Give me some turbo advice please, I'm so lost :)

[born2drv]

OK where do I start. I just want a damn reliable turbo and not a stock or upgraded ct-26. Mine is leaking oil and I've got electrical issues to take care of and need to spend money in other areas so I'm just not in the mood to look for a big turbo at this point in time.

A bolt on would be nice. I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg but it seems I have no choice.

So what should I do?

Option 1: Get a bolt on like a LIPP or SP61GT or something? I heard Turbonetics 60-1 and 62-1 are direct bolt on's, is that true also? When they say bolt on does that mean only for the exhaust manifold or also for the downpipe and actuator? Can any oil lines that are designed for the CT-26 also be used? So a bolt on will run me $1100-1500ish. + small misc items. If I go this route I'd like as few headaches as possible.

or...

Option 2: Just get an aftermarket manifold... I don't want a tubular one because I know most of them are cheap and flimsy or whatever and I don't like taking things apart all the time or run into fitment issues. So I could just get the powerhouse one for example (HKS replica) for $700 + any standard T3 or T4 turbo right? I've seen Garrett T4 turbos on ebay for around $500. Now an aftermarket DP will not bolt on correct? So I'll have to get something custom fabricated for the elbow and exhaust and same goes for the inlet pipe, but I'll probably spend less than $1500 going this route.

So what should I do? Can anyone give me some advise here? Thanks

 

[boost fiend]

look into bolt patterns first. then look in the for sale section here. as far as a sp turbo, im not that far as of YET! im sure someone esle will chime in here really soon.

 

[born2drv]

OK well I've been looking and looking and the best deal I can find with the least headaches seems to be the Turbonetics 60-1 stage 5 turbo (500hp), dry cartridge (no coolant lines, I have a turbo timer), hi-fi model (no spacer required), and horsepowerfreaks sells them for $848, not bad at all and it bolts on to the stock manifold apparently.

Everything sounds good, has anyone used this? Can I put a LIPP elbow on this instead of using the stock restrictive one? Anything else I'll need to get this to work? Does it come with an internal wastegate? Anything else I should buy or get to make it fit perfectly with little issues??

Thanks.

 

[rakkasan]

OK well I've been looking and looking and the best deal I can find with the least headaches seems to be the Turbonetics 60-1 stage 5 turbo (500hp), dry cartridge (no coolant lines, I have a turbo timer), hi-fi model (no spacer required), and horsepowerfreaks sells them for $848, not bad at all and it bolts on to the stock manifold apparently.

Everything sounds good, has anyone used this? Can I put a LIPP elbow on this instead of using the stock restrictive one? Anything else I'll need to get this to work? Does it come with an internal wastegate? Anything else I should buy or get to make it fit perfectly with little issues??

Thanks.

When you're looking at spending in the $850 range (it WILL be more, BTW), that opens up a lot more options. You can go the T4, SSA header route, Sound Performance route, or even the GT route (non ball bearing).

 

[born2drv]

which route is the cheapest and easiest way to go (bolt on preffered) without getting a crappy tubular manifold?

 

[rakkasan]

which route is the cheapest and easiest way to go (bolt on preffered) without getting a crappy tubular manifold?

Why do you have a hang up with tubular manifolds? They are superior to the stock cast manifolds....

 

[born2drv]

I've heard people have fitment issues with them, have to do custom fabrication, that they crack, have to be reinforced, etc, etc. I don't like buying cheap or unreliable stuff, or have to do it over again. It just seems like too much drama to me.

If I could wait a year or so after all my little issues are fixed I'd get the Greddy tubular one and a giant turbo, but I have to get a turbo now so I would prefer to use the stock manifold or get something like the cast iron powerhouse or turbonetics manifold + a t3 or t4 turbo.

i think i'm leaning more towards just getting a turbonetics 60-1 though.