just installed EVO3 GT turbo, here's a tip...

[driver70]

My 14b died and I was going to replace it with a big or small 16g from the classifieds, but after almost getting ripped off of $250, I decided to just buy a new turbo. So, I searched for the cheapest alternative and came up with the EVO3 GT on ebay- turbochargerscom, website is turbochargers.com go figure. This is the same turbo as on logicperformance and rre's websites as well, and for $550 shipped I figured it'd be worth the extra few dollars to get the GT as opposed to a small 16g.

Anyways, here's my tip just in case anyone else decides to purchase this turbo. On my 1g, the bolts that hold the oil return line to the turbo were longer than the EVO3 GT was threaded for. So, I was torquing down the first bolt, only to keep on turning, and turning waiting for it to click. Well it finally clicked but then it felt Really loose all of a sudden- the bolt broke in half! Apparently the bolt bottomed out because it was too long, and I had to take the entire turbo assembly back out to get the broken bolt out with some vise-grips (not enough room for a drill and extractor.) Went to Home Depot and replaced the bolts for 50 cents with M6-1.0 x 16mm (stock is 20mm.) If I would've known that was going to happen and had shorter bolts to start with I could've saved myself HOURS of frustration.

PITA... but first impressions after installed- Very satisfied! Response is good, doesn't peter out at high rpms, and my car's faster with the EVO3 GT @ 9lbs than my 14b @ 13lbs.

Happy DSM'ing
Rommel

 

[CanadianTSi]

I guess you get what you pay for

 

[just_passed_you]

The sarcasm even though his only problem was .50 cents in bolts.
Dyno that car and let us know what shaftplay etc is like after ~5k miles.

 

[CanadianTSi]

The sarcasm even though his only problem was .50 cents in bolts.
Dyno that car and let us know what shaftplay etc is like after ~5k miles.

No sarcasm intendid, if he had bought a real MHI turbo the holes would have been long ehough and there would have been no problem.

 

[leet]

Let's keep this to people who have factual firsthand information, just like the original poster

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Sounds good. good luck with the turbo, hope it lasts more then some other who have bought that thing

 

[driver70]

Sounds good. good luck with the turbo, hope it lasts more then some other who have bought that thing

Didn't know people have had a lot of problems with it... what type of longevity would you expect?

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Decided not to post the link I was going to post, Don't feel lie getting banned.

The turbo may last you a long time, In the past, have just seen quite a few threads about these turbos failing.

 

[boostedinaz]

Decided not to post the link I was going to post, Don't feel lie getting banned.

The turbo may last you a long time, In the past, have just seen quite a few threads about these turbos failing.

So search them and let us see. I have only seen one thread on another board that showed this turbo fail. If you dont have first hand proof or a link then why even say anything?


This is one reason why some poeple should slow down before doing mods. Nothing, that is after market is a "bolt on" and if it does then feel lucky. It should have been hand assembled and slow tighten to see what is going on before just cranking away with a torque wrench.

 

[ivanr4g63]

I don't think the turbos are bad, more likely the maintenance of operation mode, for instance:

-Let it cool by idling the car for at least 2-3 min after a hard day at the track/street
-Get as soon as posible (if you don't already have it) a SS braided oil feed line, it gives your turbo better oil pressure, therefore extended life, since OIL IS EVERYTHING for the turbo to work right
-Keep your eyes open for leaks on any line thats conected to the turbo, as they don't give you warnings, they just start to leak and eventually not provide the turbo with enough fluid (oil and coolant lines) as you may know the copper washers sometimes they seal great and sometimes they don't

I'm telling you follow this steps and use common sense when working around the turbo and you should have a LONG LASTING 16G Turbocharger.!

Happy boosting.

 

[driver70]

This is one reason why some poeple should slow down before doing mods. Nothing, that is after market is a "bolt on" and if it does then feel lucky. It should have been hand assembled and slow tighten to see what is going on before just cranking away with a torque wrench.

Well, I always follow my manual and it didn't say that the oil return line was one of the lines that should be connected before re-installing the turbo. Also, after reading about how many people have problems with the stock oil return line and getting cracks in the flex section I knew I needed to be very careful with it. Perhaps I should have test fit everything before installing... you live and you learn.

I don't think the turbos are bad, more likely the maintenance of operation mode, for instance:

-Let it cool by idling the car for at least 2-3 min after a hard day at the track/street
-Get as soon as posible (if you don't already have it) a SS braided oil feed line, it gives your turbo better oil pressure, therefore extended life, since OIL IS EVERYTHING for the turbo to work right
-Keep your eyes open for leaks on any line thats conected to the turbo, as they don't give you warnings, they just start to leak and eventually not provide the turbo with enough fluid (oil and coolant lines) as you may know the copper washers sometimes they seal great and sometimes they don't

I'm telling you follow this steps and use common sense when working around the turbo and you should have a LONG LASTING 16G Turbocharger.!

Happy boosting.

Thanks for the tips. I always let it idle for a minute or two after driving whether spirited or not (man do I need to a turbo timer), and I try to stay out of boost until I reach normal operating temps. Although I think I'll start looking for a SS braided oil feed line.

I just finished buttoning up all the connections last night. I had a little oil leaking from where the oil return line connects to the oil pan because the p/o put on some split lock washers, and yesterday I finally realized that those bolt holes are through holes and should be sealed with 6mm copper crush washers. So, interim I've got rubber washers from Menards sealing everything up until I can get some original parts from Satan.


Rommel

 

[GSTinCO]

Come back and let us know how this turbo treats you. I (we) will be interested in how long / well it holds up. Keep boostin

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

550? Wow you should have gotten the turbo NOT off of ebay and from a respectable vendor for 560 from thespeedfactor. Oh well lesson learned.

 

[driver70]

I'll be sure to post updates on the longevity of the turbo, perhaps I'll report every other oil change or 6,000 miles. I guess I'll be looking for shaft play, and as soon as I put on my catch can, I'll also start looking for oil in the intake tract or smoke out the tailpipe. Any other suggestions as to what I should be looking for?

Maybe I'll even go as far as to find someone else in WI who'd be willing to donate an MHI E316G, some time to swap back and forth, and go halves for dyno time... if so that'll end up in the WI DSM'ers thread.

And I didn't think 550 for this turbo was too bad of a deal since it came with a full port job (wastegate entrance in the exhaust housing was definitely opened up, at least comparing to pics I saw of port jobs on the vfaq,) and it came with the 34 mm wastegate port and flapper disc. All of which may have ended up being like an extra $150 on any other turbo.

Rommel

 

[Loxias]

I think he was just commenting on the price you paid off ebay and saying that you could've almost guaranteed yourself a resolution if problems occurred by purchasing it from a known reputable DSM vendor.

 

[98turbo]

Hey man, I installed my evo 3 gt about a month ago. I bought it off of ebay from the same company. Great turbo, install went great and turbo performs awesome. I haven't had any problems, no shaft play as of yet. I'm tuning my car monday(30th) and I will let you guys know how it does....

 

[99gst_racer]

driver70 - Thanks for the heads up on the return line bolt holes. It's good to finially here some info on this turbo coming from a non-bias person that is actually using the turbo. Be sure to keep us posted on it's performance and your overall opinion on it.

 

[driver70]

driver70 - Thanks for the heads up on the return line bolt holes. It's good to finially here some info on this turbo coming from a non-bias person that is actually using the turbo. Be sure to keep us posted on it's performance and your overall opinion on it.

Well, it's almost been 3 months and over 3,000 miles since I installed the Evo3 GT turbo- no shaft play as of yet.

I've been able to turn the boost up to 12 lbs with the fuel pump rewired and no knock (except phantom of course in the low rpm ranges... gotta find a way to get rid of it.) Before I re-wired the fp I was running 11 lbs and was getting anywhere from 4-9 counts of knock in the upper RPMs... but only if I'd let up on the gas a little bit (bad habit I guess- I'd let up on the gas when it feels like I'm accelerating fast enough.)

Just raced a 2002'ish 'Vette the other day on an on-ramp... he beat me by 2 car lengths, don't know how fast we were going by the time we merged. I was thoroughly impressed though because that was the single-most formidable car I've come up against and I pretty much held my own. And to think I've still got a fmic, u/l ic pipes, and evo 8 injectors waiting to be installed.

Cheers,
Rommel

 

[92awddsm]

550? Wow you should have gotten the turbo NOT off of ebay and from a respectable vendor for 560 from thespeedfactor. Oh well lesson learned.

Actually, turbochargers.com is pheonix turbo. They have been around alot longer than Martin(the speed factor, no offense Martin) and are a reputable turbo supplier. Please dont put down a company you know nothing about since you didnt do your homework. Just because they arent listed as one of dsmtuners sponsors doesnt mean they arent reputable.

 

[slugsgomoo]

i'm curious as to why people are buying the Evo3 16G GT (chinese built) turbo for $560 instead of buying an MHI Evo3 16g for $569. (there are several reputable shops that sell it between $570-600). I guess i just don't understand the need to save $9-30 on an already expensive item.

 

[99gst_racer]

Well, it's almost been 3 months and over 3,000 miles since I installed the Evo3 GT turbo- no shaft play as of yet.

That's good to hear man.

i'm curious as to why people are buying the Evo3 16G GT (chinese built) turbo for $560 instead of buying an MHI Evo3 16g for $569. (there are several reputable shops that sell it between $570-600). I guess i just don't understand the need to save $9-30 on an already expensive item.

Because the GT comes ported and with the 34mm flapper.......

 

[prostreetdsmx1]

Actually, turbochargers.com is pheonix turbo. They have been around alot longer than Martin(the speed factor, no offense Martin) and are a reputable turbo supplier.

how dare you sir. I challenge you to a Dual.

JK man. I can't argue that.

 

[92awddsm]

how dare you sir. I challenge you to a Dual.

JK man. I can't argue that.

And the only reason I new this was because I have bought turbos from them back in my honda days. Dont hold it against me, it was a long time back before I could afford a dsm. Then, when I did get my dsm, there was no "The speed factor". But like I said, no offense. I have been turboed for about 8 yrs but only dsm'ed for about 5.

 

[prostreetdsmx1]

And the only reason I new this was because I have bought turbos from them back in my honda days. Dont hold it against me, it was a long time back before I could afford a dsm. Then, when I did get my dsm, there was no "The speed factor". But like I said, no offense. I have been turboed for about 8 yrs but only dsm'ed for about 5.

like i said, you are right. i have delt with them and have not had any issues.

and like i have been saying from the begining. the 3 GT's we have out there are still running strong.

 

[92awddsm]

like i said, you are right. i have delt with them and have not had any issues.

and like i have been saying from the begining. the 3 GT's we have out there are still running strong.

Off topic but, is Liam's car together and running yet?