ebay turbo
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Do not confuse "cheap" with "cheaply made" when it comes to turbos. There are lots and lots of OEM turbos out there that are great (like, 700+whp), and can be had for under $200 bucks. This is just in single turbo form too... the possibilities when running twin OEM turbos are nearly endless for street cars.
I dont know if you could ever question the reliability behind turbos that are proven in OEM applications for 300k+ miles.
I dont know if you could ever question the reliability behind turbos that are proven in OEM applications for 300k+ miles.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 2
From: South of Augusta,GA
Well cant speak for the turbo, but everyone was calling the ebay intercoolers, and stainless headers worthless. I had what was to be the best headers $900, and they would bend under heat, and wouldnt seal. So i got the ebay headers for $179, and all i had the do was a little porting, and get better V-band clamps, make a better gasket for the clamps(i had ported heads), and i got there FMIC for $135, and it work like a champ! I say if you dont mine doing a little work making it fit perfect, go for it!!
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I have an ebay turbo kit (ptk), It was fun getting everything to fit, also bought a mystery 70mm turbo from a guy on craigslist who got it off ebay. I made 485rwhp on a stingy mustang dyno thru a turbo400, for reference I got a TC72 and only made 30 more hp, the car went 10.9 @ 129. The ebay turbo is still in good working condition, if someone wants to buy it for $250.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 187
Likes: 1
I got flamed really hard about using an ebay turbo for my twinscroll project here...
http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77993
The funny thing is that I have been using the same turbo now for over 7 months with no failures and about 15000 + miles. I even drove around for
a few miles with the oil pump disengaged by accident. The turbo turned into a crop duster, but I found the problem and ran the pump for a few minutes.
The turbo works good as new. With the exception of having to find special brass fittings for the oil inlet and porting the tubine housing a little, this thing performs flawlessly. ZERO oil leaks!
I have had three Garrett rebuilds that have not lasted as long as my ebay turbo. I am using a Masterpower right now on my Firebird project. I hope it works as good.
http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77993
The funny thing is that I have been using the same turbo now for over 7 months with no failures and about 15000 + miles. I even drove around for
a few miles with the oil pump disengaged by accident. The turbo turned into a crop duster, but I found the problem and ran the pump for a few minutes.
The turbo works good as new. With the exception of having to find special brass fittings for the oil inlet and porting the tubine housing a little, this thing performs flawlessly. ZERO oil leaks!
I have had three Garrett rebuilds that have not lasted as long as my ebay turbo. I am using a Masterpower right now on my Firebird project. I hope it works as good.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/hot-rod-p...week-07-a.html
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Parish's turbo was actually a MP70...not the chinese knockoff.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/hot-rod-p...week-07-a.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/hot-rod-p...week-07-a.html
Someone didnt know what they was doing,most cars today will make more power than that on that much boost. I love my cheap ebay turbos I know of no one @ here that had any problems. Main thing is be smart enough to put a oil restrictor in it. My cheap ebay turbo is bout to log 60k in 3 years on it has been beat to death, many track passes, hours on the interstate at 4k rpm's and had the hell 2stepped out of it a 6800 many times. In that time I have known people that have had replace TOP NAME ones. Turbos kinda a hit miss thing and all the cheap ones cam along way than what they were 10yrs ago that ruint there name. As for the spoken of kit run a ebay turbo kit search there was a guy deep in the 10's iirc. Alot people knocking the turbos have never even ran them just read about it. But if your friend can do a little fabbing let him go for it just tell him do his homework to make it work. Only other thing I have to say is, oil restrictor I cant preach that enough.
ebay kit, ebay turbo, ebay intercooler here 
550 rwhp on the stock motor. my mistake was running a cheap wastegate and boosting to 20 psi on the stock motor 
bye bye....
now i have a forged motor with all the same ebay stuff, but a NICE turbosmart 50mm wastegate. shooting for 600rwhp on 7psi
550 rwhp on the stock motor. my mistake was running a cheap wastegate and boosting to 20 psi on the stock motor bye bye....now i have a forged motor with all the same ebay stuff, but a NICE turbosmart 50mm wastegate. shooting for 600rwhp on 7psi
yes anything can break, but some things break more often then others
there is no way that turbo is good for 30 psi, do you have an idea of what rpm the turbo will need to spin to produce 30 psi ?
i am sure cheap Chinese parts will not live at that rpm
you do what you want, it is your car and your money, but i will not depend on a Chinese turbo to force air in to my 6000 dollar forged motor
Um there only 250$ shipped for free bran new off ebay. I have loved all the ebay turbos i have dealt with and owned. The IC of ebay also kick ***. Look at the ICs that epp sells for 300 Hmmm what do you think those are. Are they any better cause there not sold off "ebay" lol
the garret unit failed because the turbo feed line was damaged
yes anything can break, but some things break more often then others
there is no way that turbo is good for 30 psi, do you have an idea of what rpm the turbo will need to spin to produce 30 psi ?
i am sure cheap Chinese parts will not live at that rpm
you do what you want, it is your car and your money, but i will not depend on a Chinese turbo to force air in to my 6000 dollar forged motor
yes anything can break, but some things break more often then others
there is no way that turbo is good for 30 psi, do you have an idea of what rpm the turbo will need to spin to produce 30 psi ?
i am sure cheap Chinese parts will not live at that rpm
you do what you want, it is your car and your money, but i will not depend on a Chinese turbo to force air in to my 6000 dollar forged motor
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
ebay kit, ebay turbo, ebay intercooler here 550 rwhp on the stock motor. my mistake was running a cheap wastegate and boosting to 20 psi on the stock motor bye bye....
now i have a forged motor with all the same ebay stuff, but a NICE turbosmart 50mm wastegate. shooting for 600rwhp on 7psi
550 rwhp on the stock motor. my mistake was running a cheap wastegate and boosting to 20 psi on the stock motor bye bye....now i have a forged motor with all the same ebay stuff, but a NICE turbosmart 50mm wastegate. shooting for 600rwhp on 7psi
I look at it as if you can pay to build your motor you can pay for a good turbo. As stated, even name brands can break but they are definitely less likely to break than a cheap Ebay/China turbo. Intercoolers and piping are one thing, but turbos and wastegates are another.