Do I need a turbo Cam?

[Lofty]

Alrighty.
I'm going to turbo my NT
Problem. I don't want to take off the timing belt because I don't have the proper equipment.
I was reading the Turbo Upgrade page and it says I need a turbo cam.
Do I really need one for 5psi of boost?
I'm gonna swap in a T25. Stock internals and all that.
That's the only thing that scares me, is it really necessary to have a turbo cam?
Thanks

 

[93_tsi_fwd]

No you dont need a turbo cam if your just going to run low boost.

not to be an ass, but why the t25?

 

[pj91gsx]

I would say make sure you do the right wastegate mod so you dont over boost.

 

[JusMX141]

why the t25?

Quick response at low boost....it already has the outlet on the bottom facing the passenger's side of the car (no need for a j-pipe), zero possibility for boost creep, and they can be bought in good useable condition for $50. There are a few good reasons.

I wouldn't use one because they're not as durable as the MHI turbos. The T25's weak 270* thrust plate has been known to break and wind up in the oil pan.

I'd get a 13G or 14B, sidemount j-pipe, and go from there. Don't buy a 1G turbo manifold...they're much more fragile than the 2G manifolds are.

 

[Lofty]

Quick response at low boost....it already has the outlet on the bottom and it faces the passenger's side of the car (no need for a j-pipe). There are a few good reasons.

I wouldn't use one because they're not as durable as the MHI turbos. The T25's weak 270* thrust plate has been known to break and wind up in the oil pan.

I'd get a 13G or 14B, sidemount j-pipe, and go from there. Don't buy a 1G turbo manifold...they're much more fragile than the 2G manifolds are.

Well I'm getting a T25 for 30$.
So is it still worth it for so cheap?
Also, whats better for low boost 13G or 14B?
And thanks for the manifold info, good to know.

 

[JusMX141]

You can't go wrong for $30. If it has ANY shaft play, don't bother bolting it to your car. A T25 will normally develop in / out play before developing up / down play.

The 13G would be comparable to the T25. The 14B would be the first "upgrade", if you could call it that.


Find a 2G manifold, 2G o2 housing (better-matched to the T25's wastegate passage), 1G FWD downpipe (stock would be fine), and build from there. You wouldn't necessarily need to hook up the water lines on the T25 depending on how well you care for it.

 

[Lofty]

You can't go wrong for $30. If it has ANY shaft play, don't bother bolting it to your car. A T25 will normally develop in / out play before developing up / down play.

The 13G would be comparable to the T25. The 14B would be the first "upgrade", if you could call it that.


Find a 2G manifold, 2G o2 housing (better-matched to the T25's wastegate passage), 1G FWD downpipe (stock would be fine), and build from there. You wouldn't necessarily need to hook up the water lines on the T25 depending on how well you care for it.

Alrighty man, no shaft play at all apparently, and yeah if it goes kaput. No biggie, time for a bigger turbo.
If I ever have any more questions mind if I pm you?

 

[pj91gsx]

if you need the water pipe, I have a few extra.

 

[JusMX141]

I'm always open for PM's.

 

[shaggyslaser]

Good luck, keep us posted. What are you doing as far as fuel trim?

 

[SnowBird]

Yes you need a turbo cam, the na has way too much overlap. Check my recent threads and look at the one on fuel cut at 12psi. I messed with the problem for months, its because I had non turbo cams and I was getting way too much air then I could use, I was getting nasty fuel cut just over 10lbs, and the car had absolutely no top end, it felt like crap. You can listen to what these guys "think", but I just swapped in turbo cams last week and the problem was solved, I dont think it just magically dissapeared. Put in stock turbo cams, they are cheap and youll love the power.

 

[90-DSM-TSI-AWD]

Don't buy a 1G turbo manifold...they're much more fragile than the 2G manifolds are.

the 1g manifold has bigger runners so the exhaust gases can flow better.

 

[JusMX141]

Are you sure about that?

The 2G manifold is the exact copy of an Evo III manifold, except the 2G manifold has a 6cm2 collector instead of the Evo III manifold's 7cm2 collector. If what you're saying is true, I'm sure guys would be scarfing up 1G manifolds instead of going to the Evo III manifold as the hot ticket.

Even if the 1G manifold DID have larger runners (which I'm sure it doesn't), what would he gain by choosing that manifold over one with smaller runners at 8psi?

 

[EGGY]

i do believe he is rigth about the cam. turbo and non tubo are way diff. cams are specificlly made for turbos. i relize he isnt going for big power but im sure u could get stock turbo cams cheap!

 

[big_d]

I've did the swap successfully with n/t cams and pistons. This web site had all the info...
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/freestyle/turboconversion.html

I sold the car to my brother...Since the swap he is running a Hafe manifold with a Tial wastegate set at about 7lbs. The wiring isn't too bad. Injector resistor pack, knock sensor, and 1 additional wire for the maf. The car pulls very hard for such little boost on the 14b(7cm manifold and exhaust housing=essentially no lag). It was a very good learning experience. The trouble you may run into is how weak the n/t transmission is. Over winter we plan on swapping out a turbo trans with an lsd. If I was home I'd snap some pictures but here is how I sold it to him after I did the swap.

 

[shaggyslaser]

Clean setup, dude. So with the turbo cams and pistons, and injector resistor pack, knock sensor, and maf, you were able to run a turbo ecu with low boost?

 

[Hideki]

5-psi? I'm sure you'd be fine with the NT cams for that but like stated earlier, if you're gonna go higher than that swap in the turbo cams (it'll cost you under a c-note and it'll take an afternoon, and beside it'll give you a perfect chance to change the seals and timing belt right?). As for the 1G exhaust manifold having larger ports... It's the 1G intake manifold that has that, that's why 1G owners move onto the 2G exhaust manifold when their's cracks.

 

[redyute1]

i did the swap and run n/t cams all day 8 psi.Now after i blew the motor i just put in a rebuilt six bolt turbo block and as of right now am still running a n/t complete head 15 psi all day no problems pulls hard .

 

[Lofty]

Yeah thanks guys!
I don't know, I'm not 100% sure on what I'm doing, and its my DD. So this could get interesting.

 

[pj91gsx]

Yeah thanks guys!
I don't know, I'm not 100% sure on what I'm doing, and its my DD. So this could get interesting.

get you boost leak tester ready.