Hey guys,
i am looking for a t3/t4 kit, i have two options buy a full kit or buy turbo and make manifold here. I am in between AGP and RNR kit but i am not sure.

Regarding the kits:
Wich one do you have?
Where did you get it?
How do you like it?

Wich one do you prefer AGP or RNR?

i would say go with agp i have they 50 trim and love it when it spools hold on and there survice is nice, they welds are all nice and everything is top of the line. the kit includes everything u need to install it

agp thumbs up

I'll give a little info on rnr.

I ordered about $4000 worth of stuff from ryan(rnr) for a few friends who needed a credit card

Anyhow, that included two kits among other things. One has yet to be installed but it is on the engine on a stand. The 3" o2 housing from this one hits the oil filter. The flange had to be grinded off and welded to the downpipe to make it fit. The t04e compressor housing for the 60-1 exits very close to the motor mount. This is going to be tricky once we try to connect the intercooler piping.

Another one has been installed. Ran into some problems. wastegate hits the radiator. It's a tial 40mm and not the tial 35mm ryan sells with the kits. The 35mm with the kits fits fine. He was accomodating and made a manifold for the 40mm, it just happens that it bolts of differently than the 35 and hits.
The o2/turbine is a 5 bolt flange. The lower bolt hole on the o2 housing is so close to the pipe it is almost impossible to get anything on it. I spent about an hour grinding down a nut to fit onto a shortened stud in there, and even then I could barely get it on and it's not tight.
The turbo seized after about 300 miles. Center housing would still rotate independently but the backplate wouldn't. This makes a problem when you clamp the backplate to the compressor housing.
Ryan was extremely helpful in getting the turbo fixed under warranty. He spent his own time in contact with turbonetics to get it fixed and even ate some shipping cost.

I don't want the little things I mentioned here scare you off. For the money, my friends/relatives using the kits are very satisfied so far.

Regarding the kits:
Wich one do you have? AGP T3/T4 50 Trim Stage III compressor .48 A/R exhaust wheel, 48mm Tial wastegate, dumped
Where did you get it? AGP from kevin and ben
How do you like it? I cant say greater things about it

Wich one do you prefer AGP or RNR? AGP by far

Reason i bought from agp: I talked to agp many times while dealing with another company on getting a hybrid 50 trim, they ended up not getting them forever so i started talking to kevin about the RS series turbos they have, and he asked me how much money i have to spend and if i thought about going full garrett, Well he convinced me quite well, For many reasons,

1. I thought about getting a PTE 50 trim from another dealer, then i was gonna run it with an external wastegate with a dumped o2 housing, With a ported manifold, by the time i added all that up it was alot more than a Full garrett kit, and everyone knows what more you get with a full garrett kit, it comes with everything i was gonna buy anyways but better, and the ease of upgradability.

2. Upgradability, with a full garrett setup, you can upgrade so easily than it is to upgrade a hybrid turbo.

3. the proven power of an agp setup, one word <b>Dre</b>

More reason i bought from agp: Kevin and ben are the most helpful guys when it comes to getting a setup, not only do they help you choose, they know you on a first name basis, its not like i have to call telling them yeah i had order #34723402374237942042 and if you ever have any problems with anything there there to help ya out.

Although ive never delt with rnr, i would never buy another turbo again from a diffrent place

Agp All the way

Try emailing or calling both companies and go with the one who actually responds to you. Ha ha, I'll bet it won't be AGP. I've politely emailed them 3 times and 1 phone call now, they don't seem to want my business. Dont deal with anyone who dissrespects you, thats just asking to be ripped off.

Originally posted by bigfoot
Try emailing or calling both companies and go with the one who actually responds to you. Ha ha, I'll bet it won't be AGP. I've politely emailed them 3 times and 1 phone call now, they don't seem to want my business. Dont deal with anyone who dissrespects you, thats just asking to be ripped off.

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as long as you leave agp a message with your info they will call you back...ide image they are just really busy.

ide also vote for agp..ive got there kit with the 60-1 turbo and tial 40mm gate and i love it. i only got to drive on it for about 25miles before i pulled it right back off and started swaping in my built motor and clutch though, but it pulled good and the installed went really smooth on it.

i only had one minor problem with my kit...the oil feed fitting had a small leak where the -4 fitting (i think) was welded on where it goes onto the turbo...i called up agp and told them the problem and they sent me out a new fitting free of charge..i didnt even have to send in my old fitting to prove the leak or anything....they are really good guys.

you can tell they did their homework with the kit..ive got the to4s housing on my turbo (4" inlet, 2.5" outlet) and i didnt have to dent in the water pipe at all..its a close fit but its perfect.

i was debating between the agp and rnr at the time i was looking for a kit and rnr wasnt coming up with any pics or much info on the kit at that time, and AGP really stands behind their kit so i went with it.

Originally posted by bigfoot
Try emailing or calling both companies and go with the one who actually responds to you. Ha ha, I'll bet it won't be AGP. I've politely emailed them 3 times and 1 phone call now, they don't seem to want my business. Dont deal with anyone who dissrespects you, thats just asking to be ripped off.

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dude do you have any idea how busy they are??. they have to fullfull at least one full kit CUSTOMIZED to the buyers specifications a day, plus they do tons of other work, and dont forget there is only 3 people running the shop, and courtney the secratary doesent reeally work on the turbo's If you just leave them a message they will get back to you within the next couple of days, trust me its worth it, keep trying them troughout the day...

I bought a Turbonetics manifold an 50Trim turbo of my own combination directly from turbonetics. I bought my Tial directly from tial as well. I made my own exhaust setup and oil feed and return lines. I ported my manifold and exhaust housing myself to my own spec (which isn't very scientific mind you..)

I prefer to buy what I want and make it up myself as apposed to buying a kit from somebody else. I guess im a control freak that way.

>I thought about getting a PTE 50 trim from another dealer, then i was gonna
>run it with an external wastegate with a dumped o2 housing,
>With a ported manifold, by the time i added all that up it was alot more than
>a Full garrett kit,

Hmm… Are you sure about this? How much is the T3/T4 kit that you are talking about?

Personally, I prefer to use factory manifold. I have been through a custom header, Turbonetics T3 manifold and finally went back to a ported 2G manifold… I simply do not like the heat that aftermarket options generate! And if you think that stock manifolds are prone to cracking, you haven’t seen one of those aftermarket units after a couple of years of street usage! I would not even consider a header on a daily driven car!

If I was putting together a complete kit today I would use:

EVO3 manifold (a must with any 7cm^2 turbine housing, mainly because of how little you need to port it) ~$200
TD05 housing style turbo (pick one of dozens of different options) ~$900-$1500
New 2G heat shield $35
Optional: Tubular O2 housing with external WG. ~$700

Leon
RR

Which one do you have? AGP 50 Trim Stage III compressor .63 A/R exhaust wheel, SFP manifold, SS o2, Tial 38mm, SS dump tube and SS oil feed line.
Where did you get it? Kevin AGP
How do you like it? Its awesome and very well put together. A picture is worth a million words.


Which one do you prefer AGP or RNR? AGP

Originally posted by GRNDSM
[B
Hmm… Are you sure about this? How much is the T3/T4 kit that you are talking about?

Personally, I prefer to use factory manifold. I have been through a custom header, Turbonetics T3 manifold and finally went back to a ported 2G manifold… I simply do not like the heat that aftermarket options generate! And if you think that stock manifolds are prone to cracking, you haven’t seen one of those aftermarket units after a couple of years of street usage! I would not even consider a header on a daily driven car!

If I was putting together a complete kit today I would use:

EVO3 manifold (a must with any 7cm^2 turbine housing, mainly because of how little you need to port it) ~$200
TD05 housing style turbo (pick one of dozens of different options) ~$900-$1500
New 2G heat shield $35
Optional: Tubular O2 housing with external WG. ~$700

Leon
RR [/B]

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That adds up to $1835 and thats using the cheapest turbos available, PTE which also happen to be the best it seems. The AGP Garret kit $1650 and has everything needed to install. Pretty good deal IMO, but you do have to deal with a tubular manifold. Good thing it has a 3 yr. warranty.

Originally posted by bigfoot
Try emailing or calling both companies and go with the one who actually responds to you. Ha ha, I'll bet it won't be AGP. I've politely emailed them 3 times and 1 phone call now, they don't seem to want my business. Dont deal with anyone who dissrespects you, thats just asking to be ripped off.

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I'm gonna have to call BS on this one. What's the e-mail address that you claim you sent these from? If you've sent 3 emails, you've got 3 replys.

Kevin
www.agpturbo.com

AGP kit here.

Works great. Makes awesome power. Perfect fit, finish.

AGP has the hands down BEST customer service of any company I've ever dealt with. Not just in the car world, but of any company I've ever dealt with. Couldn't find two nicer guys than Ben and Kevin.

If it was possible, I would have Ben's children, thats how much I like my AGP kit.

If it was possible, I would have Ben's children, thats how much I like my AGP kit.

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nice Im sure Ben is happy to hear that.

Thanks!! I've found my next turbo

should i get an equal lenght manifold?

They sell for $500 bucks around here new and they look awesome.

Originally posted by GRNDSM

Personally, I prefer to use factory manifold. I have been through a custom header, Turbonetics T3 manifold and finally went back to a ported 2G manifold… I simply do not like the heat that aftermarket options generate! And if you think that stock manifolds are prone to cracking, you haven’t seen one of those aftermarket units after a couple of years of street usage! I would not even consider a header on a daily driven car!

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Leon have you tried any type of coating on a manifold before? I had my Turbonetics manifold, turbo exahaust housing and down pipe all ceramic coated and it seems to help reduce under hood temps, though they are still pretty hot. Even after beating the car I dont see the manifold glow unlike the stock manifold, mostly due to the coating not allowing the manifold to heat up as much from what I can tell. The ceramic guy who did it for me said it helps so much to keep the heat outta the manifold that you can acctually measure a difference and it's a fair margin. Not sure what that is. I have looked inside my manifold after driving and the coating is still on the inside even with all the heat inside a turbo manifold after driving.

Any opinions on that or snake oil?

I've had my AGP kit for awhile now, although I still can't comment on performance. Ben and Kevin are some of the nicest guys I've dealt with as far as DSM vendors go. Everything in the kit is top notch, but make sure you get everything coated, either by them or someplace else. an uncoated manifold will last probably a year or two daily driving, but a coated one should last much much longer.

When I first Emailed AGP, I got a response literally in 20 minutes. They answered all my questions, and every phone call I made got returned if they werent able to answer it when I called.

I had one small problem with the wastegate hitting the hood, which was easily corrected by rotating the nipple on the side port down. Ben was very helpful in offering to fix the problem, and they really did make up for it. The kit fits 100% perfectly, no water pipe dents, no problems with the motor mount, nothing.

If you decide on an AGP setup, you shouldn't be dissapointed with it at all.

I have no direct knowledge of RNR so I can't comment on their kit.

Originally posted by GRNDSM
>

Hmm… Are you sure about this? How much is the T3/T4 kit that you are talking about?

Personally, I prefer to use factory manifold. I have been through a custom header, Turbonetics T3 manifold and finally went back to a ported 2G manifold… I simply do not like the heat that aftermarket options generate! And if you think that stock manifolds are prone to cracking, you haven’t seen one of those aftermarket units after a couple of years of street usage! I would not even consider a header on a daily driven car!

If I was putting together a complete kit today I would use:

EVO3 manifold (a must with any 7cm^2 turbine housing, mainly because of how little you need to port it) ~$200
TD05 housing style turbo (pick one of dozens of different options) ~$900-$1500
New 2G heat shield $35
Optional: Tubular O2 housing with external WG. ~$700

Leon
RR

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Leon,

I know what you prefer and eveyrhitng but my kit wasint anyhthing above 1800 bucks, plus my turbo is polished and i got a couple extra things done to it, I Cant stand the stock manifold, its hidous, And although you might do that, have you ever had an agp kit?, i dont recall you do, but then again im not trying to set the world record on a 14b, so i dont know waht im talking about

The funny thing about agp is that every single person that has one of thier kits, say all the same thing

>have you ever had an agp kit?

Nope, but it does look like a good kit!

From my previous experience with an older SFP header, I not a big fan of using a header on a street driven vehicle. Frankly, for my race car, I should be using a header, but I still remembers doing longer oval track type and AutoX races and not liking the extra heat (it was to point that I was afraid that my CF hood was going to melt?). But I just might go for a header later this year, since I am solely focusing on drag racing for the next couple of months.

BTW, I am also not too crazy about the looks of a stock manifold, which is why I am using a brand new 2G cover. Check out my engine shots and tell me if it is still hideous

Leon
RR

Im probably doing a bolt on turbo.

PTE or AGP with internal gate.

Portmatched 2g manifold... To head ports and turbine housing. I may polish and do some other stuff to it.

Then wrap it in the new high tech automotive exhaust insulator materials. I might also line the inside of the heat sheid with the reflective type of insulation. If I can swing it I'll ceramic coat the inside too. But insulating the outside of the manifold helps alot. The more the better.

The Downpipe will be heavily wrapped and custom built.


The insulation keeps heat in the exhuast and out of the engine bay.

It also protects the exhaust agains rapid temp changes which cause cracks.

I have seen some bad stuff happen with headers too. Like my friends F-body.

His windshiled washer hose came off and sprayed "smurf pee" all over the header resulting in a hole in it near the head.


The same thing can happen with say cold rain water.

The reflective insulation will shed water and keep things insulated.

Originally posted by GRNDSM
>have you ever had an agp kit?

Nope, but it does look like a good kit!

From my previous experience with an older SFP header, I not a big fan of using a header on a street driven vehicle. Frankly, for my race car, I should be using a header, but I still remembers doing longer oval track type and AutoX races and not liking the extra heat (it was to point that I was afraid that my CF hood was going to melt?). But I just might go for a header later this year, since I am solely focusing on drag racing for the next couple of months.

BTW, I am also not too crazy about the looks of a stock manifold, which is why I am using a brand new 2G cover. Check out my engine shots and tell me if it is still hideous

Leon
RR

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hahaah, yeah i know what you mean about your engine bay, i just love the sfp manifold, and heard that it really does not make that much heat when you have the right cooling fans