Any truth to ball bearing 14b/16g rebuild?

[gusu]

So a few months ago I met this guy who has been tuning DSMs since he got his 91 in... 1991. He said that around 1997-1998 a tuning company made a series of ball bearing 14b/16g. I did find some claims of companies before 2003 stopping production on a series of T-25 and T-28 ball bearing turbos.

After reading how Garrett was making ball bearing cartridges for racing teams around that time I do think it is believable that some tuning companies copied the concept.

I do know when I did turbo assembly for Caterpillar we had one turbo we assembled for another company, that came with either a journal bearing set up or a ball bearing option. Both cartridges were made the same size.

So it got me wondering are there any TDO5H ball bearing cartridges that were ever made, or still being made? I highly doubt they are currently in production as I can't find anything online which also raises my doubts on it ever being done.

The only reason I'm interested is simply because I'd like to see what I can get out of a 14b for shits and giggles.

Anyway, I'm going to keep searching and let you guys know if I find anything out.

 

[snooopy365]

A friend told me that they do convert 14B/16G/20G turbos to BB in england for about 1400 bucks.
So I'm pretty sure it is possible, but in no relation to the cost.

 

[ed1380]

My girl has the killer 16g. Its a ball bearing Turbo made by ihi. It has nothing to do with a 16g, just similar specs. That's the closest thing I know of a bb 14/16 series

 

[Boostinsideways]

I am pretty sure the only Ball bearing "16g" are the IHI and XS "16g Killer" and those turbos are basically shit and there is a good reason no one uses them.

http://intensepower.com/spec16gkilki.html

 

[delta448]

It's not a mitsubishi CHRA.
It could be the Evo 3 "GT" or the 16G killer as ed1380 noted, both are inferior to a real Evo 3 16G.

 

[RipperXX]

To the OP, in my opinion it would be an expensive and silly upgrade even if you were to source a company that could and would upgrade a MHI CHRA UNLESS it was for a 20g. With the 14b and 16g turbo's they spool fast enough that in any real racing situation I don't think anything could realisticly be gained by going BB CHRA. Would it spool faster, yes likely, would the difference amount to anything. I seriously doubt it.


I do think it's a "neat" idea however and I like to see people thinking outside the box. But like I said with anything using a TD05H turbine with the exception of the 20g I think it would be pretty much pointless as the performance increase would be negligable...imo.

 

[Kyle_T]

www.ozEVO.com • View topic - Ball Bearing TD04, TD05 and TD06's

http://www.billetturbochargers.com/Mitsi_rebuilds_and_hiflows.ews

 

[gusu]

To the OP, in my opinion it would be an expensive and silly upgrade even if you were to source a company that could and would upgrade a MHI CHRA UNLESS it was for a 20g. With the 14b and 16g turbo's they spool fast enough that in any real racing situation I don't think anything could realisticly be gained by going BB CHRA. Would it spool faster, yes likely, would the difference amount to anything. I seriously doubt it.


I do think it's a "neat" idea however and I like to see people thinking outside the box. But like I said with anything using a TD05H turbine with the exception of the 20g I think it would be pretty much pointless as the performance increase would be negligable...imo.

And that is pretty much what turns me on about the idea. So useless yet I can say I'm one of the few who actually went ahead and did it anyway. It's kind of like being one of the few who are willing to go ahead and swap a 4g63T into a 420a 2g DSM. Pointless? Not totally. Expensive? Yes. Worth the time or effort? Probably not. Do I still want to do it? HELL YES!

I just thought it would be something unique to do just to say I did. Plus I was curious and curiosity got the better of me.

 

[kidtsi]

and gave away the MHI reliability, FFFF NO!

 

[Bud92gsx]

This would be badass for a 16g to be BB..But if the people who make them really do make shit turbo's..It's almost like buying an ebay turbo isn't it?

I wonder if Justin would know, or have an answer to this?

 

[red1993gsallmt]

Spend 1400 on a bb 14b or 16g, thats retarted. It will still flow the same. They spool fast enough

 

[JusMX141]

The photos in the link above illustrate a non-MHI turbine housing, compressor cover, and actuator being used. Not sure if this is a way to cut production costs or what, but the Evo III GT turbine housings like they have on the turbo in the photos have cracked in as little as 5k miles....compared to an Evo III turbine housing which never cracks.

There's no reason for a MHI turbo to spool any quicker than what they already do, and putting a ball bearing turbo on a daily-driven car is asking for problems unless you have deep pockets.

 

[snooopy365]

I totally agree.
My Evo3 16G creates about 0 pressure @2000rpm.
How the f*** needs more boost before that rpm??

 

[Bud92gsx]

For us auto guys with stock convters I can see a ball bearing 16g being useful..

Although if there crap ass turbo's, like I said I's almost like buying an ebay turbo..Just wait for it to fail..