Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

I am looking to do a cheap and dirty ebay turbo parts based build on an aluminum block 5.3l engine. My goal is going to be a somewhat conservative 500-600rwhp, with the primary goal of having a fast spooling twin turbo set up that’ll be purely for some fun on the streets.

What size turbos and wastegates should I run? I think I have seen people suggest something like a ebay GT35 and 44mm wastegates?

My main purpose of this thread is to ask those who have bought their turbo parts from ebay and which sellers are good/bad to go with.

From my research, these are some of the parts/sellers that seems like people have recommended:

GT35 turbo: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GT35-GT3582-...sAAOSwfVpYub~H

Wastegate: EMUSA

In addition to those brands listed above, I have read sloppy’s guide/list of parts, but it doesn’t hurt to take into consideration other possible options.

truckdoug

iTrader: (26)

Regular 7875 and the 44mm gate from viren. The complete kit with 80lb dekas and cold side stuff, bov, IC and mbc is like 1300.

svslow

Do this.

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

The .96ar T4 one? What are some other options that are cheaper in the $200 - $300 range for a turbo that you would suggest taking a look at?

80/TA/LT1

iTrader: (2)

Gt 45 from viren

roastin240

iTrader: (13)

Run that single GT35 you mentioned and then let us know how it did lol

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

Yea, I most likely just will. I like how in sloppy's wiki guide, he said to stop wasting time thinking about little details and instead just do it and get it done.

I'll probably just go with the cheapest version of the turbo I can find and then double check the machining/finish to make sure there's no obvious debris/hang ups before throwing it all together.

truckdoug

iTrader: (26)

he was yankin your string man. dont run a gt35 on a v8.

do the tried and true "OG" gt45 with the 69mm compressor and .96 a/r turbine housing.
it'll do 500 wheel and make you crap your pants when it shreds street tires at freeway speeds

jordoza777

iTrader: (2)

Well since the op said "twin turbo" gt35s would work pretty well for 600 but could do more pretty easy.

gametech

iTrader: (1)

Just remember that if you cheap out on the wastegates, you have to be on top of your boost pressure gauge at all times. Most other components have different avenues of failure that maybe won't blow your motor. A stuck wastegate can pop an engine sometimes faster than you can get off the throttle, depending on your build. Also, for a cheap and dirty build, a single might work better than twins. Twins obviously involve a lot of double work and double cost.

truckdoug

iTrader: (26)

^ exactly. twice the work, twice the cost, twice as much **** to go wrong. if cost is a primary concern, build a single

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

The extra costs of the twins won't be a big deal for what I am trying to do.

What's a step up from an ebay wastegate?

sschoeffler

iTrader: (24)

I'd recommend a JGS wastegate. Don't skimp on a wastegate. If it fails your whole setup goes boom! Also one more suggestion. Borg Warner turbo. Can be had for around $550. It's a bigger turbo but they are designed to go on 1,000,000 mile diesels. Jose at Forced Inductions can hook you up with a sweet turbo at a great price, and he can also guide you to which one is best suited for your application.

jordoza777

iTrader: (2)

I don't recommend ebay twins really. I did the ebay turbo route and the the vsracing turbos and just never reached what I wanted. Bought a billet s480 and eclipsed my goals first time out. Huge jump from the gt45 88mm I had. I run jgs wastegate after two stuck ebay and one that leaked so much past the guide it was scary. I'll never go back to crap parts. Do your self a favor and do an s475 and a jgs wastegate. Single turbo. It will make you happy.and will continue to make you happy past the first oil change.

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

What were your power goals?

Cwarta

iTrader: (12)

I built my own turbo kit, used the wyntomn gates off eBay 38mm, single 78/75 va racing billet turbo. Used twomgates, right now at 5# it holds rock steady, 9' the dot at 5#. Very pleased with everything. Disassembled mine and anti seized the stem. Looked great inside

jordoza777

iTrader: (2)

I wanted 750rwhp and wasn't there at 16 pounds twit the gt45 88 moved to the s480 and 772 at 9.5 pounds damn what a difference it made. Ran out of fuel pump right about there of course that was a year ago. I'm not dyno in anymore just racing. No times since I'm street racing but the turbo wasn't
really coming into its own yet at 9.5 pounds. It's a monster now right up till I got hit in traffic. Now it's getting totally rebuilt. So is life.

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

Good info. I read one post somewhere on here about setting up a warning light for if the car over boosts by 5psi or whatever max limit you want to set it at. Seems like a good safety measure regardless of which WG ends up being used on the car.

You're at least 150rwhp higher than my goal, haha. I am aiming for a "modest" 500-600rwhp right now for my swap. I figured at ~$250 a turbo with the GT35s, it'll give me a good base to play around with and it would probably be easy enough to upgrade just the turbos in the future, once I have driven the car more and really figure out/decide if I want anything further.