To Hi-flo Or Not To Hi-flo, That Is The Question

[myr332]

I would like to know people's opions and experiences on hi-flowing turbos on their Skylines; preferably to do with R33 S2's.

I'm in the predicament that one (or two) of the exhaust manifold gaskets has gone on the turbo and i now need to get it replaced. That in itself isn't too bad and I am thankful.

My thoughts are that whilst they have the turbo out I have the potential to get the thing hi-flowed. I cannot flat replace the the turbo with a bigger and better due to budget, insurance and leased reasons.

So what I am really after is an understanding of what benefits I have to make from hi-flowing my turbo. I was of the understanding that it allows me to run more boost than the standard turbo however my mechanic informed me that the limitation is not only the turbo but the engine.

So do people have real life experiences from hi-flowing? I already have the pre-requisites to run a large turbo (fuel pump, injectors, exhaust, FMIC, PowerFC, ProfecB) so now is my shot to get that extra performance.

So please... hit me up with what you've done or what you've heard.. It'll help me greatly!!!

Cheers

[thommo]

send it off to GCG for the hi flow, will cost around 2k and will retain the stock appearance from outside.

plenty of people on here will stand by the quality of work and the performance gains that can be achieved from the gcg hi flows on r33's.

[Munna]

you may also need a z32 AFM or similiar then it should be good for 240rwkw with a gcg highflow

[Cubes]

You do get what you pay for.

If you decide to cheap out and go a plain bush bearing highflow then it will set you back around 1k, you will see roughly the same power as the gcg highflow IF the bloke knows what he is doing and has experience with the rb's. In other words, he knows his limitations.

Bush turbo's don't last as long as BB turbo's. Expect half the BB's life if pushed hard.

[TTT]

you say you don't have the dollars for a bigger better turbo yet you say you want to hi-flow your current one.

GCG hi-hiflow R33 turbo's to make them something liek 450HP units with steel wheels and ball bearing center and it costs something like $2200

I'm pretty sure that a GT30 from garrett is not that far off and a much better option for more power in the future.

[thommo]

but gt30's don't look like the standard turbo...

[Cubes]

And they cost another 1.5-2k on top of the turbo for wastegate and manifold.

[BHDave]

If you stick an aftermarket turbo on and retain all the factory heat shields and piping, no one will really notice unless really looking for it. Though the comp cover on a gt30 is pretty massive so it will stand out, 2530 or gtrs is a bit les obvious.

A GCG highflow is a nice piece of gear. Mine made an easy 199rwkw with similar mods to you and was making 14psi by 3100rpm or so. I would recommend one if you really want to maintain the factory housings.

I swapped to a full HKS kit and will never look back, but it doesn't look very stock anymore

[Tangles]

Ive recently had a chat to Bill at Adelaide Turbo Services, to determine whether the 2ndhand turbo I bought was a Neo R34 turbo as advertised, or not (it isnt!).

He sends a lot of clientel's turbos to GCG for a rebuild for the $1950 price, or he can do a 'slight upgrade' as such and inhouse makes the standard turbo to be like a GT30-spec internally. Thats using steel wheels custom made to fit, and not getting big steel wheels and grinding them back to fit....... as far as I can recall the conversation.

He quoted me around $2200 for the ATS hiflow rebuild, and seemed very genuine and a upfront bloke, no reason to not believe him when he said that it was a great 'performing' turbo option.

In my words from the information I received when chatting to ATS, Id say that a GCG hiflow job would be like a 'Stage 2' and a ATS hiflow job would be a 'Stage 2.20'

All depends on your budget and what state you are located in. Hope this info is useful to ppl's.

Brendan (ps, Im not 'turbo knowledgeable' so best to talk to GCG & ATS yourselves if you have queries about the differences in hiflow turbo buildups.)

[Tangles]

What other hiflow shops are out there????

GCG, ATS, ???

Anyone got information on other options?

[paulr33]

also the gt30 on the stock rb25 is a bit too laggy and will certainly out power the stock limits if you push it hard enough. the hiflow is perfectly suited at 1.3bar and also you can retain the same water / oil lines however with the gt30 you have to match the flange (possibly bad int gate) and then get new oil n water lines. gcg hiflow has been proven many times

[benl1981]

Is there anywhere to get the stock turbo rebuilt with just steel exhaust wheel so you could run 13-14psi safely? This I guess would give you about 200-210rwkw that you could exploit on the track etc safely without fear of it shitting itself.

If I could get that for 1k - instead of say 2k for the one that can do 250+ I may consider it down the track

[4door_Sleeper]

Ive recently had a chat to Bill at Adelaide Turbo Services, ..........

In my words from the information I received when chatting to ATS, Id say that a GCG hiflow job would be like a 'Stage 2' and a ATS hiflow job would be a 'Stage 2.20'

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I lookea at ATS and others but in the end went with GCG and am happy with the result. A few workshops I spoke to had installed ATS hi-flows and had not seen any real increas in power for the same boost (but were confident it could take more than 14psi) where as the GCG produces about 20% more power at the same boost (on my car) and I didnt notice any extra lag (though I did fit an electronic boost controler at the same time)

hope tis helps.

[Cubes]

It really depends what ATS are doing with their highflows now.

ATS in adelaide recently told me they do the gt30 core in rb25 housings etc.. Thats pretty much what GCG and horesepowerinabox do.

When you start trying to play with t3/4 things thats were I know ats failed..

[benl1981]

So does anybody know of a rebuild for about 1k that lets your run 13psi safely - getting about 200-210rwkw safely???

I hear the HKS 2530 spools up quiicker than the GCG - does that mean it will have full boost in 2nd by about 2500rpm.

At the moment my car has 10psi by 3000rpm in 2nd. In 4th gear about 2400rpm.

Pretty good really. With the PFC its much better and its only on the base map

Edited November 4, 2005 by benl1981

[paulr33]

i dont think the 2530 will come on boost quicker than the stocker. again if someone can prove it, then sweet. speak to gcg @ sydney and just ask them how much for steel exhaut wheel and balance. it believe the main cost for a hiflow is to make the exhaust housing snout bigger, new exhaust and compressor wheel and ball bearing kit then balance. this is probably why its 2k standard. ask them how much for just a steel exhaust wheel and balance

[SnRuB]

Ive recently had a chat to Bill at Adelaide Turbo Services, to determine whether the 2ndhand turbo I bought was a Neo R34 turbo as advertised, or not (it isnt!).

He sends a lot of clientel's turbos to GCG for a rebuild for the $1950 price, or he can do a 'slight upgrade' as such and inhouse makes the standard turbo to be like a GT30-spec internally. Thats using steel wheels custom made to fit, and not getting big steel wheels and grinding them back to fit....... as far as I can recall the conversation.

He quoted me around $2200 for the ATS hiflow rebuild, and seemed very genuine and a upfront bloke, no reason to not believe him when he said that it was a great 'performing' turbo option.

In my words from the information I received when chatting to ATS, Id say that a GCG hiflow job would be like a 'Stage 2' and a ATS hiflow job would be a 'Stage 2.20'

All depends on your budget and what state you are located in. Hope this info is useful to ppl's.

Brendan (ps, Im not 'turbo knowledgeable' so best to talk to GCG & ATS yourselves if you have queries about the differences in hiflow turbo buildups.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A few of my mates went to these guys (http://www.per4manz.com) to get their hiflow and rebuilds done. They told me they got a hiflow job for about $1300-1500 depending on bearings. They used garret 500hp steel wheels as well. Seems like a pretty good price to me and they havnt had any issues with them.

The rebuilds were around the 500 mark, but that was a while ago and this is only word of mouth, i havnt got quoted from them.

[benl1981]

So was 500 for a basic rebuild?

But for one with steel wheels about $1300 - $1500...that sounds pretty reasonable.

[The Mafia]

you don't need a new turbo to make 200rwkw safely.

I had a stock turbo, exhaust, and powerfc and made 210 rwkw at 12psi.

12 months later, the stock turbo was still in excellent condition, and I got the motor compressio tested. Got 169psi accross all cylinders...

I wouldn't bother worrying about the hi flow if your only after 200rwkw..

far out.. $500 and you can get a SAFC and make 200rwkw..

[benl1981]

Sounds like some guys get 200rwkw easily out of stock turbo. It appears sometimes the stock turbo gives up much earlier.

Mafia - you got very nice results

I've got a PFC, turbo back 3" high flow cat, R34 intercooler and want to get about 180-190rwkw safely.

On the base map I'm pretty happy with the power. I've set rev limit to 5500rpm till I get the tune. I'm wondering if the tune will make it feel much faster. If it is 10-15% faster and reliable power I will be happy.