Junkyard Turbo - List and Rebuild Guide

Looking to go turbo on the cheap? Fortunately for all of us, junkyards exist and people crash their turbocharged cars. More often than not with a little bit of searching you can find a good quality turbo that is either good to go as is, or with a little bit of work. As long as there's no damage to the turbines themselves you can rebuild a turbo in your spare time at home for pretty cheap. First off, look here to find a list of factory turbos and the vehicle they came in. You can do some research on each of these and see what will work best for you. Most of them come in a 4/6 cylinder vehicle so if you're looking for twin turbo find yourself a matching set and you're good to go!

Some junkyards will have them pulled and sitting on a shelf, but usually this costs a bit more. Your most economical route is to find which car has the turbo you want and go take it out yourself. With a little bit of google searching you can easily find some instructions on how to take it off to make sure you bring everything you need and go to town!

Now that you've found the turbo you need, you're going to check it over and most likely rebuild it. It's worth the money and effort so you don't have to take it apart later. Again, be sure that there's no damage to the turbines on either side before you proceed.

As much as I'd love to write out the entire guide, Cliff over at the SR20 forums already did a fantastic job Here.

Make sure you're using quality parts...seriously, you aren't going to save that much to make it worth your time. If you want to be really fancy you can even polish the compressor housing while you have it apart.

Again, someone at the Cummins forums did all the work for us and his looks fantastic Here.

Now that you've got your beautiful new-to-you turbo, it's time to blow up your motor!! Just kidding, good luck out there! Save some money!

Styles Around the World - The UK

Just like in the US, they appreciate a beautiful Supra.

All too often we forget that we aren't alone in this great big world, and we certainly aren't the only ones who just plain love our cars. Today I've compiled some pictures from Santa Pod Raceway where not only do they hold some pretty awesome races but it's a great place to see some pretty badass cars.

A Camaro, next to a Camaro, next to a...nevermind.

While for some of us the show will contain some very familiar sites(See above) it also has some cars some of us(myself included) won't even recognize as well as some different styling cues that we can all learn to love.

Vauxhall something or other

They too, appreciate a beautifully clean engine bay full of shiny new parts including an all too familiar HKS turbo. Another very familiar and much loved trait is excess....

Who doesn't love a FMIC bigger than your front end?

It also appears that just like most of us, they were deeply effected by Tokyo Drift ;)

And they put on a great show for their Paul Walker tribute! Proceeds of which were donated to reach out worldwide!

Overall what I've come to love and appreciate is that no matter the distance between us all, we care just as much about our cars and learn to love them for their originality. We all aim for the same goal to create a vehicle we can make our own and love not only for how it looks and performs, but for the knowledge we gain while working on it and the great memories we build. I highly encourage all of you to take note of the cars around you when you're out in your travels and if you get a chance, find a car show! You never know where inspiration will come from and it could just make a difference for all of us.

Bryton's EJ20 RS

Year/Make/Model : 1999 Subaru Impreza RS
Engine : Swapped EJ205 from an 02 WRX
Turbo : Stock WRX Turbo(VF39 on shelf)
Tuning : Performance Phatbotti Tuned
Fuel : Walbro 255 fuel pump(1000cc injectors on shelf)
Transmission : ACT HD clutch kit, Streetlight Flywheel, SPT 5 speed short throw shifter
Suspension : Kartboy lock kit, 22mm front/rear Whiteline sway bar, Eibach pro kit, Front/Rear strut bars
Brakes : Stoptech braided lines, Super Blue racing fluid
Exterior : JDM V6 grill/clear tails, V6 lip, JDM Replica fog light covers, V6 wing
Interior : AEM Digital boost gauge/wideband, Nrg Carbon Ball shift knob
Estimated WHP/WTQ : 230WHP/220WTQ

Full Mod List/Thread

We all know what it's like to open a 50 page build thread and cringe at all the stupid crap that's in it, skip the first 45 pages and then see the end result...that's not the case with Bryton. After reading the first few pages, I was hooked. This kid has put some serious man hours into this car and it shows. He started off with a basic 99 Impreza RS and built a beautiful WRX swap with some extremely high quality craftsmanship.

When purchased

Over the years Bryton has made"slow but steady" progress on the car, including his biggest milestone of attaining a WRX block, collecting up all the parts and pieces and swapping it in to the car. In the meantime while he was waiting to do so he took the time to meticulously sand down and repair every blemish in the car and repainting with a beautiful Java Black Pearl. Then the swap came...

With a cleaned up and rebuilt ej20 out of an 02 WRX pieced together with some aftermarket goodies, a stock TD04 and an STI TMIC it's a work of art. Bryton has an eye for the details that not everyone has in their builds(plasti-dipped washer fluid tank anyone?) and it really pulls everything together. Between the springs, strut bars and sway bars he installed the handling on this car is amazing.

I'll spare you the painful details(which you can find in the build thread), but I assure you after reading pages upon pages, this wasn't an easy task. More impressive is that the majority of the work was done by Bryton himself and that's something we can all respect! As it sits this is a beautiful car the undoubtedly comes with some great performance as well. My favorite part? It looks relatively stock...

This is another build we should all keep an eye on as just like most, it's never quite going to be finished, and from talking to Bryton briefly I've got a hunch we have some pretty cool stuff coming up this summer!

Big turbo's are always exciting! Thanks for sharing you car with us all Bryton, and everyone please take some time and read through his build thread so you can really appreciate the work he's done and the time he's put in.

Custom Fender Brace

Dat Ass

 

Stay tuned for an update this summer....

The Turbo Wagon

Year/Make/Model : 2003 Mazda Protege5
Engine : 2.0 FSDE, stock internals SR Motorsports cams, 626 single runner intake, phenolic intake spacer
Transmission : 5 speed manual trans, 7.5lb Fidanza flywheel, TWM Ball bearing/short throw shifter, TWM weighted shift knob
Turbo : T3/T4 Hybrid, Perrin FMIC, custom intake/exhaust piping 35MM OBX external wastegate, OBX Turbo manifold, Hallman manual boost controller
Suspension : Random brand lowering springs/struts
Brakes : Stock
Wheels/Tires : 16" Enkei J10's/BFGoodrich Super Sport tires

As an automotive enthusiast I've always strived to differentiate myself from the norm and do things my own way. During my adventures I've learned a lot of wrong ways to build a turbo car, a lot of places not to buy parts, and how easy I can brake things(HKS SSQV Anyone?). I have to say though, this build has been the most fun I've ever had with a car and has given me some of the best drives through the country, and certainly some of the best kill stories I've had. This is a project that no matter how much I talk about it I don't think I can ever bring myself to sell it or give up on it.

As it say when I bought it.

When I purchased the car there was a lot of groundwork already done for me, enough for me to take off running. During the last 5 years I've replaced most of the work that was already done besides some essential pieces. When I bought the car it had a GT25R turbo off the Mazdaspeed Protege but after a few years I decided that wasn't enough. In the meantime before getting into the heavy modifications, I had a lot of first experiences. My first car show...

At "Car Tunes on Main" with Jordan's Sentra

My first photoshoot...

And my first drag racing ticket...sorry, no pictures of that one ladies and gents.

Overall this car has expanded on my love of the hobby. It has shown me the true joy of the hard work and satisfaction from working on your own car and making something your own. This car has given me the inspiration and love for cars everywhere and the work everyone puts into them, and inspired me to show everyone the appreciation they deserve on this blog. We all spend countless hours researching and even more working on our cars. More money than we'd all like to admit on them, but it's worth it on those warm summer nights cruising through town with the windows down and I encourage you all to continue on your chosen path and stick with what you like, don't mold your car after what everyone else wants it to be or thinks is the "right way" to build a car. Be your own person, and build your own car.

Old and New Turbos

As the car sits now, I've replaced the turbo and put a custom exhaust and intake piping on the car and will continue to work on the car as much as I can. Within the next few weeks, I hope to unveil the car to everyone and show you what it can(hopefully) really do.

Thank you everyone for your support, and thank you to my beautiful fiance for allowing me to continue on with my favorite hobby. I hope to see everyone out this season so we can ALL appreciate each others work together. I also appreciate your continued support for my new blog and all the kind things you've said and the articles you've shared!

Jordan's Unique Sentra SER Spec-V

Year/Make/Model : 2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V
Engine : 2.5L QR25DE, M2 header and downpipe, Megan midpipe, Greddy TiC Axle back, Injen CAI, 2JR Crank pulley
Transmission : 6 speed manual, TWM Short throw shift kit
Suspension : BC Racing 10K F/8K R Coilovers, Tweed 3 point forward brace, Strut tower bar, Fender braces, Rear bar and Rear sway bar
Brakes : Power slot rotors, Hawk HPS Pads, Goodridge SS brake lines
Wheels/Tires : Gram Light 57F Nismo wheels, Falken Azenis 615K tires with 15/5mm H&R Spacers
Exterior : Top One Type 2 Side Diffusers, Stillen Front Lip, Sport Wing Rear Bumper Cover, CMod Ebay Grill etc. etc...
Interior : Sharkey Bezel Gauge Pod, Bride drivers and passenger seats, Harness bar, GoPro roll bar mount, TAKATA Drift II Harness, Carbing Shift Knob w/ 2in Extension, OEM Carbon Fiber w/ Red Lettering Kick Plates etc. etc...

Full Mod List Here

This car isn't your typical cookie cutter street car, in fact it's far from it. Containing some extremely rare(1 of 2 Sharkey Bezel Gauge Pod's) and unique items this car has come a long ways from it's starting place.

November 2007, stock off the lot

In November 2007 Jordan was the lucky new owner of a 2007 Sentra SER Spec-V, and with this car he has learned everything he knows from oil changes to suspension swaps and even how to screw a few things up as we all have. This car is one of my personal favorites as it's everything I love in a car, it's not too extravagant but still stylish, handles like a track car, and most of all it's unique. In my sheltered life it's the only one of it's kind that I've seen out on the road and that's something to be said for someone who spends his life admiring cars.

I spy a 3kGT hiding in there...

The biggest thing to set this car apart from the other tuners out there is Jordan's keen eye for quality parts, and not being afraid to forge the path for other owners of the same platform. He's been the author of a couple How-to's for those that would like to follow in his footsteps and has done amazing things for those who found themselves in the same predicament that he was after he bought it - the platform was new, and had no aftermarket support. While it's still not full of parts and options like some of the more popular platforms out there have, with the help of Jordan and other pioneers on the platform there's hope for others who want to join in on the struggle. This kind of dedication and innovation are what we need more of in the automotive world.

RaceTech Front Tow Strap

Stillen Front Lip

Bride Interior

Top One Type 2 Side Diffusers

Top One Type 2 Side Diffusers

I had the opportunity to ask Jordan a few questions about the build while learning about the car.

Where did your inspiration for the build come from?

"When I originally bought the car I wanted to do OEM+ and that was it, keep it a daily driver and very modest. In the summer of 2008 I bought a Modified Mag that had a R34 with a Bride interior. I fell in love with that look immediately.

Being a poor college student I made plans and bought small gadgets here in there that by themselves did not make sense.

In about 2010 some of the more in depth EVO X builds started to gain a lot of publicity on various automotive blogs I follow and some of the artist bloggers I follow were posting more and more things out of Japan. That is when I fell in love with the Japanese style of tuning.

The willingness to pay based on quality, craftsmanship, and innovation.

An appreciation of all automotive styles of tuning as well."

He continued on "Once I put my seats in the car started to make sense. The seats sit on the ground so I needed the high grip shift knob to put it closer to the steering wheel, I needed the broadway wide angle mirror to see out the back, I needed the grip royal steering wheel to sit closer to the driver. All of my controls are right in front of me and that's how I've put the car together. It attacks corners better than it deserves to and just being able to keep up with much faster and more popular platforms than me through the corners is what makes it all worth it."

What plans to do you have for power adders in the future?

"Future plans for power could head in a couple directions. I could easily turbo is with some additions of my own "flavor" or I could try something dramatic, new, different, and challenging, home grown individual throttle bodies and accompanying Standalone tuning and engine building. As of right now I'm concentrating on some Aero and driver's aid parts."

Why did you pick the Spec V instead of the Civic SI?

"When I bought the Spec the 8th gen Si sedan was not available yet. Also I was VERY immature in my automotive tastes and thought of a Honda as a car a high school rice boy drives. I was shamefully wrong."

What is your favorite part of the entire build?

"It's incredibly satisfying for people to tell me it's "magazine worthy" and "I should race it because it has some serious hardware" but really it's all about building something for yourself, the way you want it, not matter how long it takes. That's the best part about having it from 120 miles to 95,000 miles"

Overall, a beautiful and unique car. Jordan wanted to have a high quality unique build that he could call his own and set him apart from the crowd. He set out and proved once again that form and function can be hand in hand, and that you don't have to buy a typical tuner car to make something special out of it. He accomplished that and then some, and we can't wait to see what Jordan comes up with next.