I've got two turbos the popular gt2554r and a smaller t2. i know the t2 will spool faster to build boost (c a/r .48 and t a/r .47.) the t25 is ball bearing which is well known for quick spool. both turbos will fit both my 2.5 inch dump pipe and manifold. i left the world of vw performance when i got my miata and i really enjoy the vw 1.8T zero lag. the t2 is sized similar to the vw turbo So i figure the same power out put. i'm shooting for less than 200hp. My Question IS will the t25 feel more laggy? i want some opinions.

 

I personally would lean to the gt2554r, it really doesn't have anything that I could consider lag, it spools VERY early and spooling any earlier usually (unless you run 20 PSI at 2500 RPM) doesn't yield satisfying results for the most part, unless you are building a dedicated auto-x car.

Once spooled you won't notice any real lag in any gear at any reasonable speed.

Mark

 

i do try to auto-x regularly; i do it for shitz and giggles, and everyone cheats anyways. thats why i thought t2 would help with low end grunt.

 

I would never use the word lag in any sentence when describing my turbo setup with the GT2554R.

 

no. gt2554r would not be laggy, and can hold fairly good power levels. I'd probably build my next system with one. (Sorry Mark I'm just not a power *****, maybe when I get a new rear and MS I'll change my tune.)

 

ok bigger one it is

 

No need to be, I'm not really a power ***** myself. I found myself in a situation where my T3S60 was damaged and I needed a cheap replacement... just happened that I wanted to see for myself what a cheap chinese turbo could do. I'm obviously not disappointed but don't see myself recommending it as the end all be all of turbos.

I think that in my mind it works like this:

GT2554R = Best small turbo for under 240 RWHP
T3S60 = Best bang for the buck for 240 - 300 RWHP
Chinese T3/T4 = Best bang for the buck for stupid power

Other notable great turbos:

GT2259 = Good sleeve bearing turbo for under 250 RWHP
GT3271 = All around great sleeve bearing turbo for over 240 RWHP
GT2560R = Good all around miata turbo under 250 RWHP
GT3071R = Awesome turbo in the T2 frame for apps that need it.

There are plenty of great turbos to pick from, I believe that most people think that I am biased towards the T3S60, and to some extent I am. It's based on only one factor, value per $$$ spent. There are other factors that could lead one to a different conclusion, one is where $$$ spent are a secondary concern. In these cases there are often multiple turbos that qualify for a particular application. For instance, if I wasn't as tight on cash there might have been a GT3271 or GT3076 under my hood instead of a T3/T4 Chinacharger.

Mark

 

Bought a used DIY kit that used a T3 with a 45 trim wheel. So I just went with the S60 wheel based on your's and Andy's old comments on it. I know there's better turbos out there for my power levels, but I was stuck with a T3 flange and ran with it. I'm still incredibly happy with it, I was just saying if I were to build a system from scratch I'd build it a around a GT2554.

 

Is it only the compressor wheel that makes a t3 a "super 60"? What did it cost? I thought that it was also a bigger AR on the compressor and turbine housings, and a larger turbine wheel/exit.

 

Nope, i'm still using a .42 A/R compressor housing. it's just the size of the wheel. The inducer is ever so slightly (.02") larger than the 60 trim wheel. All T3 exducers are the same size.

So random dude sold me a housing and wheel for $100 or something like that. Had a To4B-S on there before that and it sucked. 50 trim wheel on before that.