pick-a-turbo for beginners!
 

This is a call to all turbo kit vendors to help beginners understand the difference between the turbos you offer.
I've noticed that some turbo kits offer a lot of turbo options but people like me don't know what each turbo does.

Please describe the behavior of each turbo you provide (in simple words) to explain its pros and cons. This is assuming all other components being stock.
I know a lot is affected by a tune but the normal rule is that a big turbo will lag but make more power and a small turbo will spin fast but make less power.

Please use this format:
(this info is not accurate, it's just an example)
Turbo type: t3/t4
description: well rounded, makes good power delivery across the band with fast spool and great torque. great for street use and for people looking for conservative power. max hp is 350hp. usually no other engine upgrades are needed.
Pros: no boost lag, light weight.
Cons: boost drops up top, noisy, requires forged internals.

I will collect all this info and post it on the first page.
This will only help vendors and buyers alike.
thanks! :D

no offense,

This thread doesn't make sense...

we don't have any TURBO vendors on this forum..

we have vendors that offer TURBO KITS.... many utilizing the exact same TURBOs...

Everyone's just fishing for stickies with these " use this format " threads. Its a light weight car that most people don't want or need a whole lot of power. Use a gt(x)2871 and enjoy.

I've seen some pretty ridiculous claims about what is and what is not laggy.

If people do actually reply to this thread with factoids, they'll be completely useless and inaccurate.

This is not how you choose a turbo.

Id pick a goal before I pick a turbo but i think the gt28/gtx28 is a solid choice for the street and had alot of kick. 300-400whp on a 2700 pound car is quick.

I fixed the OP. This is meant for the companies selling the kits.
a gtx2871 doesn't mean ANYTHING, maybe for for people who work with turbos or have gone through 5 turbos on their cars. this thread is meant for beginners. I'm not looking for subjective opinions in this threads but facts about the behavior of a turbo.

I do agree that you pick your goal first but what is the point if you have no Idea which turbo will serve that purpose if you don't know what they do.

I believe picking turbos is far from an exact science. Yes there are facts that are true and false about a certain turbo. However what works for one person could be very different then what works for another.

If you looking to pick a turbo for your own kit your best bet is to get a ride along with someone else and start to develop your own opinion from there. I personally tend to choose smaller turbos then most just because I favor response and mid range. Other people prefer top end.

As with any time your modifying a car, pick a realistic goal for the car. Then try not to change that and build to suit.

hey if you aren't contributing to the thread then shut up!
This is totally valid and it makes a lot of sense. why would I use the GTX2871 turbo simply because some random guy recommended it? which is probably the same guy that needs to compensate and requires 5,000hp.
FA20club offers 3 turbos for the same price, how about they come in here and explain what's the difference.

some have ball bearing and stuff, what's the best bang for the buck.
I've seen people recommend the CRAPPIEST sounding exhaust as the "best sounding" out there so if all you can say is "this turbo is the best" then GTFO.

Read this then use google

Picking a turbo IS like picking an exhaust because everyone has their own opinion, goals, and theory's about turbo performance.

If it were me, I would pick a power goal first, then using my old napkin calculation (max crank hp = (.75*lb/min)*100) to get the ball part flow rate i need then start looking at compressor maps housings etc. .75 came from my days on an uncorrected dynodynamics with AWD cars, so .85 may work better for this platform.

Exactly.. You get the shinny one with the coolest window sticker..

Seriously now.. Check out this site..

http://www.bellengineering.net/

Read up on some of the articles by Corky Bell.. I used him and his shop many times in the past. He's truly an expert on FI and will tell it like it is.. A good guy to know when you have questions..

The TBG website @mad_sb linked to above used to have turbo-101 type guides which tell you what you're looking for.

What someone experienced on their b16 Honda has no relevance to a FA20 engine, for example.

I disagree. regardless of the exhaust, there only difference is whp is 1 maybe 2. the only choices are how you want it to sound and aesthetics (how many tips to you want)

picking a turbo has muuuch more radical outcomes in behavior and performance. they aren't comparable. one changes the cars noise, the other changes the car itself.