Need help picking a new turbo

[SteveR6]

Ok, just picked up my GST (auto) last week and low and behold the T25 is shot, which doesn't suprise nor anger me as I got a good deal on the car. It has an Apexi full exhaust and power intake which are currently the only mods. In the very near future it will have a MBC and 1g BOV. These are the only mods I basically will have done to the car for quite some time as this is my daily transportation and I'm just trying to "wake her up" a little. Any advice on what to replace the crapped out turbo with would be greatly appreciated, I was thinking of trying to find a 14B (cost effective) or go with the 16G? You guys know better than me, help a newbie out

 

[JayRolla]

Get the MHI Evo16g. It will get you over 300whp and is a great street turbo and FWD friendly if there is such a thing. You dont have the supporting mods to run a lot of boost but 10-12psi and you will be fine.

 

[jibberishballr]

Get the MHI Evo16g. It will get you over 300whp and is a great street turbo and FWD friendly if there is such a thing. You dont have the supporting mods to run a lot of boost but 10-12psi and you will be fine.

I second that. The EVO III 16g. You will have to do some modifications to install it which you can find at vfaq.com or just search the forums. Another option if you dont want to have to change anything to install it is the Big T28. I would go with the EVO III 16g though.

 

[SteveR6]

Any particular reason going with the 1G 14B and saving $300+ dollars is a bad idea? I have no aspirations of building an 11 second car or anything, just a quick streetcar somewhere in the mid 13s and I'd be more than happy.

 

[JayRolla]

The 14b is a good turbo. I just like the evo because it has way more up top power. It also seems to hold higher boost levels better. 25psi all the way through the gears where ive seen 14b drop boost. The 14b is pretty much the same as the 14b but the evo has a large 16g wheel. The 16 will get you where you need and will be easier. My bro dynoed 300whp at 17psi. And once you run 13's you will be happy for a while but then you will get bored and want to go further, happens to all of us.

 

[cmjdskates]

With your current setup, regardless of what turbo you buy to compliment it, you'll be running in the high 14's. It would be tough to get a 5spd awd to run in the 13's with your setup. I'm not bashing you or the car it's just that it is so difficult run that fast without more then 300wheel or an incredible launch. If you really plan on sticking with just the full exhaust, intake, 1gbov, and a boost controller then go with a big T28. It's a direct replacement on your car (a 16g or 14b requires an install kit) and it will spool up almost as fast as the T25 and hold the boost to red line even when you go up to 14-16psi (which you will want to do).

They are expensive though so try and find one used. Plenty of guys buy them and 3 months later want to go for big power. If you're sure you don't plan on being one of these guys then you should be able to pick on up reletively cheap.

I'm obviouly bored at work so I'm going to keep typing...

The other thing you might question are the hp numbers, "if I get the 16g I can slap it on and get 300whp." It's funny how so many people think that in the begining...I did. To get that type of power you still need to upgrade your fuel system, you need fuel management, and at the very least a squirt bottle filled with ethanol to spray down your smic in between runs/dyno pulls....k I'm done.

 

[daren_p]

14b is defently an upgrade from the t25 & can be had for a cheep price but you have to remember they stopped making the 1g's (that these came on) in 94 so trying to find one in good condition might not be the easyest thing. If you find one for a good deal & it ends up needing a rebuild it will be pretty much the same as a new evoIII would be. Personally I'd go with a new evoIII, then you know you have a good reliable turbo. If money is tight, then a used 14b or 16g would be the way to go. If you do go evoIII you will want to keep the boost under 15 psi, as it flows alot more air then the t25 will & out run your stock fuel system.

 

[dalatinromeo]

The EVO3 16g is a great turbo: fast spooling, hold bost find till redline, and real reliable. You can't go wrong with a 16g.

But if I were you then I will get some variant 50 trim; whether its SBR, PTE, etc. The price you are going to pay for a EVO3 16g + install kit you can get bolt-on 50 trim. Just incase you ever feel the need to have more power, you don't need to upgrae the turbo for a while.

The only down side I see in getting the 50 trim over the EVO3 16g is the great reliability factor you get with the 16g. Don't get me wrong a 50 trim can and IS very reliable; but you are going to get alot of people saying the EVO3 16g is more reliable.

But hey if I were you or I was upgrading I would go with PTE 5031E. Whatever turbo you get, keep the boost low into you get the proper fuel mods.

Hope this helps, stay boostin.

 

[SteveR6]

Holy crap, decisions decisions Seems like everyone has a different opinion. I'm still new to this whole turbo car thing, just sold a 69 camaro if that tells you anything, so I'm still trying to learn everything because it's a whole different animal. Hence you'll have to bear with my ignorance for a few months

 

[dalatinromeo]

Don't worry about it. Your first turbo upgrade is always the hardest. Don't worry everything will fall in place, and you will make a good decision.

 

[gsxtreme1987]

I'd go with a Evo III 16G since i blew my T-25 few weeks ago and got a 14B but im already looking to upgrade.

 

[98gst14b]

If your low on cash get the 14b, you can do a LOT on stock fuel with a 14b. I ran a 190lph and 18psi on a 14b for months w/o a single count of knock. A 16g would cost more money and chances are you would have to port it b/c the first thing you will notice is that its slower /w stock fuel and it will boost creep.

Conclusion: Low budget: 14b Got Money: 16g

Good Luck

 

[white93pgtze]

well the 14b t25 and all of those that spool quicker dont make any horsepower so if you want something that kicks get a garrett t4 mine is awsome

 

[VicBoost]

Your the same stage as i'm.... If i were you i would get the 16g and install kit. Then get a fmic, fuel mods, fuel managment, air intake blahblah read tech guide. Don't know what kind of fuel managment you need for 300hp. But ya go with the 16g thats what i'm going to do and get supporting mods.

 

[SteveR6]

Ahhh this car is becoming such a money pit it's nickel and diming me to DEATH but it's just so much fun to drive I can't even get mad at it because it brings one of these to my face every time I put the pedal on the floor. Even in it's current state of poor tune/ dying turbo. These are my thoughts on the subject, I definitely don't want to upgrade to bigger injectors because bigger injectors = crappy gas mileage and I bought this car under the pretense it made good mileage and was pretty quick (that's how I sold myself anyway). Everything I read on here about the 16G says it spools up slow and the boost has to be cranked up to see it's full potential, I really like torque for starters second I don't want to put anymore of a strain on this engine than is neccessary. I really don't want to replace a head gasket, it's never any fun at all. Plus this is my daily transportation so if I blow a motor or break something I'm kind of screwed. Not to mention to run that level of boost means bigger injectors/ pump. I ordered the boost gauge and hallman boost controller today, and quite frankly that's all the further I care to go with this car, if I want to go further I'll sell it and find a manual car, building an auto is like fighting an uphill battle in my mind. I just need to replace this oil leaking T25 with the most cost efficient thing that may give me a little more get up and go.

 

[dalatinromeo]

Everything I read on here about the 16G says it spools up slow.

Where have you been reading. The 16 spools up FAST. Well you can always go with a T28 used if you are looking for a simple swap.

 

[95talon_in_ma]

Ok, just picked up my GST (auto) last week and low and behold the T25 is shot, which doesn't suprise nor anger me as I got a good deal on the car. It has an Apexi full exhaust and power intake which are currently the only mods. In the very near future it will have a MBC and 1g BOV. These are the only mods I basically will have done to the car for quite some time as this is my daily transportation and I'm just trying to "wake her up" a little. Any advice on what to replace the crapped out turbo with would be greatly appreciated, I was thinking of trying to find a 14B (cost effective) or go with the 16G? You guys know better than me, help a newbie out

If you just got the car and need it as a daily driver, why not just replace the t25? You could probably get one for under $100. At least that way you can work out any other bugs the car might have. It would be bad if you put all that money in the turbo and had engine or tranny problems in the near future. Then down the road after everything is proven reliable, plan out the upgrades that will give you what you want.
Just a thought...

 

[SteveR6]

I've been looking for a cheap T25. No luck on that though, also looking for a T28. Hopefully I can locate one cheap because I'm not 100% sure the blown turbo is making the car smoke I'm 90% but I still think it could be valve seals and it would really suck to spend $600+ only to find out I have to replace those too. At any rate my turbo is bad definitely has in out shaft play, lots of it, and minimal up and down play. I noticed it makes an odd screaming noise when it's spooled, sometimes it sounds normal and other times it just sounds not "right" can't really describe it and it sounds real strange with the windows up for some reason. I'm assuming the shaft play is letting it contact the housing a tiny bit but yet the fins don't look damaged on the intake side.

 

[SteveR6]

I'm finding lots on Ebay but I'm not sure if they're the same as the T25 that's on there.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volv...6QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33742QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[gsxtreme1987]

those wont fit.

 

[SteveR6]

What's your opinion on this http://www.dsmtuners.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=50096&cat=all
Looks pretty damn promising to me!

 

[t0ny007]

I second evo3 16g.

 

[SteveR6]

I'm going to go with this 14B and see if it solves the problem, no sense spending $600+ to find out it wasn't the problem and I have bad valve seals. I'll keep everyone posted on the results.

 

[NewTurboTuner]

I wouldnt by any turbo part from any ebay store!

I'll be the 9th person to say... get a EVOIII 16g!
Its a direct bolt on replacement, with awesome spool, and great power!
Even if you dont run high boost, your air will be cooler, and your engine will run better.

 

[daren_p]

Ahhh this car is becoming such a money pit it's nickel and diming me to DEATH but it's just so much fun to drive I can't even get mad at it because it brings one of these to my face every time I put the pedal on the floor. Even in it's current state of poor tune/ dying turbo. These are my thoughts on the subject, I definitely don't want to upgrade to bigger injectors because bigger injectors = crappy gas mileage and I bought this car under the pretense it made good mileage and was pretty quick (that's how I sold myself anyway). Everything I read on here about the 16G says it spools up slow and the boost has to be cranked up to see it's full potential, I really like torque for starters second I don't want to put anymore of a strain on this engine than is neccessary. I really don't want to replace a head gasket, it's never any fun at all. Plus this is my daily transportation so if I blow a motor or break something I'm kind of screwed. Not to mention to run that level of boost means bigger injectors/ pump. I ordered the boost gauge and hallman boost controller today, and quite frankly that's all the further I care to go with this car, if I want to go further I'll sell it and find a manual car, building an auto is like fighting an uphill battle in my mind. I just need to replace this oil leaking T25 with the most cost efficient thing that may give me a little more get up and go.

Couple problems here, don't know what you've been reading but a 16g is an extremely fast spooling turbo. You will notice very minimal if any lag compared to the t25 with a TONN more top end power. Larger injectors won't change your gas milage at all if you have a tuning device, which you need to have to run larger injecotrs. I run 750cc injectors (stock is 450cc) and they act exactly like stock as far as driveability and fuel economy (thanks to DSMLink). The stock head gasket can handle quite abit of boost, I was running 23 psi on my stock HG and head bolts without any issues, some run more. Add in a set of ARP head studs and with a proper tune your stock HG should handle mid 20's no problem (assuming a good tune, a bad tune can blow a HG at much lower boost levels as well)