there's a good amount, i just looked through anything under 16 pounds and with a gt2554-2560-2860 all the way back to like 2010
, i assume the vvt engine makes a bit more than 1.6/early 1.8 given the higher comp and better flowing heads? Also great news, thats the green light I needed to add timing until it didnt make anything. I have electronic det cans, but im terrified that I wont be able to focus enough and hear the knock. Raging unmedicated adhd means as soon as the foot is to the floor i might as well have earplugs in. very hard to focus on anything but the "wEeeeEE" I added 2 more degrees, upped the boost to around 14.5----



looks like im probably going to finish maxxing this turbo out soon. Though it doesnt drop as bad as it seems. I have it to still taper up top, open loop ebc. think im going to add 2 degrees until it stops making anything worth adding the timing for.
Does my torque curve look safeish? Im guessing this is calculating hp to the wheels, which means if I add timing and it hits 250+ Ill definitely be getting close to the safe limit.

Thank you guys.

 

Of the other turbos you've been searching, even the smaller 2554 at a 42mm inducer is larger than the 38mm one you're running. Max flow on a 2554 is 27lbmin. So thats good for a peak of roughly 300hp on e85 if you push it, and thats at the crank. Your turbo will be less. You may be starting to run off the map at 250 or so at the crank with that 38mm turbo. You can push them harder and run off the map, but they are mostly getting less efficient and blowing hotter the further off the map you run them. The turbo you are running would be more in its element giving you are hard midrange kick, which you are kind of limiting in your tuneup.
Has you're engine been opened up to confirm clearances and condition? Sufficient ring gap to really give it the beans?
If stock unopened motor you have to weigh your level of risk.

 

i dont imagine ill try to push my luck more or stress it anymore. When i decide to change things up, ill try and find a nice 2560 up for grabs and attempt a rods only build. For now im happy. (For now) thank you all.

 

I'd stop right here, that little turbo is pretty much maxed out, after this it's going to just blow hot air.
You could rev it to 7k one time to really see how much it will drop off.
Guess it's a lot of fun how it is, so maybe just enjoy it running happy

 

So they sell NEW timing covers on amazon. I know you're running E85 so knock really isnt an issue, but it would bug me to have to aim for 4 degree more than I should for based timing. I bought a set for like 20 bucks or something.

 

ill look, i was looking for some on ebay yesterday actually. gonna do an oil-leak-begone run and might as well replace those

 

to update this thread: i decided to add 6 degrees of timing up top to see if anything cool happened since im on e85. Blew the absolute tires off 3rd. no chance for those. new tires are in the mail. Anyway i got a good pull in to vd, and noticed it didnt like the timing up top in the rev range, fixed that and tuned cl boost control to taper boost up to 15psi, clutch let go, no more pulls for me. not super bummed, ive wanted to yank this engine out and weld in new front arches, plus a TON of other stuff cosmetically for the engine bay + reseal motor. only good vd run i got was 230whp @4900, hit boost cut.