Big 16G: Ported/Clipped or just Ported?

[tsi_turboawd]

I need your knowledgable thoughts about a clipped Big 16G turbo over a non-clipped. Pros and Cons and overall verdict on performance and drivability. My car is a daily driver and will see some drags about once maybe 2x a month and im planning to run mid-low 12s with it.

Which one do you think is more effective, a BIG 16G ported or a ported and "clipped" one?

 

[nine5raptor]

Clipping is a tradeoff. You will have a slower spooling turbo, but you will gain topend. Really, it would be best to call the seller and ask about the losses with clipping and the gains. They should know their specific turbos and how they respond to varies degrees of clipping.

I think the general consensus among the more experienced dsmers is that porting is good, clipping is bad. If you want the more topend, just buy a turbo that is designed for it as clipping is the half-assed way of 'stretching' a smaller turbo.

 

[pj91gsx]

i have heard of clipping, but im not sure what it is. Can you inform me what happens when a turbo is clipped.

 

[JusMX141]

Clipping is a modification to the turbine wheel which removes a small portion of the face of the turbine blades in an effort to reduce backpressure for increased airflow at full boost. It is generally only done to a turbo that is running high boost, or in a case where a compressor wheel has the ability to push more airflow than the turbine can handle.

Clipping is usually done in 10*, 15*, and 20* variants....all of them cost the same, so be sure you make the right choice the first time so you're not paying to have it clipped again.

Clipping is usually fairly easy to identify. If an unclipped turbine wheel looks like this:

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...then a clipped turbine looks like this:

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See how the front portion of the exducer appears to be flatter on the turbine in the second photo?

 

[JusMX141]

I need your knowledgable thoughts about a clipped Big 16G turbo over a non-clipped. Pros and Cons and overall verdict on performance and drivability. My car is a daily driver and will see some drags about once maybe 2x a month and im planning to run mid-low 12s with it.

Which one do you think is more effective, a BIG 16G ported or a ported and "clipped" one?

Unless you're planning on getting pretty serious with your 16G (like, well into the 20's of psi), then I think you'll be just fine with a ported UNclipped turbo. The $75-$100 spent on clipping could be put to better, more noticeable mods.

Remember....if Big 16G's needed to be clipped to be at their highest efficiency, then they probably would come that way from the factory.

 

[JayRolla]

I agree, for the cost the performance the performance gained is very minimal. Just spend the money where you really need it.

 

[pj91gsx]

thanks for the info.