22RE + T

I think the focus on parts is exactly right. I'm not familiar with the Toyota market at all, but, how many owners are sitting on what, $3-4K, to buy a new engine?

I think you've already found the niche for this market yourself, the lack of turbo manifolds.

The cast iron log manifold is absolutely the way to go, either design your own and have it cast, more investment required, but the best solution. Or, design an adaptor to use a manifold from a different car, like the Nissan manifold. However, you need to buy those manifolds in bulk and at reseller prices, then you control inventory and make a few bucks off the sale. Don't just create a very specific adaptor and tell customers to go on Ebay or the junk yard to buy the manifold.

If you want to help out the DIY folks to turbo their car, and make a few bucks, do some engineering and investment to mass produce the few parts that enables it. Mainly a manifold and maybe some pre-made intake piping.

Sure, put together a whole "kit" that includes all of it, but those specialized parts will be your bread and butter.

I like these suggestions. Our problem is start up money. We don't have the kind of capital laying around to throw something into production like a cast manifold. I've tried to preach the gospel of producing parts to my buddy, but he's an engine builder and that's what he wants to do, engines. For selling individual parts, I think I'd be on my own. So I'd have to start small, like the adapter plate. Which sucks, but I'm just another guy without a lot of scratch who loves cars. I wish I was one of those guys with a ton of scratch that loves cars. haha.

bmwbav wrote: I think the focus on parts is exactly right. I'm not familiar with the Toyota market at all, but, how many owners are sitting on what, $3-4K, to buy a new engine? I think you've already found the niche for this market yourself, the lack of turbo manifolds. The cast iron log manifold is absolutely the way to go, either design your own and have it cast, more investment required, but the best solution. Or, design an adaptor to use a manifold from a different car, like the Nissan manifold. However, you need to buy those manifolds in bulk and at reseller prices, then you control inventory and make a few bucks off the sale. Don't just create a very specific adaptor and tell customers to go on Ebay or the junk yard to buy the manifold. If you want to help out the DIY folks to turbo their car, and make a few bucks, do some engineering and investment to mass produce the few parts that enables it. Mainly a manifold and maybe some pre-made intake piping. Sure, put together a whole "kit" that includes all of it, but those specialized parts will be your bread and butter.

You need to hone in on what's missing from the market. Figure out what it would take to create the manifold adaptor. I assume you have access to the cars or trucks this would go into or own one? Make a prototype adaptor, test it in the car, and find a machine shop that can mass produce them. See what it costs to do a run of 50-100 and start a kick-starter account to get funding. Market this to whatever channels Toyota folks frequent. You'll determine your market and get funding simultaneously. This is going to take the least capital and impose the least amount of risk.

To sell some type of turn-key engine and turbo system, you are going to have to invest a lot of time into engineering and testing/tuning. People will expect great performance, reliability, and some type of warranty from a full solution. Don't underestimate the time and money it will take to go from your list to a sellable offering. That time could be better spent getting a second job to come up with the capitol to make something that's missing in the market.

RoughandReady wrote: Noted. Any opinion on Microsquirt Vs MS2?

How about an MSPNP? It plugs into a factory 22RE harness.

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/megasquirtpnp-g2-t8590-for-the-8589-toyota-4age-and-22re-p-503.html

Or would your customers not want to use the factory harness?

Man, that is expensive.

RoughandReady wrote: I've been recruited (some might say "drafted") by a buddy of mine who has a rebuild shop that specializes in Toyota engines. We want to start selling drop in, plug and play 22RE turbo engines. Probably not a bad idea, sounds like a lot of fun to me. So I've put a preliminary list together, and I'd like GRM's input. So here's what I've got: - 22RE rebuilt long block w/ low CR pistons (maybe 8:1) - Long tube exhaust manifold. - Steel log style intake manifold. Maybe larger throttle body. - Garrett T3-45 or Mitsubishi 15g, probably water cooled. - Megasquirt-II or Microsquirt (need to investigate further, I'm not well versed in MS). - Injectors. - Labeled, scratch built wiring harness. - Intercooler and charge piping, fittings, etc. - Oil cooler assembly. - GM coil packs and bracket, etc. (Need to research and find out what guys are doing for triggers. And that would basically be your package, that would arrive on a pallet or whatever. So what does GRM think? Are there any blatant missteps that have slipped past me? Anything obvious that I've forgotten? Would this be "cool?" We're kind of torn on what turbo to use. We can cut the flanges, so that doesn't matter. The T3 is kind of the Andrew Jackson of turbos, but I'm really leaning toward the 15g.

Whats the target power and target price? Start there. You've made a list of a bunch of odd ball E36 M3 that, some of it points to a power goal of like 250 some points to 500+. How much power will the drop in setup make, how much will it be capable of with some tweaks and tuning. And how much is it going to cost.

I have a feeling your list is quickly going to change to this once you start actually planning

• 22RE rebuilt long block w/ low CR pistons (maybe 9:1)
• Weld EL log turbo manifold
• Stock intake manifold
• 16g or gt2560R or china charger
• MS3
• Injectors.
• Labeled, scratch built wiring harness.
• Intercooler and charge piping, fittings, etc.
• stock coils