxhxoxexnxixxx]

I cant tell you which kit/turbo to go with because its merely opinion on here, but...

IMO- start buying everything- be it a full kit, fuel pump, lines, fittings, etc AND buy the rods/rings, HG, etc BEFORE you put it all on. Its not a question of running a bt kit on stock internals. Its the premise of having to do things 2 times instead of once the right way. A few points on this:

- Taking the time to buy all of the parts and lay them out before you install will give you good perspective of how the kit will install, and anything else you might be missing. The last thing you want to do is put things in, then say wow i just found out they make a manual belt tensioner, and want to tear down stuff to put that in as well.
- Taking the time to buy all of the parts will also give you extra time to find out who else has done a setup similar to how you want it, and contact them and suppliers as well.

There is really no use of slapping BT parts on a car that will just be torn down again and built up. Yeah you can run it conservatively, but then whats the fun/point in that? If you wanted to keep the stock internals and just run a 28rs or k04 hybrid, id say go for it. But take it from a guy who built up and tore down his motor 3 times before i had all of the parts in there. Hope that helps and good luck

[travis_gli]

I cant tell you which kit/turbo to go with because its merely opinion on here, but...

IMO- start buying everything- be it a full kit, fuel pump, lines, fittings, etc AND buy the rods/rings, HG, etc BEFORE you put it all on. Its not a question of running a bt kit on stock internals. Its the premise of having to do things 2 times instead of once the right way. A few points on this:

- Taking the time to buy all of the parts and lay them out before you install will give you good perspective of how the kit will install, and anything else you might be missing. The last thing you want to do is put things in, then say wow i just found out they make a manual belt tensioner, and want to tear down stuff to put that in as well.
- Taking the time to buy all of the parts will also give you extra time to find out who else has done a setup similar to how you want it, and contact them and suppliers as well.

There is really no use of slapping BT parts on a car that will just be torn down again and built up. Yeah you can run it conservatively, but then whats the fun/point in that? If you wanted to keep the stock internals and just run a 28rs or k04 hybrid, id say go for it. But take it from a guy who built up and tore down his motor 3 times before i had all of the parts in there. Hope that helps and good luck

My mindset to run a conservative setup and later down the road install rods is the simplicity of being able to afford the garage bill. I don't have the time and resources to do this sort of thing myself, mostly due to my career. I will be having somebody install everything for me. I've done all work regarding my car in the past however I no longer have the time or effort to do so. If they do internals and a BT setup all at once I can imagine that costing a bit more than what I can foot out at the moment. I guess it all depends if both steps require pulling the motor (or if the mechanic prefers to pull the motor.) Pulling the motor twice obviously wouldn't make much sense. Pulling the motor once to install everything in one shot would make much more sense.

I appreciate the advice. I do plan on piecing this together and having everything in hand before installation so I can lay everything out. It's not a matter of purchasing the parts themselves. I can manage to do that over time to keep my budget in line. A kit is most definitely not in my budget. Again it all comes down to how much it's going to cost me in labor when it comes to installation time. I'm not trying to botch a BT install. I want it done right but it has to make financial sense for myself to do so. In the end it will be done right, the way that I have it planned out would just take longer to do so while allowing me to not foot out a large sum of cash at one point in time. I'm not that guy that doesn't care about his credit score and blows $5k in between 2 credit cards while maxing them out.

[a4e3y5]

Pag Parts 50 trim kit. As a daily driver I made 332whp/308tq for almost two years. With the same kit I just made 398whp/341tq. Two years later, kit has not giving me any problem at all. Any specifics feel free to pm or ask. You won't regret this kit!

[Zneith]

I was in your shoes about 1.5 years ago. I just had a baby and was tight on income. My best advice is do it right the first time. I tried doing this the "budget" way and I will never do that again.

Get quality parts, do not try and cut any corners, and have any current problems fixed before adding parts to the equation.

As far as a setup goes, Id look into getting a 50 trim. You can run this turbo without a built bottom end for the time being, just run 15-22psi, depending on what AR you run. Its an older design, but you can sustain 300-350 from it with rods.

Lastly, plan to spend twice as much as you THINK you will need. I set my budget and am yet still going over it. Get advice from existing BT users and choose your path. BT is much more fun anyways

[travis_gli]

Pag Parts 50 trim kit. As a daily driver I made 332whp/308tq for almost two years. With the same kit I just made 398whp/341tq. Two years later, kit has not giving me any problem at all. Any specifics feel free to pm or ask. You won't regret this kit!

So it sounds like you just installed rods?

I was in your shoes about 1.5 years ago. I just had a baby and was tight on income. My best advice is do it right the first time. I tried doing this the "budget" way and I will never do that again.

Get quality parts, do not try and cut any corners, and have any current problems fixed before adding parts to the equation.

As far as a setup goes, Id look into getting a 50 trim. You can run this turbo without a built bottom end for the time being, just run 15-22psi, depending on what AR you run. Its an older design, but you can sustain 300-350 from it with rods.

Lastly, plan to spend twice as much as you THINK you will need. I set my budget and am yet still going over it. Get advice from existing BT users and choose your path. BT is much more fun anyways

Thank you

I'm looking into the pag 50 trim kit. Great price but it's still going to be difficult for me to throw those kind of funds on the table all at once. :-/ Again acquiring those parts over time (not installing them just gathering them) would be much more reasonable for me.

EDIT: Would it make more sense for me to find a used kit?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ight=turbo+kit

Something like that is much more budget-able.

[liveschnell]

not exactly on topic but talk to brian at rivalconceptz... he does great work and will give you a fair price

less than 2 hours from you, he's currently building an r32 swap golf that will win just about every car show the scene has to offer

[a4e3y5]

Yeap...i just dropped rods. Ran it for almost 2 yrs withoit problems. Recently added rods and cranked the boost controller. If I were you, i would hold until i can get the whole kit and mount it....then u can get the minor things and lastly the rods. But minimum the kit. I would be depressed having the turbo at home n not being able to mount it he he. Take your time n do it rite the first time...also u would save some cash on shippin costs

[groggory]

Put the money in a jar. When you have $5k post on here..

"I have $5000, help me spend it"

and we'll lead you down the right path. :-)

[Big_Tom]

Pag Parts 50 trim kit. As a daily driver I made 332whp/308tq for almost two years. With the same kit I just made 398whp/341tq. Two years later, kit has not giving me any problem at all. Any specifics feel free to pm or ask. You won't regret this kit!

50 trim ftw

I was in your shoes about 1.5 years ago. I just had a baby and was tight on income. My best advice is do it right the first time. I tried doing this the "budget" way and I will never do that again.

Get quality parts, do not try and cut any corners, and have any current problems fixed before adding parts to the equation.

As far as a setup goes, Id look into getting a 50 trim. You can run this turbo without a built bottom end for the time being, just run 15-22psi, depending on what AR you run. Its an older design, but you can sustain 300-350 from it with rods.

Lastly, plan to spend twice as much as you THINK you will need. I set my budget and am yet still going over it. Get advice from existing BT users and choose your path. BT is much more fun anyways

yup

Yeap...i just dropped rods. Ran it for almost 2 yrs withoit problems. Recently added rods and cranked the boost controller. If I were you, i would hold until i can get the whole kit and mount it....then u can get the minor things and lastly the rods. But minimum the kit. I would be depressed having the turbo at home n not being able to mount it he he. Take your time n do it rite the first time...also u would save some cash on shippin costs

i've been stock blockin it with the 50 trim for a lil over 2 years

[MKIII_96]

Lastly, plan to spend twice as much as you THINK you will need. I set my budget and am yet still going over it. :

x54651328 lol i pulled my motor to fix a broken wastegate flange and get a bearing replaced in my tranny. ended up selling my manifold, fmic, bov, etc... and buying bigger/better parts lol. 7 grand in the hole now. oh man

anything from pagparts, cts, ffe are all great kits. and when you buy a turbo buy ball bearinggggg

[travis_gli]

Again, what are everybodies opinions on used kits? If I want to save money and the kit is complete I'm not seeing much of a difference. The turbo can always be rebuilt. All of the other parts are static so as long as the manifold isn't cracked etc etc it should be a great way to save a bit cash.

[screwball]

Both the turbo kits I ran were with used parts aside from the turbo and some odds and ends. Actually almost every go fast mod on my car was bought off someone parting their car or cars. The only thing new in my current PAG kit was his manifold and the fabbed stuff Arnold added to a used downpipe to reroute it.

[screwball]

If you buy used PAG stuff you can talk to Arnold about sending it in to him to make sure it's all dialed in and fits on whatever turbo you chose. That's something he did for me and I'm sure he'd continue doing for other clients.

[groggory]

If you buy used PAG stuff you can talk to Arnold about sending it in to him to make sure it's all dialed in and fits on whatever turbo you chose. That's something he did for me and I'm sure he'd continue doing for other clients.

This is an awesome option.

Sometimes used stuff has problems you never would have guessed.

You could do this yourself if you had Arnold's experience...but not many of us do. lol

[gdoggmoney]

This is an awesome option.

Sometimes used stuff has problems you never would have guessed.

You could do this yourself if you had Arnold's experience...but not many of us do. lol

Go PAG. The topmount stuff to me seems like an easy way to bake your ECU to death and I don't know but my bottom mount setup has a fairly cool engine bay. The biggest deal is to insulate the intake pipe that runs across/over the manifold and near the wastegate. I covered mine in DEI cool tape, and after a hard run in 50-60 degree weather I can open the hood and rest my hand on it. The gate and manifold are radiating so much heat it hurts, but that pipe is cold.

Every package has it's plusses/minuses, however I can drop my 3076r in about 15 minutes and coolant lines etc. are easy to do and get to.

The downpipe is compact, and easy to wrap so your shift cables are cool. It's a really good balance.

Instead of piecing together, pile your money up!!! Don't let yourself spend it, self control.

[Big_Tom]

i bought my cts kit used lightly used quality parts > than ebay turbo's etc. It had around 5k on it when i bought it they said. I've put an additional 43-44k on it myself in the last 2 years.

*edit also i never had my turbo rebuilt. it was in great shape when i got it, so i just installed it as is

[screwball]

Bottom mount IC plumbing seems to be very compact also. I bought Yareka's old stuff and actually omitted some of the plumbing to fit right up to my RMR/PTE 600 setup.

With some Long 90*s this fit great on my car. I threw a tial flange on the hotside run and it fit right up.

[Zneith]

x54651328 lol i pulled my motor to fix a broken wastegate flange and get a bearing replaced in my tranny. ended up selling my manifold, fmic, bov, etc... and buying bigger/better parts lol. 7 grand in the hole now. oh man

anything from pagparts, cts, ffe are all great kits. and when you buy a turbo buy ball bearinggggg

Boy do I know that feeling

But hey, its at the shop now for a complete rebuild with a built bottom end, new head, exhaust valves, and a gt3071r. Should be fun when it comes back.

Really dreading the break in period, but I've spent way too much to have problems lol.

[Big_Tom]

Boy do I know that feeling

But hey, its at the shop now for a complete rebuild with a built bottom end, new head, exhaust valves, and a gt3071r. Should be fun when it comes back.

Really dreading the break in period, but I've spent way too much to have problems lol.

i see you working lol

[burkechrs1]

My biggest advice I can give you is don't use your credit card on a bt kit unless you know its not gonna build interest. If money is hard to come by that's the last thing you want to do. Piece your kit together best you can and if in the end you find yourself missing a couple little things here and there go for it.

I pieced my kit together last month.

CTS turbo hooked me up with manifold and downpipe
Pagparts hooked me up with the turbo, lines and wastegate
034 had me with the gaskets and most of the hardware
And now I'm just waiting on fueling and tuning from eurodyne

Keep in mind it gets very expensive very fast. I set a budget and I'm already a grand over and haven't bought maestro yet.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

[Big_Tom]

My biggest advice I can give you is don't use your credit card on a bt kit unless you know its not gonna build interest. If money is hard to come by that's the last thing you want to do.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

this x100. don't use credit cards for anything if you dont have to my rule of thumb for car $hit is if i can't afford to buy it cash i don't need it.

[gdoggmoney]

this x100. don't use credit cards for anything if you dont have to my rule of thumb for car $hit is if i can't afford to buy it cash i don't need it.

This is how I have operated since I was 18. I spent 3 grand I did not have building a scirocco 16v, coilovers, bushings, and minor motor stuff like cams etc. I then lost my job and was unemployed for like a year.


Way to go, I'm smart. Now? I'll drive a bucket or let it sit until I have savings and a cushion. I'm also old with two kids and a stay at home wife.

[Zneith]

this x100. don't use credit cards for anything if you dont have to my rule of thumb for car $hit is if i can't afford to buy it cash i don't need it.

This,

hence why my car is getting fixed now instead of a few months ago.

[Big_Tom]

This,

hence why my car is getting fixed now instead of a few months ago.

it will be a sick setup now

[Vegeta Gti]

buy the rods now, put them in. then start saving. then look for a pagparts 3071 kit.

that would be the intelligent thing to do. it's gettign really fukn old seeing people go hey, just do rods last, and the frequency of the "**** i should've done rods" or " i'm selling my BT car cos of rod knock/blown" threads is getting annoying.

do it right and spend less money. get the rods first, then go down the list. starting with clutch/pp, once again, making it easier as it can be installed prior to build.

rods
clutch/pp
manifold
turbo
oil lines
coolant lines
downpipe
wastegate(and dump tube)
BOV
front mount(or whatever)
piping
injectors
fuel pump
all odd's and ends(oil,filter,coolant,seals and gaskets)

then lastly, software.

this way you can do it in a way of stages. and once you have more $$ you can get a diff. but do us a favor, unless you have more money to have arnold@pagparts tune your car..dont go maestro, cos if your broke and time limited, then it isnt for you to learn and deal with. go unitronic or united motorsport. no others.

[travis_gli]

buy the rods now, put them in. then start saving. then look for a pagparts 3071 kit.

that would be the intelligent thing to do. it's gettign really fukn old seeing people go hey, just do rods last, and the frequency of the "**** i should've done rods" or " i'm selling my BT car cos of rod knock/blown" threads is getting annoying.

do it right and spend less money. get the rods first, then go down the list. starting with clutch/pp, once again, making it easier as it can be installed prior to build.

rods
clutch/pp
manifold
turbo
oil lines
coolant lines
downpipe
wastegate(and dump tube)
BOV
front mount(or whatever)
piping
injectors
fuel pump
all odd's and ends(oil,filter,coolant,seals and gaskets)

then lastly, software.

this way you can do it in a way of stages. and once you have more $$ you can get a diff. but do us a favor, unless you have more money to have arnold@pagparts tune your car..dont go maestro, cos if your broke and time limited, then it isnt for you to learn and deal with. go unitronic or united motorsport. no others.

This is the way I was previously planning but again I'm not sure how long the k03s and manifold are going to hold up. How much to have rods installed as a guestimate in labor.

[Vegeta Gti]

they will last fine if you relax and let it go. the k03s rarely jsut comes apart and obliterates things. if you can keep it smooth and not beat it it will last.


not sure on labor, as i do it all myself and my prices for installing rods is too low. so i couldnt tell you, but the k03 and manifold can be pulled of a junkyard car for less than a 100. and you'll get practice.

trust me young pedi-won

[Fast929]

Do it right, do it once......

[Vegeta Gti]

in fact, look up kohl's german


seb, the owner, pulls parts, he is an old friend. tell him someone random dude from homegrown sent you in his direction...here is his # 717-866-5562. he will hook you up.

[travis_gli]

they will last fine if you relax and let it go. the k03s rarely jsut comes apart and obliterates things. if you can keep it smooth and not beat it it will last.


not sure on labor, as i do it all myself and my prices for installing rods is too low. so i couldnt tell you, but the k03 and manifold can be pulled of a junkyard car for less than a 100. and you'll get practice.

trust me young pedi-won

I just rebuilt the k03 so it should be good to go for a bit. Just worried about the cracked exhaust housing and sick of the leaky cracked turbo flange on the manifold. How many hours do you think you can change out rods in? Do you pull the motor?

[Vegeta Gti]

pull head,pull pan, motor in car. 6-7 hours to do it all in car start to finish...if i am feeling frisky. i have no need to rush, but i rarely get to do that anymore. in the last four years i've only done two blocks, not my own might i add.

it's quite simple. gather the tools and do it yourself, there is a good write up in here somewhere.

give seb a call for a manifold man!!

[travis_gli]

Just got a great deal for an FX400 clutch with flywheel. Looks like the venture begins.

[gdoggmoney]

buy the rods now, put them in. then start saving. then look for a pagparts 3071 kit.

that would be the intelligent thing to do. it's gettign really fukn old seeing people go hey, just do rods last, and the frequency of the "**** i should've done rods" or " i'm selling my BT car cos of rod knock/blown" threads is getting annoying.

do it right and spend less money. get the rods first, then go down the list. starting with clutch/pp, once again, making it easier as it can be installed prior to build.

rods
clutch/pp
manifold
turbo
oil lines
coolant lines
downpipe
wastegate(and dump tube)
BOV
front mount(or whatever)
piping
injectors
fuel pump
all odd's and ends(oil,filter,coolant,seals and gaskets)

then lastly, software.

this way you can do it in a way of stages. and once you have more $$ you can get a diff. but do us a favor, unless you have more money to have arnold@pagparts tune your car..dont go maestro, cos if your broke and time limited, then it isnt for you to learn and deal with. go unitronic or united motorsport. no others.

This. By the time you figure out ME7 and go through it, you could have installed standalone and tuned the car yourself with a cable throttle. Either let someone else handle it and get it close enough, or have Arnold tune it.

[travis_gli]

This. By the time you figure out ME7 and go through it, you could have installed standalone and tuned the car yourself with a cable throttle. Either let someone else handle it and get it close enough, or have Arnold tune it.

Unitronic is most definitely what would be going in my car at the final stages.