EBAY Cheap Turbos Test on a Chevy 350

[Guest]

The test in short term is actually favorable for the cheap turbos considering they were undersized for the application. They lost their way however when they started mixing expensive parts into the test, particularly regarding the wastegates when common sense should have had them go right back to Ebay for $50 gates instead of the near $300 gates they purchased.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1009_cheap_turbos_from_ebay_on_a_350_small_block_engine/index.html

[robertisaar]

ha, i saw this in the printed issue a few months ago.... i wondered when it would be online.

they actually used some T04E compressors purchased from speedyracer on ebay, which happens to be what i picked up in 2007.

[timg]

Some of the cheap e-bay turbo components can be good, the big problem is that the sellers (and the manufacturers) tend to have no idea what they're selling/making. Most turbo specs I've seen are way, way off. The parts can be a good deal if you go 100% cheap and don't care about breaking things, but if you want to do it right and get something reliable and powerful, they're generally a bad idea. In general, e-bay turbos tend to be much smaller than their specs suggest and too small for a 3+ liter V6. Buyer beware. You could find an awesome deal, or a nightmare waiting to happen.

Tim

[robertisaar]

my "T70" turned out to be a T04E 46 trim with a T4 O-trim wheel and a ~.80 a/r housing.... which was much better suited for a lowly little FWD 3100. almost perfect actually

i'm actually planning on stuffing some garrett exhaust and compressor wheels in it, since they are direct interchanges. total spent would be close to $400, which isn't bad at all IMO.

[Driver_10]

Ive got my heart set on a garret GT3582r surge-ported compressor w/ a T3 divided .82 turbine. Its not the cheapest turbo that you can buy and Im not sure how lucky I could be to find trust-worthy unit on ebay

Ill probably end up browsing craigslist instead. That way I could drive there locally and inspect the unit first-hand. (well... at least if I'm lucky enough to find one)

[Schmieder]

I too decided to go the cheaper route at first. Ebay turbo, wastegate, BOV and intercooler.

The intercooler is great, highly suggested. No leaks, built like a brick s**t house.

The wastegate is going strong one year later, no issues.

The BOV needed to be worked. The dual springs were way to tight. After removing the smaller spring it worked perfectly.

The turbo works well too. No oil leaks, spools up great, keeps up with flow at 8psi/5500 rpm. My understanding is the oil restrictor is VERY important for Ebay turbos.

The Ebay route was good since I am learning as I build. So I can screw up and have it cost far less to fix. But that hasn't happened yet.

If anything fails I plan to replace with quality parts. Swapping the ebay turbo for a garrett will be easy.

I feel as long as the tune is good the Ebay stuff will hold up. But if your EGT's are going too high look out. Now, I have pushed up to 12psi and everything held up well. If I wanted to go high boost I bet the turbo will fail. So for modest boost, 5-12psi, ebay turbos should hold well.

But I am planning to hit 25-30 psi by next year. I definately plan to have a garrett ready to go in.

I have found the PCM Tune is the key. Anyone wanting to go the Ebay route, be sure to tune the PCM well and stay away from really high boost.

[robertisaar]

the tune IS key! too much advance, even without knock, can shatter a piston.

but Schmieder, i've looked into it, and i can grab a T04E 46 trim compressor wheel and a T4 O-trim turbine wheel/shaft from ebay sellers and have true garrett parts in chinese housings for a little more than ~$200. you may want to look into that route if you feel lucky.

25-30PSI? i hope you're planning on forged pistons, i think after ~15 or so, the stockers don't like to hold on. you'll be around 500HP/570TQ at that point as well, so expect transaxle carnage too!

[Schmieder]

the tune IS key! too much advance, even without knock, can shatter a piston.

but Schmieder, i've looked into it, and i can grab a T04E 46 trim compressor wheel and a T4 O-trim turbine wheel/shaft from ebay sellers and have true garrett parts in chinese housings for a little more than ~$200. you may want to look into that route if you feel lucky.

25-30PSI? i hope you're planning on forged pistons, i think after ~15 or so, the stockers don't like to hold on. you'll be around 500HP/570TQ at that point as well, so expect transaxle carnage too!

When I decide to hit 25/30 psi there will be a new 3400 block with all forged internals, double timing chain, head built up to handle the power (valve springs, valves, ect) and a getrag manual reinforced. It will be a long while before then.

What I am working on right now is my first build. Like a first car I got something I can destroy w/o costing me a fortune in destroyed performance parts. Make my mistakes now sort of thing. So far so good...

As long as the budget holds up I will be there in about a year, maybe two years.