Small T3 or WRX turbo--help me decide?
 

Hey fellas,

My DIY build is starting to come together now, and my goals are as follows:

-Keeping the car reliable.
-only around 170 HP, and it wouldn't be a big deal if I had a little less even.
-keeping the budget under $100 if possible
-quick spool, no need for a huge snail

Origionally I was planning on doing a T25 but I got a smokin' deal on a Begi early T3 manifold for $75 so that changed. So here is my question-- should I search for a used small T3 (where should i search, besides saab forums) and continue on with my build or should I use the nearly new free wrx turbo. I would much rather do the wrx turbo, because think the size is great and I have exhaust, which would lower my cost even more. The only problem is I'm not sure a flange could be welded in the orientation of the wrx turbo on the begi manifold. Attached is a picture of the manifold, and the wrx flange would need to face upwards....would a welder be able to make this happen?

-dan

Get a T3. Very quick spinup for the small ones, upgradeable to lots of power with the big ones.

Ford Probe. IHI VJ-11. Ubber fast spool on Miata and good for 14psi. Maybe more but probably not much. I ran one at 14. Also water cooled and CHEAP. Check ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-...spagenameZWDVW

Looks like this one comes with boost control solinoid and coolent lines on it. $159+ship

flange doesnt look like it works, heres my mani

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/th.../CIMG0154f.JPG
I've been searching the site for other cheap t3 turbos, any more ideas
thnaks for the help,
Dan

Local junkyards! Call around. Look for the Probe units - US car parts seem to go for less than the same part for foreign cars RE Saab/ Volvo- but don't be afraid to ask for any T3.

On ebay there are several sellers that only sell salvage units. Good deals pop up from them once and a while. I got a brand new looking Saab for $160. Seriously, it looked like it might have had 5K on it. Something a little rusty on the outside would be less.

Oh ok you need a T3 inlet. I have a T3 manifold and I used a Saab turbo. I got it off ebay for $81 shipped. Watercoled, can be easily indexed, has .48 turbine and .42 compressor. 10lbs by 3000rpm on a big tubular manifold. It will spool faster on your manifold. Maybe by 2700rpm. There are a few different turbos the Saabs used. Mine is off a Saab 900 but is a Garrett replacement for the oem. Let me take a quick peek on ebay...
This one is OEM Saab... harder to index as the wastegate actuator is mounted on tabs on the compressor housing. It might work out fine on your manifold the way it mounts to it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/86-87...36189051QQrdZ1

This is the one I'd recomend but isn't water cooled. ...and overpriced. But note how the wastegate attaches. That allows for 6 positions of the compressor outlet +/- a few degs either way if you tweak the wastegate rod a bit.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GARRE...44249888QQrdZ1

Remember also for the low cost of the Probe turbos you could get an adaptor plate. http://www.bmcrace.com used to have an IHI to T3 adaptor for the Ford Probe to put a T3 on the Probe. use it backwards. ;)

[quote=dirtyboost;133859]flange doesnt look like it works, heres my mani

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/th.../CIMG0154f.JPG


Well, then you need a t3 then...that makes it easy.

Get a standard 50trim .42/.48, and be done with it.

this seems to fit the bill, I'm thinking about gong ahead and scooping it up. Any opinions on this little guy
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAAB-...QQcmdZViewItem

looks to be just oil cooled, though

back to the other question i asked...does anyone think a good welder can weld on on upturned wrx flange for that (i have an uppipe)

I cant tell for sure. I can't see water fittings. But you got it. That's the one your after. Newer Saabs used the water cooled version of it.

Thanks Lazzer,

Do you think I'll be fine without a water cooled turbo? Without doing much research, I'm sure the only oil cooled turbos are less resistant to coking? are there any other problems associated with them? This isnt an uber high HP build so I'm sure this one will work.

-Dan

nope, just do it.

Oil cooled is fine. I've been running oil cooled turbos for years, as have others.

Ok, just bought that sucker. Thanks for the help guys. I am very new to the DIY turbo thing so be on the lookout for stupid no0b threads.

Cool. Good luck with your build and keep us updated. :bigtu:

This has been asked about before and someone had posted that the WRX turbo flows less CFM than the Greddy TD04. The only advantage I see over the TD04 is the WRX turbo is watercooled. I have both a WRX turbo and a Greddy TD04 and the TD04 even looks a little bigger than the WRX turbo. I haven't had them side by side yet because I have no reason to take the turbo out of either car. When that time comes I will post pics.

Also, huh... An upgrade it is...

http://cekretperformance.com/Merchan...=GRupgrdnissan

T3. Good choice.

i was sold a t25 manifold (though I was told it was a T3), so I had to trade my T3 turbocharger. No worries though, picked up an SR T25 in excellent condition and polished o2 dump for $80. The O2 will have to be sold to a nissan owner, since it wont work.

I just clocked the turbocharger tonight (thanks lazzer for the advice) and cleaned the CHRA. I'll keep the board posted on my build.

-dan

Glad to hear that worked out. No damage then? Managed to get it tapped off straight? That manifold you have could be drilled for a T3. ;)

well, here's a link to a thread i started about the wrx turbo, containing the compressor map for it. i don't have the greddy map, but if someone does we could get them both in the same place. :-)

i know this thread has run its course, so i starte dthe new therad so when the 'should i use a wrx turbo?" question come sup agian, there's a better thread that shows up in search... :-P

https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...195#post138195