Any interest in an IHI VF34 group buy

[jcb]

As above really, I have a mate in the US sorting some parts out for me and he has got a good discount on these.
Should work out around £500 all in (shipped)

PM me if interested

 

[Booth_S4]

just for the turbo or for the full kit ?

 

[LaSarthe&Back]

Yeah could be interested... obviously need some more info.

When would you be looking to have this done by? Not rushing cos could do with some time to save up some cash!!

 

[dgannon69]

PM'd you but no response...

Dave

 

[Booth_S4]

???

 

[Stewart]

Full kit for £500? Dream on lol

 

[Booth_S4]

id be buying a few on putting them on the bay

 

[jcb]

No its not a full kit, it is the turbo. come on....
Turbo is still £650-750 retail in the UK, you will pay a hell of a lot more if you get Jabba to stick it in as part of a kit.
I have an A4 so fitment is different and I am not doing an off the shelf kit.
I don't have 10 people as yet, about 5 interested since this week, planning on ordering by the beginning of Feb.
I will be getting 10 of them minimum whether I have the full list of buyers or not, and yes the extra ones will be going on eBay, one went for £590+shipping just last Sunday
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=230075448135&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=013

PM'd you back about applications, sorry been away
For anyone not already aware what this is:
its a 350-380bhp capable turbo in the 1.8t application, few manifold options, also from the US or custom tubular in the UK.
Lots of VAG cars running these.
Water cooled, roller bearing, internal wastegate.
ideally suited to high flow 1.8t or 2l engine
440cc or higher injectors recommended

common application now at a very good price.
This is helped by the current exchange rate so it won't last forever.

PM me for details

 

[ChriS3]

Don't want to sound like a naysayer on this, but a quick warning to those interested who are not mechanical minded or are in the dark with big turbos. The savings on this may be negated by fact that you will also need to source the individual components (manifold, injectors, fuel pump, etc), then pay for installation, mapping, and so. Also if you're looking for up to 380bhp you really want to be thinking long and hard about the valves and conrods. Do you sums carefully and make sure you do it cheapest best way you can. A turbo from someone like Jabba, or JBS, or Awesome, or Star can be an expensive initial outlay, but there can be savings in the long run and it can ensure you get a better compliment of components.

Getting this wrong can turn your car into junk. Make sure you know what you're doing before bolting one on.

 

[mattyboy199]

Good advise chris every forum should have someone like you ;-).

 

[jcb]

Sound advice Chris.
I totally agree, if you are not prepared to do the research into a conversion like this then it will bite you.
That said, the off the shelf conversions you describe are exactly that. There is nothing custom in it. Not everyone has £4k at one time to throw at a conversion, or the time to have their daily driver off the road for a week/2 weeks.

I spent 18 months looking for teh exact car I wanted and have spent the last 12 months researching suppliers of intercoolers, turbos, fuel pumps, injectors and remapping specialists for a project.

I set my mind on an IHI conversion on a longitudinal 1.8t chassis. Not a commercially available option. the manifold is the limiting factor as no-one makes one (AFAIK!).
I can source a turbo for £500, have had a Forge FMIC and Recirc valve fitted free for use of my car by Forge to develop their product line for the B5, turbo manifold/dp will cost around £300, injectors £150 tops, fuel pump £100 (US), FPR £50, larger MAF £50, remap £500 (MRC), bought a Milltek 2.75" turbo back system for £110 on eBay. Say another £100 for bolts, bits and a filter.

All in £1860. That is a £2000+ saving over a Jabba build and the remap is custom to my application. That is £2k I can spend on KW V3's and Brakes!
I have the advantage of a lot of bits that would not have come with the off the shelf kit, my car has not been off the road for a long period.
More importantly I have something different, something I created and is unique.
Isn't that one of the reasons people mod cars afterall.


So if you fancy doing something different and saving some money let me know

 

[ChriS3]

Sound advice Chris.
I set my mind on an IHI conversion on a longitudinal 1.8t chassis. Not a commercially available option. the manifold is the limiting factor as no-one makes one (AFAIK!).
I can source a turbo for £500, have had a Forge FMIC and Recirc valve fitted free for use of my car by Forge to develop their product line for the B5, turbo manifold/dp will cost around £300, injectors £150 tops, fuel pump £100 (US), FPR £50, larger MAF £50, remap £500 (MRC), bought a Milltek 2.75" turbo back system for £110 on eBay. Say another £100 for bolts, bits and a filter.

Agreed that it can be done cheaper, but you've not included and labour for your install so I assume you're basing this on doing it all yourself. My point is that for those that can't do it themselves, they shouldn't expect a BT for under £2k. Due to the turbo location, the labour is more intesive and difficult on the transverse - easiest way to fit the thing is to drop the engine out the car. An RS4 maf is more than double the price you've quoted - not an exchange item. A downpipe alone can be upto a grand (£995 from awesome, £275 from Jabba), and about £500 for a good quality cast transverse manifold (£550 from Jabba). Injectors with the correct spray pattern are also more than double the price you've quoted - cheaper ones with the incorrect pattern will cause running problems. Oil lines, gaskets, bolts and bits can also add up.

You got lucky with your turbo back exhaust from ebay, but a BT install will also need decent cats to stop the standard ones from melting and forming a blockage in the system - £800 from Miltek.

Not forgetting also, a VF34 will give you power beyond the limits of the engines internals. The clutch, rods and valves won't last when that thing is up and running. That could be another £2.5k on your bill.

So yes, it can be done cheaply and I wish all the best with it. I just feel it's unlikely that many will reap the benefits from doing it this way and it's important for those thinking about this to understand what they're getting into.

I had mine fitted and mapped for £3800. Bargain price considering.

 

[Tallpaul]

Clutch? Diff? Internals?

Here's a pretty picture of what happens when valves give up:

this thread is full of such interior redecorating:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2938002&page=1

uprated valves about £375 plus labour.

Also, how are you gonna ship 10 turbo's from the US without getting stung on import duty? £500 seems cheap to me, even for the blower alone...

Some guys on SCN imported Hybrid K04's from the US and they ended up costing nearly £800 iirc...

 

[jcb]

god, why is everyone so negative?
Sure there are things that can go wrong, then again you might just lose it on a corner and end up in a field.

answer to your shipping questions is friendly agent in the US, "gifts" don't attract tax. and i am very generous

 

[Tallpaul]

god, why is everyone so negative?
Sure there are things that can go wrong, then again you might just lose it on a corner and end up in a field.

answer to your shipping questions is friendly agent in the US, "gifts" don't attract tax. and i am very generous

i think your confusing negativity with the reality of a big turbo conversion. i'm in favour of spending as little as possible but not cutting corners, hence why you've seen posts trying to highlight the full rammifications of what otherwise may seem a very 'cheap' turbo purchase.

And just to be a little more negative, even british customs may struggle to believe a pallet of ten heavy turbos is a 'gift', then again maybe not...