Should you buy the $699 Ebay SBC turbo kit? 

Sorry, but this review is ridiculous. First of all, it doesn’t take “two hours” to change plugs, it literally takes two minutes to unbolt the turbo, down pipe, and oil feed to get to the plugs on the passenger side. Second, this kit was not designed for a mechanical fuel pump. Third, this kit called for short spark plugs, and Accel makes a good set. The kit itself was designed with a smaller 90’s LT1 stater in mind. These kits were a rip off of the BBS Designs turbo kit for the 3rd Gen F-Body, ripped off by a company called SSAutochrome. The latter made it a universal kit that needed additional fabrication, this was understood way in advance because the original BBS design needed no adjustment but had a price closer to one thousand just for the headers alone. Here you pay a fraction for the entire kit, with some adjustment requires because every SBC is different. This was always understood. It’s hilarious when newbies come along and try to reinvent the wheel a decade later because BBS did their kit in the 2000’s…

Did you use a snapping turtle to notch the frame??

why would you choose to notch the frame over modifying the header...

Almost bought one of these kits. Then I bought a welder. The rest is history.

I’m very impressed at the result, most people would not have put the time or effort into finishing the kit. All of those out there who comment negative things like the frame notching and poor setup. Hind sight is 20/20, no one is perfect! Now that he learned how to do it, I’m sure another project would be a cake walk.

The only suggestion I have, would have switched valve covers, so filler cap would have been on driver side. Easy access!

As a diesel tech, you did well with what you bought. I’ve seen some OEM setups on diesels over the years that will make you scratch your head lol

I thought running headers on a 73 Z/28 was a pain in the ass. You guys are doing Gods work beating your heads against the brick wall so we don't have to. Thanks.

I appreciate the honesty and creativity to get it done. Nice work

I bought one of these kits many years ago before anyone was talking about them, thank god I got rid of it before I attempted to use it.

It's a "sure fit" system. If asked if it fits you get "sure it fits"

Honest review of the eBay kit. Dig the channel. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for sharing I did the same when I started in turboing engines the exp and knowledge you get doing it yourself is golden and save you thousands

I bought the same headers from XS power for a sbc in a third gen fireturd. Was so disgusted with them I just build my own kit. All of the issues you described are %100 accurate. The plug on number 8 is pointed directly at the primary tube. XS power never let me return them and stopped responding to my emails and phone calls. Just filed a claim with paypal and they gave me back the $210 and I get to keep the headers. Maybe I can give them to someone I hate

Props to following through and making this function. Takes a real enthusiast and mechanic to follow through with this. I had a lot of issues on my big turbo Volkswagen build also. Enough to make the average man want to quit but I chugged on, now I'm enjoying it. P.s.- that casting on the compressor housing of that Oriental gt45 clone makes me nervous. Don't run too much boost. Lol.

I would place bets that 90% of the people making comments have never installed any cheap headers, have never had a turbo on a car. Only know stuff from what they have seen on you tube videos. We call these idiots "Certified You Tube Technicians" Ya, you know who you are. Go back to watching more videos and pretending you are an expert. But please don't stop with the ridiculous comments, it gives the real technicians something to laugh at.

What did you do with your timing? Lock out distributor or do you still have an advance curve?

Just flip the stock exhaust manifold up and make your own y pipe. Relocate the turbo up around the other battery box.

I'm starting to gather parts I'm planning on a similar set-up going together this summer. Good information bro I can get in front of the issues you found.

It helps to know what you are doing before getting into a project. Then again, some people don't want to listen to any words of wisdom.

That is some true Mickey Mouse engineering. Impressive work.

I like the bright red wire that lays across the entire engine bay and motor

The frame notching made me nauseous.

Thank you for making this good video. I am going to turbo my 69 camaro, but not sure which kit to purchase. So thank you very much for showing yours and what all the problems you had with this kit. You did a good job for what you had to work with.

dear god , you''re amazing. I was looking for some cheap fun and this looks like anything but that. glad I came here first , thanks for everything you explained!

Rando on the internet: "Should I buy this?" Justin: "ＮＯ" Rando on the internet: Buys it anyways and grenades their motor. Deletes facebook posts.

Thanks. I've got enough troubles just doing normal upgrades on my 57 Bel Air. This would give me nightmares.

Great video! Thank you for emphasizing the shortcomings of the system and fitment, especially the waste gate. What a project. Do they call it a "bolt on" system? I guess the old saying applies, "you get what you pay for".

53 disliked blown motors lol. Super informative video. Car community thanks you 🙏

The oil restrictor is used only on ball bearing turbos, journal bearings need full oil pressure and volume.

Flipped cheap speedway motors block huggers are the way to go

Dang. I got to 5:15 and wanted to get as far away from this kit as possible. That’s a nope from me.

Man you really really wanted to see this thing with a turbo lol I would have said nope as soon as I realized I was gonna be hacking it all together because it wasn’t built well

Your video was really informative I was thinking about buying a cheap turbo kit for my 540i v8 if I can even find something close to working I am a 25 year mechanic and I know how to weld but even with the experience I have I know it’s not going to be easy regardless

Still waiting on the 2nd part of the carb lol Yeah I went with Cx racing headers they actually fit pretty good . The last tube should have been dented for clearance it’s tight but you can get a header bolt in it .. all the rest I used some studs ...

perfect review👌🏻 i love how you explained every detail!

Very good video. Glad you caught the fuel requirements. In many things your better off with custom building.

Damn bro Dedication G 😂 respect you had me rolling Foo…. An anyone posted a pic of the kit an nvr do a fallow up lol

You are the first person who has had a problem with the kit. Standard answer

There is no “bolt on kit” for anything. When you boost anything that came NA, EVERYTHING...EVERYTHING!!!! Is one-off and custom. Your set up looks like shit. It’s a dirt cheep kit (its 699$ what did you expect?) my turbo ran 1900$ by its self. The only thing I watched in this video was some guy complaining about his lack of problem solving skills and blaming the kit for his own short comings. Get you some shorty truck headers flip them to dump out the front, put your turbo in the bottom corner and run your lines and piping. Stop over thinking things.

For a budget build like this I'd have just used stock ex manifolds. Add an intercooler in future if detonation a problem. How does it run ?

Can you please make a video about how you got the carburetter to work and setting up your air fuel

I've wanted to build a turbo truck for 15 years I still think it's best to make power the old fashioned way

I thought about doing that a few times, but I already have some really awesome headers for my pickup so I would just buy the turbo and a generic intercooler and piping also

Wow, what a crap after crap experience. How do u keep a straight face when telling the story? Grenaded, hilarious! And the fact that u even completed the install is impressive.

Still Sounds like less work than fabricating a kit from scratch so it seems worth it to me as long as you know it’s gonna take work.

Wow a whole new meaning to the words “you get what you pay for” this kit may not even meet that requirement lol 😂

Thanks for telling it like it is, and yes most these "budget ebay turbo/junkyard builds"...as you said they never are heard from again AInt on cheap way for hp. If I could weld I may be interested in fabbing up a boosted build but refuse to put EFI on an old car and am tired of leaning over hoods Fun as a teenager or even my 30s. Now Id rather not unless I have to .Just wanna turn the key and burn rubber.

I know you dont need complements ,because you job is clean, but man thats awesome, under my hood looks like crap I only have the motor.. so great incredible clean job

nice video. just imagine how a kit would fit for a car that doesn't have as much room as a chevy truck., I know the frame rails are narrow but you still have a lot of room besides that. and issues like fuel pump clearance and alternator clearance is a problem like you showed wow. I want to do a turbo on my 72 C10 and that crossover pipe worries me because apparently theres like different mounting positions for the engine. it may be big block vs small block or 6 vs 8 cyl, i don't know but im pretty sure there is different engine mounting set ups on a 72. I've been practicing tig welding so like maybe I will buy the manifold and do the piping myself if i ever get to that. I don't know but I want a turbo but I'm scare of all the fitment issues and tuning and stuff. either way thanks for making this video

I used to bend these with n/a 350s. you got a strong truck with frame chunks missing and a turbo. I am assuming this is for 88-98 or something else. Glad it runs.

Any chance you can get on board with the other guys that do this like you are and sue the people misrepresenting things that say they work on eBay! Buyer protection? You did a great job on sniffing this one out, and it would help many people and shut down the buyer predation!!!! Thank you for this video!!

Great job working through the problems, I’m guessing two options, 1st the headers were not in a jig when welded, and moved all over when the 12 yo in china welded it up, or second this kit was not the proper kit, at least not the correct headers., I’ve watched Richard holder? Does all the turbo reviews, his recommendations were to just work with the factory headers?! Build your own crossover, and buy a t4 flange., I’m guessing that fuel injection, and electric fuel pump would be ideal

What all do you have done to the internals? Also is there a good frame style electric fuel pump youd recommend? I have an electric fuel pump now on the frame rail but nothing fancy

I would move the alternator to the bottom if it was for my project

Awesome this is good info! Im considering picking one of these kits up for my trans am.

Answered all my questions. I'm sticking to raw hp

thanks, this info is helpful. it seems cheaper to use a nitrous oxide setup instead.

350 in 3/4 81 4x4 gmc with custom camper on back. Considering e.f.i. with a turbo. I live in Montana and there isn't much access to knowledge. What is your opinion? I have also considered lightly modified 8.1 but I just wanna stick with sbc.

I love these videos just fast forward to 1 min before the end everytime 😂😂😂😂

No!!! Because it won't work on a BBC!!! P.S. I would have reengineered the entire thing so it fit properly and I could do what needed to be done without removing half of it to get to sparkplugs!! P.P.S. For what little extra horsepower you're getting, seems to me, a nitrous system would have been easier.

I am running the same setup just about. deleted mechanical fuel pump reloaded alternator to the right side just above the power steering pump running turbo headers on passenger side only so I don't overboost and wastegate is more efficient

Notch the frame? Haven’t you seen engine masters where they just bash the headers with a hammer? 😁

At about 6:00 when u start venting about the cons and dumb design I was dying 😂 hilarious

Why cant the Chinese just make a cheap super charger already a pro charger and a screw blower or even a big roots like a 8-71 the cheap ones are 3,800 bucks for a little one thats not enough

Not being a smart ass, but did you put the headers on the correcr sides? And normally people flip the headers upside down and run the turbo uptop so they dont have to notch the frame.

Bolt on kits are very expensive. You always have to do some modifications

My comment/question has nothing to do with this video, but rather on an old video featuring your 1950 Westinghouse air compressor. I'm choosing to post this here in hopes you'll see it rather than an old one. I have a Westinghouse compressor very similar to yours. It have functioned perfectly for 40 years, but recently it has begun to almost stall the electric motor. It starts up fine but when the tank pressure reaches 80-90 psi it begins to load the motor down. I've had the motor and wiring checked out , appears good. The pump turns freely by hand but appears to load up at 80-90 psi. I'm told the check valve to the tank is probably defective, but I have removed the piping from the outlet to the tank and there is nothing in that line. The unloader appears to be working properly as the pressure bleeds down. Does your compressor have a check valve at the tank? Any thoughts. Thanks

They put coils in brake lines to absorb vibration between body and frame

If choosing an IDGAF route theoretically.. you could flip the exhaust manifold upside down route the turbo and all other related components above the engine to simplify all the bullshit. Considering how low it sits in the engine bay in relation to the top of fender I wonder the precise amount of hood cutting necessary to even do that.

Great business opportunity here if somebody actually ordered one of these kits manufactured proper exhaust manifolds and proper crossover pipes person could actually make a pretty good chunk of change here of course you'd have to have a kit for every different Chevy product but it would be an opportunity to make a pretty good dollar

I truly applaud and respect your absolute determination and UN..YIELD..ING dedication to this project. I would have said fuck it at the frame notch. I feel that just maybe you should have too. But you did not! 👏👏👏

I’m new to this I’m just a kid but , do you run a intercooler with this or is it not required??

Try center dumps of a 327

How did you run the oil lines? Iam about to install a turbo on my car but can't find where to install the oil lines from the engine. The only thing I can think of is run the return into the valve covers but how do I get the oil out?

How’d you run the vacuum, I’m possibly buying and would like to know how to run the vacuum on this kit

Where did you get the black coupler that connects the turbo to the carb hat? What size is it?

Wanna hear a scary story? I was in my old turbo diesel Nissan going down a country freeway when all hell broke loose. The oil seal on the cold side of the turbo was breached and let plenty of oil into the motor. The 4WD took off like it had had a shot of NOS. I took it out of gear (manual), and the engine revs went well past the indicated taco range, I carefully turned the ignition off, making sure I didn't lock the steering, but she kept going due to the glow plugs. I managed to pull off the road and had to use the brakes to burn the clutch out! By this stage, I was waiting for a conrod to go through the block. It scared the crap out of me. The roadside mechanic said that he had seen it on stationary vehicles and the only way to stop it was to put a rag in the inlet. I have had many cars with turbos both petrol and diesel but had never heard of this before.

How is your 7000 hp rv doing? Does it run in the 10s yet?

This is why I’m doing a bed turbo

What about power??? You never say if it made a big up in power or not??? I’ve got a aluminum headed Sbc was thinking about adding a turbo vs nitrous

I just bought this one for my 75 k20 I'd love if you could help me I just built a 363 small block for my truck and wanted a turbo I don't wanna blow up the brand new motor or turbo obi wan your my only hope

What intake boot did you use? I got the same spectra top hat 1.5” spacer and same turbo

Did you gap the rings?

Why is there no intercooler? I am planning on doing something like this myself and I am not sure if I have to use one. I am planning on taking it to the drag strip and the occasional drive. Is it bot necessary on these 350’s?

Would you just build your own instead of buying this kit, if you knew what you know now? Is that a blow through carb?

dont you NEED to use electric fuel pumps when doing forced induction with a carburetor? the boost would feed pressure back into the jets of the carb decreasing fuel pressure by an amount approximately equal to your boost pressure causing a lean running condition and i think i can honestly say many of us know lean be bad

Thanks for reposting, your video helped me out a lot

I'd just by the cast manifolds from Banks, a Garret, Precision, or whatever your favorite brand is turbo, and peice together the rest. I think trying to make a "cheap" Ebay kit work would cost more money in the long run.

Wonder if you flipped the headers over and ran the crossover over the top it would of worked better?

I bought a twin kit for my 78. I threw most of it away. It cost me almost a grand for the kit and and close to 700 to replace what I threw out! It's not worth it in my opinion!!! I think the only stuff I used was the turbos and the oil lines! Oh and had to buy another set of cold pipes too!! Good luck to anyone who buys it!!!!

I can't believe you hacked up that original frame. You my friend have earned ricer status

Definitely especially without doing any research or building up the bottom end.

Twin turbos are always easier to mount.

So as a young and stupid car enthusiast with a recently inherited 350 powered 76 Cheyenne, is there any cheap, but actually competent turbo kits on the market for a 350? No matter what, I'm converting the carb to aftermarket efi. I just want to know if I want to do a blow-through style kit.

This is what separates mechanics from parts changers.

If the turbo kit didn’t fit it’s self why not just send it back and use that enormous engine bay for twin turbo that way you don’t have a cross pipe and end up notching the frame and still having to fabricate a piece?? You would avoid all the issues you had except for still moving in the alternator

Everybody wants to see it run

The way he was explaining everything made me laugh 😂😂😂

Thanks a lot I'll make sure I don't get one .i been looking at the lsa supercharge kit but not now