Funny situation, I have a real EVO3 turbo and an Ebay 16g turbo..

[thewraith]

Well, I picked up a brand spanking new ebay evo3/16g turbo setup from a local here for $125 bucks the other day. But I also have a real one en route that I got for a good price. What do you guys think I should do here? You want comparison pics of the turbos side by side, comparison vids? Do you want me to install the ebay one and see how long it runs and how well it runs, then if it blows to install the real MHI Evo3? Throw me some ideas. I'll try to entertain them.

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ADDITION TO THE THREAD:

With all due respect here. I think a lot of people on both sides are being HEAVILY MISLEAD by others. The MHI turbo with the install kit will in NO WAY cost you only $75 more then the ebay setup. Where is everyone getting their numbers from? The ebay turbos with the install kit and an ebay j pipe will cost you under $300. The MHI turbo's with the same wil cost you $700+

Guys please get your numbers straight here. I am not a cheapskate or a poor starving college student. If you look at the pictures- I have a relatively new MHI turbo in the pictures right next to the ebay turbo and both are mine. I'm not doing this to save a couple of bucks but to prove a theory we have.
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One warning I will put in caps here for those who may buy an ebay turbo and ebay install kit.

90% OF THE BOLTS, STUDS, ETC ON THE EBAY TURBO INSTALL KITS ARE THE INCORRECT SIZE. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN USING EBAY INSTALL KITS. IF IT DOESNT' THREAD IN HALFWAY WITH YOUR FINGERS- IT IS THE WRONG SIZE, HEED MY WARNING

 

[deletrius]

Sounds like a great idea! I'd like to know how your experience goes with the ebay 16g, as I have had two so far and both of them have blown their seals in under 1500 miles. Heck, the first one I had blew it's seals with only 50 miles on it. The current one I have on my car has about 1cm of in/out shaft play, no up/down play at all though...

 

[kh730]

Did you baby them for the first 500 miles or did you throw them on there and rip it cause I am told a break in session is esential especially with those turbos?

 

[123212321]

Did you baby them for the first 500 miles or did you throw them on there and rip it cause I am told a break in session is esential especially with those turbos?

Interesting. I've heard turbos are Prime and Go. Are you sure they really must be broken in?

 

[laserspeeddemon]

I am watching this thread like a hawk waiting to decide what to buy. I have a 1g with no front mount or any of that jazz so will the install kit work that comes with the ebay one if I go that route or do you still suggest getting the kit from slowboy and using it with the ebay turbo? I hope your results are positive most of what I read from people that ACTUALLY HAVE the turbos is good its just the peeps that payed 3 times as much that really bash them.

you guys rock...this is so great!

Wouldn't the ebay 16g's be better for the 1g. They are supposed to be "direct bolt on"...and with the FMIC issue with ebay one's I'd think that a supra SMIC would suffice an evo 16g.

Correct. The 1g will be a direct bolt on and no other modifcation is needed. So if you get a install kit, you can either use the new oil lines or sell them on here.

I believe it is also lighter. Not sure though, someone confirm/correct? I've heard that they are and that they aren't.

We didn't get a chance to put them on an actual scale- but they seemed like they were the same weight. I thought the ebay turbo was lighter and laserspeed thought the mhi was lighter.

The EVO III 16g turbine housing is lighter by 2.6 lbs. As for actually picking them up, I really couldn't tell which one was really lighter.

 

[deletrius]

Did you baby them for the first 500 miles or did you throw them on there and rip it cause I am told a break in session is esential especially with those turbos?

Interesting. I've heard turbos are Prime and Go. Are you sure they really must be broken in?

I have always heard the same thing, prime and go, and that's what I did. I don't think I have ever heard of a "break in" on a turbo. I do recall asking around the local speed shops and the local veteran DSMers about it but they all said the same thing, just make sure to prime it first and you should be golden.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

I have always heard the same thing, prime and go, and that's what I did. I don't think I have ever heard of a "break in" on a turbo. I do recall asking around the local speed shops and the local veteran DSMers about it but they all said the same thing, just make sure to prime it first and you should be golden.

Correct a turbo is prime and go, at least for thrust bearing turbos.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Meek, looks like we are going to have to pull the turbing housing and port the WG outlet. Or we can see how bad the creep is, then pull it and port it to compare results. (We knew that was going to be a problem anyway.

We'd be testing another myth with the ebay turbos.

 

[thewraith]

Oh what perfect timing. It just so happens I have a heavy duty die grinder and carbide porting bits coming in...

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Good deal. If you want to order an EVO III 02 housing, we can take a dremel to that too.

 

[thewraith]

No dremel necessary- I gotta real tool coming in. The porting may have to wait till later thou as the tool won't be in for a little over a week or so

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Cool!

Check out this bit! It's got a 6" reach on it to go DEEP into turbine housing and the teeth on it are very aggressive.

Link

 

[AndrewD5418]

Woah dude. Thanks for that link, I'll have to order me one up!

 

[holeshot-h]

So what is your time frame from this point? I should be firing up my E-Bay Evo 3 this weekend. DSM Link should be here tomorrow. I'm just hung up on a 3" downpipe. I'm driving over to Megan on Thursday to meet their tech as the headpipe I recieved isn't even close.

 

[thewraith]

This weekend as well. The porting will have to wait till later- I have to get the car out of the garage.

 

[silvreclips]

Great thread guys. I have been thinking about buying one of these in the summer. Cant wait to see the results.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

We are getting 3" of snow thoughout today (and night). Snow should be cleared up tomorrow. But it would have been cool to test out the Ebay turbo in the snow covered parking lots

 

[neezy]

im actually contemplating the ebay turbo with all lines tubular header and cant wait to hear results so far i am still purchasing it keep it up

 

[thewraith]

Ok just tapped the thermostat housing for a water temperature guage line, and the j pipe for pressure source. JB weld has gone on. Also put the new oil feed line in with the crows foot wrenches. Will have pictures of it all up. Will start cutting the bumper tomorrow and do the fuel pump install. After I put the new wheels on the car will be ready to go. Either tomorrow or Monday night. Thanks everyone for your patience.

 

[thewraith]

Good news! Just started the car up for the first time after the installs and luckily everything sounds beautiful. Here is a preliminary video. No drive yet as I have to install little things like the timing belt covers, run the wire for the pressure and temp gauges thru the firewall, and waiting on my eclipse 2gb bumper to come in on monday. Everything looks and sounds great. I have a little belt squeal and have to tighten some belts but other then that- laserspeeddemon and I have done well thus far. The next few months will be the true test. I will keep everything updated. A tech writeup will follow with the pictures I have and I will describe everything that I installed and how I installed it.

Thanks all,

YouTube - Project Ebay turbo DSM launched

 

[alice]

Everything looks pretty good so far. Keep the good news coming!!

 

[thewraith]

Took the car for a very short drive today, since it gets dark early. No white smoke, nothing blowing, etc etc. I do have a large boost leak somewhere and I haven' thad a chance to check for it. Also one of my water lines was loose but an easy fix. Thus far- the turbo doesn't seem to make any power till the higher rpms. Then I get a hiccup (not enough fuel maybe?) and let off the gas. Will update you guys on test results. I can't really take it for a real drive since my bumper hasn't come in yet and don't want to drive without it in fairfax county.

 

[Mr Peepers]

^Sounds like fuel cut from the boost leak.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Yep, the hiccup is indication of a large boost leak.

 

[Marcus92]

It'll be nice to see some side by side comparison along with some "butt dyno" analysis. ESP for all the guys running on a super tight budget. At one point i actually contemplated the Ebay turbo until a vender got me a deal on a real Evo3 for under 500 bucks.

 

[BigDan]

What a let down.

After reading through 5 pages I was hoping for a good write up and a good detailed first hand experience of the swap.

Thousands of these turbos have been sold and this it the best info we have??

Good job so far, looking forward to you fixing your leak