Ebay Turbo Experiences.

[666DAN]

A general safe rule is -

If you can't afford to replace it or get it rebuilt, avoid cheaper Chinese products with "precision" moving parts or that items are exposed to high heat, turbos fall into both categories so the risk is higher.

There are however many products that don't fall under those descriptions that are pretty damn good for the money.

[W0rp3D]

A mate has a master power on his xe falcon, external gate, shitty home made log style exhaust manifold, standard engine and it made 180rwkw on 8psi, he wont take it above 10psi till he gets a new engine built.

[toneski]

hey i gotta t4t3 internal wastegate 600hp ebay turbo from monstaperformance (the ebay shop) i won it for $150( bargin).

it was straight bolt on to my factory manifold on my rb25 other then dump pipe so i had one made up on a 3 inch exhaust.

on the standed computer , standed intercooler and 10 psi, i made 300hp at the wheels and next month i will have been running this set up for a year with out a problem at all and im making the 10 psi by 3800 rpm

[paulr33]

220rwkw @ 10spi and it comes on at 3800rpm? thats junk

[R31Nismoid]

It wont be 600hp in a t3/4 format

[toneski]

junk whys junk and not t3t4 its t4t3 t4 intake for mass air in and t3 exhaust for quick spool and mass flow out

[croat]

if you are going to do it, do it properly. i would not stick a cheap tight ass ebay turbo to my car if it was for free. you are basically opening up a can of problems. i would not buy a car that had that kind of gear on it for starters. there is a reason why it is so cheap, all they do is copy and they sure do it poorly. people are better off saving and doing it properly down the track.

[rb26s13]

junk whys junk and not t3t4 its t4t3 t4 intake for mass air in and t3 exhaust for quick spool and mass flow out

its junk cause your "quick" spool is absolutely pathetic 10psi by 3800 is shithouse for 220rwkw.

[Travis Trayhern]

ok what is u guys problems, this topic is about ebay turbos not about u giving the ppl shit that have them we asked what and how there ebay turbo is going, so u keyboard bandits go take a walk because i would sure as hell snot u in the face if i saw u out, if they want to spend $150 on a cheap turbo so be that its not your problem and by the sounds of it he is happy so stop raining on his peraide. how would u like it if i started calling you peice of s**t car junk and the bits on it? for $150 is better than stock and its lasted so far.

the point of this topic is

"I know these turbos are cheap, and people HATE them..

I just want to hear PERSONAL experiences.. dont just tell me there shit.. dont botter..

unless youve done it."

[rb26s13]

ok what is u guys problems, this topic is about ebay turbos not about u giving the ppl shit that have them we asked what and how there ebay turbo is going, so u keyboard bandits go take a walk because i would sure as hell snot u in the face if i saw u out, if they want to spend $150 on a cheap turbo so be that its not your problem and by the sounds of it he is happy so stop raining on his peraide. how would u like it if i started calling you peice of s**t car junk and the bits on it? for $150 is better than stock and its lasted so far.

the point of this topic is

"I know these turbos are cheap, and people HATE them..

I just want to hear PERSONAL experiences.. dont just tell me there shit.. dont botter..

unless youve done it."

IF they survive more than first start up they are extremely laggy and make piss poor power for there shitty lag. if your goin to mod cars.. dont be cheap with moving parts.. especially the main powermaker in the whole thing.. you really do get wat you pay for with turbos.

[The Dan]

if you are going to do it, do it properly. i would not stick a cheap tight ass ebay turbo to my car if it was for free. you are basically opening up a can of problems. i would not buy a car that had that kind of gear on it for starters. there is a reason why it is so cheap, all they do is copy and they sure do it poorly. people are better off saving and doing it properly down the track.

Right on the money there mate. Customers of mine have said they could have saved thousands if they did it right the first time

its junk cause your "quick" spool is absolutely pathetic 10psi by 3800 is shithouse for 220rwkw.

+1

ok what is u guys problems, this topic is about ebay turbos not about u giving the ppl shit that have them we asked what and how there ebay turbo is going, so u keyboard bandits go take a walk because i would sure as hell snot u in the face if i saw u out, if they want to spend $150 on a cheap turbo so be that its not your problem and by the sounds of it he is happy so stop raining on his peraide. how would u like it if i started calling you peice of s**t car junk and the bits on it? for $150 is better than stock and its lasted so far.

the point of this topic is

"I know these turbos are cheap, and people HATE them..

I just want to hear PERSONAL experiences.. dont just tell me there shit.. dont botter..

unless youve done it."

Settle down mate, he HAS done it....so have I. He asked for people's personal experiences. rb26s13 personally experienced reading that other guys shit response and power figure so duly commented on its shitness. Other people made POSITIVE comments without 'personal experience' but you don't cry about that.

There's no need to rant on about snotting people in the face. That won't get you anywhere...and it'll get you there fast.

Unlike the Ebay turbo...it has much lag so it will get you there slow.

The fact of the matter is, it's hit and miss. You can buy good stuff from Ebay, or sometimes you can get crap. If you don't mind the gamble, then go for it.

IF they survive more than first start up they are extremely laggy and make piss poor power for there shitty lag. if your goin to mod cars.. dont be cheap with moving parts.. especially the main powermaker in the whole thing.. you really do get wat you pay for with turbos.

Yeah, most of the crap I have been handed over the years hasn't survived the first drive. I pretty much refuse to fit them now.

[rb26s13]

Right on the money there mate. Customers of mine have said they could have saved thousands if they did it right the first time

+1

Settle down mate, he HAS done it....so have I. He asked for people's personal experiences. rb26s13 personally experienced reading that other guys shit response and power figure so duly commented on its shitness. Other people made POSITIVE comments without 'personal experience' but you don't cry about that.

There's no need to rant on about snotting people in the face. That won't get you anywhere...and it'll get you there fast.

Unlike the Ebay turbo...it has much lag so it will get you there slow.

The fact of the matter is, it's hit and miss. You can buy good stuff from Ebay, or sometimes you can get crap. If you don't mind the gamble, then go for it.

Yeah, most of the crap I have been handed over the years hasn't survived the first drive. I pretty much refuse to fit them now.

i have personal experience fitting a t3t4 to an sr20 and have been in one of the previously mentioned cars that had a t70.. the t3t4 one wasnt to bad.. but was just done as a cheap laugh.. only ever ran 10psi thru factory s13 computer and afm

the other one with the t70 on an sr20 previously mentioned from memory was running 16psi when i went in it and well.. the lag was absolute crap the wastegate barely opened for 1500rpm with the 7000-7500rpm limiter and well the kick for that 2000rpm or so were it made more than 4psi boost was pathetic...

Edited September 22, 2008 by rb26s13

[R31Nismoid]

junk whys junk and not t3t4 its t4t3 t4 intake for mass air in and t3 exhaust for quick spool and mass flow out

well you wont get mass flow outta a T3 rear mate, sorry to say it.

And, as stated before, 220rwkw/10psi ... @ 3800rpm?

Terrible. No wonder it was cheap.

I make 250rwkw, and 1bar WELL before your turbo, and my setup is good for well over 300rwkw, yours isn't.

My previous was RB25/GT30, with 17psi on by 4200rpm and 270rwkw... makes yours look special doesn't it?

[Travis Trayhern]

yes well we are her to read why they are junk from ppl that have experiance from them not just all say they are junk and thats that.

[rev210]

ok what is u guys problems, this topic is about ebay turbos not about u giving the ppl shit that have them we asked what and how there ebay turbo is going, so u keyboard bandits go take a walk because i would sure as hell snot u in the face if i saw u out, if they want to spend $150 on a cheap turbo so be that its not your problem and by the sounds of it he is happy so stop raining on his peraide. how would u like it if i started calling you peice of s**t car junk and the bits on it? for $150 is better than stock and its lasted so far.

the point of this topic is

"I know these turbos are cheap, and people HATE them..

I just want to hear PERSONAL experiences.. dont just tell me there shit.. dont botter..

unless youve done it."

What you have to understand is that people on this forum are for the most part concerned to help other enthusiasts. Being discouraging about a potential engine destroying turbo is hard not to do when you give a damn about fellow skyline owners.

There have been a few posts so far from very experienced owner/tuners and not keyboard warriors. I'm now going to add my 2c too.

I had experience with cheap turbos in the past and they ARE S^%T. Why? Because they certainly aren't balanced or built well (they can't afford to for $150) and when a turbo lets go you have the potential of damaging the motor.

Now onto a budget turbo comparison;

$150 ebay turbo + $300 dump pipe. Vs second hand VG30 bolt on Vs $400 modified Stock turbo

The $300 second hand VG30 turbo is better because;

* It costs $100 less.

* It bolts straight on with no modifications

* It's water cooled

* It's factory balanced

* It makes the same sort of power

* It has less lag

* Comes in ball bearing

* Has a steel exhaust wheel

* Is going to last alot longer

The $400 v-trim stock turbo modification is better because;

* It bolts on, no mods

* you have ballbearing setup

* balanced

* water cooled

* Makes more power, 250rwkw at fairly low boost

* Has less lag

* Is going to last alot longer

If you do your research on this forum or ask nicely of the experienced forum members you will find these options have been around a very very long time and are the best budget options given the E-bay units cost just as much if not more to setup and don't even remotely perform as well.

Hope that adds something to the discussion

Edited September 23, 2008 by rev210

[CEF11E]

I have another personal experience to share

I tuned a car for someone that was powered by an RB30e and it had a monster performance t3t4 with an external gate running 12psi.

the car made 170rwkw and power delivery was very smooth but it took far to long to come onto boost. full boost was just over 4000rpm. this was on a 3 litre bottom end. also boost coming back on once you changed gears took almost 2 seconds and by this time it was nearly time to change again.

the turbo never died and made no bad noises. it just had bad response and lacked power.

the owner was disappointed with the results and regretted buying the turbo as the same power could have been had with an rb25 turbo and full boost at 2000 rpm on the 3 litre.

this is only my opinion, but if you love your skyline and have spent a considerable amount of money on it, at least put a name brand hiflow on it. these can be had for a shade over $1000 and will make 250rwkw and bolt right on.

[paulr33]

i guess with all respect travis, we have these threads usually weekly

some guy wants to buy a $200 ebay turbo and cant understand why it wont perform ace and be really really good

its going to be junk, we have these threads flat out - turbocharger performance isnt sub $300 and never will be

you need quality components and specialist balancing and r&d - its best in all circumstances to stay away from cheap turbochargers

im not saying to go and spend $2900 on a HKS kit but dont spend $300 and expect it to be great, it will be junk

by junk most people mean

- bitch to fit

- bitch to make it mate up to other items

- crappy welds / parts used

- laggy as all hell, typically worse than the std turbo

- short lifespan / life time

yes there are expections to this, but as a general rule, stay away. you can get off the shelf garrett units for sub $1000 these days brand new

why would you not go for a trusted brand, locally supported (GCG in sydney) with all the charts, sheets, specs you need

you can even choose wheel options, housing options, actuator options and other stuff such as compressor maps

[usmair]

The $400 v-trim stock turbo modification is better because;

* It bolts on, no mods

* you have ballbearing setup

* balanced

* water cooled

* Makes more power, 250rwkw at fairly low boost

* Has less lag

* Is going to last alot longer

interested about this... im guessing this is a hi flow stock r33 turbo correct?

dont they usually go for over $1000?? i'd love a turbo capaable of 250rwkw for $400 + installation

[bozodos]

I'm surprised that anyone would dignify this internet tough guy (Travis Trayhem) with a rational response, shows the maturity of a lot of people on this forum versus a lot of other car forums out there.

To the OP : if you lurked moar, you'd realise that this forum isnt about backyard modding (to an extent), and Ebay parts, you have a Skyline, a (reletively) expensive car to buy and run, to my way of thinking there's no point doing things to it on the cheap, may as well sell it and buy something cheaper to run or save up for the good stuff. I think most of the reasons stated why to dissuade him are quite sound btw.

If you're dead set on the Ebay route, I suggest you have a look on www.calaisturbo.com.au VL Turbo section - there's multiple threads on Ebay parts and turbos if you have a look around, and the general vibe there is more conducive to those chasing cheap HP.

meh I have a KKR turbo which isn't quite the cheapest, but a lot cheaper than a decent turbo, and as I've stated in various other threads, its a POS, and i'm tempted to get rid of it if a cheap OEM replacment can make similar power for cheap, otherwise I'll just save up for a GT3037 (mines been dynoed 240rwkw @ 18psi, and im looking at a retune cause it uses so much damn fuel to get there)

I remember a few years ago a guy here had an R33 running a MonstA ebay turbo, cant remember the exact specs, (T70 maybe?) and other Autobarn/Ebay parts, ended up making his 300rwkw with a car which was basically a dyno queen and had no end of hassles with parts and then motors shitting themselves, mainly due with having to use them to their limits to get the output he wanted.

[BAMR33]

so u keyboard bandits go take a walk because i would sure as hell snot u in the face if i saw u out

'snot' on people often?