Cheap eBay turbo kits…

[Jimxms]

Is anyone running one of these cheap turbo kits on their trucks?

I need to replace my headers and exhaust as they’re rusted out, and for the cost of those parts I could buy this and just run like 4# boost on a small intercooler.

 

[B-train]

It's not that easy. You'll probably have to find a cobalt ss ECM that has the pin out for a turbo. You need the ability for the ECM to see feedback on boost so it can adjust timing and fuel flow.

Maybe I'm all wrong, but that's what I know/have talked to people who have done them.

 

[Jimxms]

Ah I see, I just assumed that it was like the (slightly newer) camaro’s and corvettes I’ve owned that had ecu’s which could deal with boost.

Maybe there’s a piggy-back ecu solution?

 

[mikez71]

$714!? That is cheap.. I say throw it on and tell us how it does

Maybe a way to program a new MAP sensor?

How does something like a magnussen blower kit deal with it?

 

[strutaeng]

I thought the E38 ECU could run a turbo? Maybe it does it on speed density only?

 

[89Suburban]

Is anyone running one of these cheap turbo kits on their trucks?

I need to replace my headers and exhaust as they’re rusted out, and for the cost of those parts I could buy this and just run like 4# boost on a small intercooler.

View attachment 438968

@randeez has one on his truck

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I would not buy a cheap turbo kit, as there is a lot of solid engineering required to produce and fit a quality turbo kit in an aftermarket situation. Several decades ago, I did purchase a cheap turbo kit for another vehicle, and it was a royal PIA to get tuned and to start in the winter. When it worked, it was really exhilarating, but one year later, I developed a hole in the top of 1 piston that you could drop a penny through.

 

[mikez71]

Similar story, I had some chunked some pistons and pock marked melted looking head chamber in an old MR2 I turbo'd.
I had an additional fuel injector computer controlling a couple extra injectors, but it was not setup right and 14psi on a stock motor..
I was expecting to blow it up and swap a real turbo motor eventually... just happened a little sooner than I wanted..
Still have the car, no motor, no LSD trans for it, but I might put a V6 in if I can find a good LSD trans..

In the end, the tuning will make it run right and the turbo is just a blower and plumbing..

Seems like 4psi should be fairly safe with proper tuning. Less boost than your typical supercharger kit?

 

[randeez]

@randeez has one on his truck

close...mine was 5x the price and still had to put in a decent amount of work, to make it work

good luck

 

[mikez71]

To clarify, I am not saying it would be 'easy' to tune, only that the boost level is well below what aftermarket kits are set at..
(apparently the aftermarket kits are not well tuned?) 4psi is 4psi no matter what blower it's coming out of.. (maybe little more or less heat/lag/etc.)

The HPTuners forum has a nice group people that are active, and seem to solve lots of issues for people.. if you decide to take on that project..
I'm curious enough, I probably will have to search through randeez's posts!