What do I need to do differently from the elim stuff? I assume I would need some sort of adapter flange(s) plus changes to the piping. Obviously other changes that are necessary will be shared with the elim like fueling upgrades, FMIC, etc.

I think the Elim. is a half-assed power-robbing option. Screw that. I am not taking a good turbo and stuffing it into the housing of a bad turbo. No thanks! Besides, the elim itself costs a lot more than a regular GT28RS. Will I spend that back in other costs getting it to fit? Maybe, but at least it will be easier to rebuild/replace/reuse (e.g. I can sell the car with the stock K03 and then easily reuse the GT28RS elsewhere without having to deal with it being in a different housing).

Now obviously cheap is not $500, but what can I do to make it as reasonable as possible and still be a good and reliable setup?

 

an elim kit is not more expensive then a regular kit. sure the turbo itself is more expensive, but you have to buy a different manifold for the regular setup. if anything, its about the same.

a few people who have a 71r elim kits on here have produced some nice power as well, better then some of the regular kits. the problem with an elim kit is the flow is restricted more then the regular kit and you can't get any bigger on the stock mani.

 

You most certainly don't need a new manifold. Adapters can certainly be created for cheaper than the $400+ a manifold would run. Of course, the stock flow is a limiting factor as you say, but it should still be better to have this setup than an elim setup, assuming proper tuning for both. Heck, the GTRS tuning should work fine, anyway, though I would try and find someone reputable who'd either custom tune it for the same price (or not much more than) a mail order tune, or one of the mail order tune companies that would tweak things a bit if possible.

That said, I don't have a mill or a lathe, nor anything to cast iron with, but I'm sure I could find someone to make me an adapter, maybe even going to my old high school (a technical school) and trying to get the machine shop there to help me out. There's always a way.

 

you want to run a gt28rs on the stock manifold with adapters on it?... lol why would u do that?

 

I'm not sure "want to" is the correct phrase, but it can certainly be done. On a limited budget, a turbo upgrade without a manifold upgrade would be much more useful than the other way around.

That said, I will consider a manifold upgrade. I need more info though!

 

they should be done at the same time, and every one else who has upgraded there turbo will tell you to do it right the first time. if you get a gt28rs you want to replace the mani while your their and the flow will be so much better. good luck with a custom tune as well, 630 cc file from uni is the best i hear (or eurodyne tunes) and your car will be running perfectly fine. save your $$$ and do it right the first time!

as far as turbo info, this is all u need to read
https://www.audiforums.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=93439&

 

Okay, can you guys help choose some parts? I already read that, but I'm trying to piece together some specifics.

For example, the FMIC. I could go with the $900 Racetec option, but do I need that much intercooler? It's expensive. Dare I say a ripoff, if not worse.

How about the manifold? SPA? Top mount?

Any recommendations for inline fuel pumps that don't suck (I will NOT use a Walbro)?



And then of course, there's the stage 4 clutch... ugh. 6 puck Clutch Masters FX400 is what I was thinking. Though maybe keeping a dual mass flywheel is a better idea (though I guess I could if I get the clutch w/o the sprung hub, though my flywheel at 131k might need to be replaced outright...)

 

Oh, and what about the coolant connections for the GT28RS? How would you guys go about setting that up?

 

mike sells the racetec fmic for $790.
http://www.ringer-racing.com/category.sc?categoryId=23

ebay cores are cheap and with that turbo u want quality. southbend is a cheaper way to go then clutch masters and will be able to handle the turbo just fine. the link i gave u also gives you more suggestions that u might want to re-read.

i resurfaced my stock flywheel at 125k when i got my southbend clutch, yours might be ok as well.

 

Ah, I knew I read to use the top mount one somewhere.