98GSX-WI
15+ Year Contributor
- 131
- 0
- Jun 6, 2004
-
Kenosha,
Wisconsin
I thought that I would provide all of you with the details on the T04b V-trim install that was finished this last weekend. The T04b replaced a FP Big 28 that I had been running for approximately one year.
First offregarding the assertion that the turbo is a direct bolt-onsure the turbo is but then there are all of the supporting parts There are some key pieces of information that should go along with the direct bolt-on statement:
1) The oil drain line may not be long enough. Mine wasn't. Waited 1 week to get extension fitting from B-E supplier and rented a car in the meantime. When I didn't get it in 1 week, drove an hour to get longer 10AN braid hose on a Saturday afternoon from one of the few stores that had it in stock and was open on a Sat afternoon.
2) Wastegate actuator hit stock fan had to order slimline fan for ~$99 and paid $54 to have it shipped next day.
3) The compressor housing needed to be rotated to mate with the lower intercooler pipe.
4) The 90 deg silicone elbow just barely fit onto the lower intercooler pipe.
5) The wastegate actuator was set at tension higher than my desired application. I had thought that I ordered a low-pressure actuator (max 20 psi). However, when test-driving, my boost spiked to 25 psi. I needed to loosen the actuator arm by about 5 full turns counterclockwise, to get to 20 psi. While this was not that big of a deal, it certainly could have been if I would have blown the head gasket.
Overall Conclusions:
1) For vendors selling turbos, all parts should be the minimum size to fit 95+ of the intended applications. Which means that the oil drain line needs to be longer period! The 90 deg coupler should also be made longer on both ends. If parts like these are slightly bigger or longer than desired then they can be cut to size.
2) The vendor webpage where the turbos are being sold should indicate that the turbo may hit the fan and that the fan may need replacing and offer sale of a suitable fan at a reasonable price, or provide a link to one.
3) All of these little "problems" could (and in my opinion should) be listed on the vendor webpage with instructions on how to deal with them.
Turbo Performance:
Unfortunately, I believe that I have a boost leak and can't really give a fair comment on the performance quite yet. Had the leak with the Big28, and didn't deal with it at the time because I knew that my actuator arm was a bit loose and attributed my slower than normal spool to the actuator. Didn't tighten the actuator because I knew I was going to swap the turbo soon. FPBig28 was spooling at 3500-3800 when I think it should have spooled around 3200. So now the T04b V-trim is spooling at between 4200-4500. I will check for leaks this weekend when the Tester I ordered comes in.
A couple of curious comments though:
1) The exhaust seems noticeable quieter and smoother with the T04b. Not sure why this is. (Although, maybe it's my imagination since I haven't driven the car in over a week
).
2) As expected, the T04b is not as responsive as the Big28 at the lower rpms but when it hits 5000 rpms and up; the turbo certainly feels stronger than the Big28.
3) Also as expected, with the much higher flow, I needed to adjust the SAFC from 5% across the board to adding fuel in the high throttle settings to avoid knock. (I have keydiver chip where knock is registered on factory boost gauge). With Big28 in Wisconsin, when temps were 10 deg F I had the SAFC at 15% .when temps where 40 deg F I had the SAFC at 10%, and at 70 deg F I had the SAFC at 5% (note that all settings are adjustments from where already EPROM compensated).
4) I am running a Hahn SMIC right now. I plan to see how things go this summer...but may make upgrade to H20 injection into intercooler and TB or upgrade to FMIC.
I'm looking forward to logging and tuning with this turbo and eventually hitting the dyno. My goal was between 350-400 hp. I am running 20 psi right now, but will probably get a little adventurous and bump it up to 22 psi soon. (I ran the Big28 at 20 psi for a year with no ill effects).
I will provide updates on performance as soon as I get my boost leaks taken care of. Happy Modding
First offregarding the assertion that the turbo is a direct bolt-onsure the turbo is but then there are all of the supporting parts There are some key pieces of information that should go along with the direct bolt-on statement:
1) The oil drain line may not be long enough. Mine wasn't. Waited 1 week to get extension fitting from B-E supplier and rented a car in the meantime. When I didn't get it in 1 week, drove an hour to get longer 10AN braid hose on a Saturday afternoon from one of the few stores that had it in stock and was open on a Sat afternoon.
2) Wastegate actuator hit stock fan had to order slimline fan for ~$99 and paid $54 to have it shipped next day.
3) The compressor housing needed to be rotated to mate with the lower intercooler pipe.
4) The 90 deg silicone elbow just barely fit onto the lower intercooler pipe.
5) The wastegate actuator was set at tension higher than my desired application. I had thought that I ordered a low-pressure actuator (max 20 psi). However, when test-driving, my boost spiked to 25 psi. I needed to loosen the actuator arm by about 5 full turns counterclockwise, to get to 20 psi. While this was not that big of a deal, it certainly could have been if I would have blown the head gasket.
Overall Conclusions:
1) For vendors selling turbos, all parts should be the minimum size to fit 95+ of the intended applications. Which means that the oil drain line needs to be longer period! The 90 deg coupler should also be made longer on both ends. If parts like these are slightly bigger or longer than desired then they can be cut to size.
2) The vendor webpage where the turbos are being sold should indicate that the turbo may hit the fan and that the fan may need replacing and offer sale of a suitable fan at a reasonable price, or provide a link to one.
3) All of these little "problems" could (and in my opinion should) be listed on the vendor webpage with instructions on how to deal with them.
Turbo Performance:
Unfortunately, I believe that I have a boost leak and can't really give a fair comment on the performance quite yet. Had the leak with the Big28, and didn't deal with it at the time because I knew that my actuator arm was a bit loose and attributed my slower than normal spool to the actuator. Didn't tighten the actuator because I knew I was going to swap the turbo soon. FPBig28 was spooling at 3500-3800 when I think it should have spooled around 3200. So now the T04b V-trim is spooling at between 4200-4500. I will check for leaks this weekend when the Tester I ordered comes in.
A couple of curious comments though:
1) The exhaust seems noticeable quieter and smoother with the T04b. Not sure why this is. (Although, maybe it's my imagination since I haven't driven the car in over a week
).2) As expected, the T04b is not as responsive as the Big28 at the lower rpms but when it hits 5000 rpms and up; the turbo certainly feels stronger than the Big28.
3) Also as expected, with the much higher flow, I needed to adjust the SAFC from 5% across the board to adding fuel in the high throttle settings to avoid knock. (I have keydiver chip where knock is registered on factory boost gauge). With Big28 in Wisconsin, when temps were 10 deg F I had the SAFC at 15% .when temps where 40 deg F I had the SAFC at 10%, and at 70 deg F I had the SAFC at 5% (note that all settings are adjustments from where already EPROM compensated).
4) I am running a Hahn SMIC right now. I plan to see how things go this summer...but may make upgrade to H20 injection into intercooler and TB or upgrade to FMIC.
I'm looking forward to logging and tuning with this turbo and eventually hitting the dyno. My goal was between 350-400 hp. I am running 20 psi right now, but will probably get a little adventurous and bump it up to 22 psi soon. (I ran the Big28 at 20 psi for a year with no ill effects).
I will provide updates on performance as soon as I get my boost leaks taken care of. Happy Modding
oh well at least its giving me 31lb/min at 15psi 
so i guess i gotta get a frontmount 
