Budget TURBO
Budget TURBO I sold my turbo system off my car. Well the guy is giving me a few lump sums till its paid for. So now I need to rebuild my system so while i'm at it, I'm going to upgrade some things including the turbo. Right now I have a $400 on3 7875 cast wheel journal bearing turbo. It works really really well. Honestly I've never had a turbo car so I have nothing to compare it to so it may be crap compared to other stuff, but for me, I like it. My budget is about a grand, maybe a couple hundred more. If i could get something that would have a little quicker spool, potentially more power and possibly better reliability then that would be great. I'll tell you the units I'm eyeballing right now:
VS racing Billet 7875
On3 BMF 7675 billet wheel
On3 8475 billet wheel with ceramic upgrade
Huron Speed billet 7875 (probably the same as the VS racing but its more money and has their name on it)
or a Turbonetics 11753-BB its basically a ball bearing 7875 with cast wheel for $1385
Thoughts?
VS racing Billet 7875
On3 BMF 7675 billet wheel
On3 8475 billet wheel with ceramic upgrade
Huron Speed billet 7875 (probably the same as the VS racing but its more money and has their name on it)
or a Turbonetics 11753-BB its basically a ball bearing 7875 with cast wheel for $1385
Thoughts?
Please, no arguing about china vs american made or name brand turbos. I read a thread where two guys came in and just ruined it, it was sad really. I have my mind made up and a budget.
I'll never want to make more than 800 wheel in this car. Its a perfect condition gto that I dont plan on making a race car out of. So that will fit my needs very well.
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o I’m not wasting my money on that. I’ve read they are worse than china turbos for three times the price and ridiculous prices to rebuild or repair. I saw that thread with those two guys “trying” to beat up on gameova
Last edited by Kfxguy; Nov 1, 2018 at 12:40 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Ohio
In your opinion, would that be a decent upgrade for me or should i search out something comparable with ball bearings. I'm not upgrading because i need more power, I'm just doing it as a "might as well" type thing because I sold my setup and I want to redo it even better. I was thinking 3.5" pipe (cx racing oval pipe) right out of the turbo and all the way out the back. Eventually I'll want to turn it up but right now I have to have restraint. I have a single 325 liter pump, returnless....60lb dekas, completely stock drivetrain, and stock bottom end LS1. Future plans are to upgrade as i can afford it. I already picked up a complete 5.3 to do a boost build on.
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
In your opinion, would that be a decent upgrade for me or should i search out something comparable with ball bearings. I'm not upgrading because i need more power, I'm just doing it as a "might as well" type thing because I sold my setup and I want to redo it even better. I was thinking 3.5" pipe (cx racing oval pipe) right out of the turbo and all the way out the back. Eventually I'll want to turn it up but right now I have to have restraint. I have a single 325 liter pump, returnless....60lb dekas, completely stock drivetrain, and stock bottom end LS1. Future plans are to upgrade as i can afford it. I already picked up a complete 5.3 to do a boost build on.
The ball bearing hype is more for smaller engines. Guys trying to make 600whp with a 1.8 liter engine. It helps with spool tremendously.
We don't have that problem. When I topped out the billet S475 in my Nova, I went to a S480 both for a little more power and slower spool.
These JFR cams make torque so quickly and violently that I was doing rolling burnouts on the highway with slicks.
A part throttle downshift from 3rd to 2nd would spool the turbo up so fast that it was unmanageable, I would be into high boost before the transmission finished shifting.
I'm pretty sure ForceFed86 preferred the lazy LS9 cam over his JFR Triple 12 for this very reason. It hit so hard and so soon that it was harder to stick a launch.
I wouldn't pay any extra for a ball bearing setup on a V8 with a proper cam/converter combo. It won't be worth it, and you'll likely never notice.
An 04 GTO LS1 should have gen 4 rods/pistons in it. There isn't anything wrong with your engine. Your fuel system could maybe use a little love later on.
The ball bearing hype is more for smaller engines. Guys trying to make 600whp with a 1.8 liter engine. It helps with spool tremendously.
We don't have that problem. When I topped out the billet S475 in my Nova, I went to a S480 both for a little more power and slower spool.
These JFR cams make torque so quickly and violently that I was doing rolling burnouts on the highway with slicks.
A part throttle downshift from 3rd to 2nd would spool the turbo up so fast that it was unmanageable, I would be into high boost before the transmission finished shifting.
I'm pretty sure ForceFed86 preferred the lazy LS9 cam over his JFR Triple 12 for this very reason. It hit so hard and so soon that it was harder to stick a launch.
I wouldn't pay any extra for a ball bearing setup on a V8 with a proper cam/converter combo. It won't be worth it, and you'll likely never notice.
The ball bearing hype is more for smaller engines. Guys trying to make 600whp with a 1.8 liter engine. It helps with spool tremendously.
We don't have that problem. When I topped out the billet S475 in my Nova, I went to a S480 both for a little more power and slower spool.
These JFR cams make torque so quickly and violently that I was doing rolling burnouts on the highway with slicks.
A part throttle downshift from 3rd to 2nd would spool the turbo up so fast that it was unmanageable, I would be into high boost before the transmission finished shifting.
I'm pretty sure ForceFed86 preferred the lazy LS9 cam over his JFR Triple 12 for this very reason. It hit so hard and so soon that it was harder to stick a launch.
I wouldn't pay any extra for a ball bearing setup on a V8 with a proper cam/converter combo. It won't be worth it, and you'll likely never notice.
I was thinking/hoping that i have gen 4 rods but i bought aluminum 5.3 out of a 2004 buick rainier and I tore the motor down this weekend and it had gen 3 (even had 13mm valley and exhaust manifold bolts) rods and pistons, so I had kinda given up on my hopes of my engine having gen 4. My plan is to keep it 10 psi and below on this motor, enjoy it and try to make it last while i collect parts to put good rods and pistons in this 5.3 and then turn it up.....after I upgrade fuel system and drivetrain of course. All i want is a car i can drive comfortably and quietly anywhere i want that will trap about 127-130 in the 1/4.....i'm not sure this motor i have now will do it at 10-12 psi
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
Good info, I value your opinion.
I was thinking/hoping that i have gen 4 rods but i bought aluminum 5.3 out of a 2004 buick rainier and I tore the motor down this weekend and it had gen 3 (even had 13mm valley and exhaust manifold bolts) rods and pistons, so I had kinda given up on my hopes of my engine having gen 4. My plan is to keep it 10 psi and below on this motor, enjoy it and try to make it last while i collect parts to put good rods and pistons in this 5.3 and then turn it up.....after I upgrade fuel system and drivetrain of course. All i want is a car i can drive comfortably and quietly anywhere i want that will trap about 127-130 in the 1/4.....i'm not sure this motor i have now will do it at 10-12 psi
I was thinking/hoping that i have gen 4 rods but i bought aluminum 5.3 out of a 2004 buick rainier and I tore the motor down this weekend and it had gen 3 (even had 13mm valley and exhaust manifold bolts) rods and pistons, so I had kinda given up on my hopes of my engine having gen 4. My plan is to keep it 10 psi and below on this motor, enjoy it and try to make it last while i collect parts to put good rods and pistons in this 5.3 and then turn it up.....after I upgrade fuel system and drivetrain of course. All i want is a car i can drive comfortably and quietly anywhere i want that will trap about 127-130 in the 1/4.....i'm not sure this motor i have now will do it at 10-12 psi
I don't think you will have trouble trapping that. I'm using the same turbo in a full weight f body, and trapped that while on street tires and leaving in vacuum. With a max of 8psi (gate pressure).
https://youtu.be/ksIIaQh-u9k
https://youtu.be/ksIIaQh-u9k
i had seen that video video a while back. Impressive. Gives me hope!
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
