Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: Cougar8775 on May 12, 2010, 08:21:04 PM

Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 12, 2010, 08:21:04 PM
Im looking at picking up this turbo for my car. I was wondering how much work would it be to make it work with a stock 2.3T? Since my IHI went bad i mine as well upgrade now when i need to do it. But any info i can get would be helpful. Thanks!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220600752935&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: 88turbo on May 12, 2010, 08:56:57 PM
I've done this swap on two 88 TC's one being my silver 88.  first off you will need an oil return line from an 83-86 TC, you will need to fabricate some kind of cold air intake (your stock tube wont work), you will need the exhaust elbow from an 83-86 TC and you will need to either notch the exhaust pipe bolt  to match the new elbow or buy the stinger 3" down pipe and go from there.  need any more info PM me ;)
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 12, 2010, 09:39:04 PM
expect alot of pms. Now i have a question... What number do i go by the compressor or the turbine wheel? i found on a few turbos the turbine wheel is a .63 and the compressor was a .50. And what mods would i do just for a t3?
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: 88turbo on May 12, 2010, 10:02:12 PM
depends on the T3, if your using a stock turbo from an 83-86 TC you still have to do most of what was said above other than the intake tube.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 12, 2010, 10:09:47 PM
so it looks like i have more work to do than just the turbo. Do you have any of the other parts im going to need to get it done? and can i do the exhaust work without a welder?
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: 88turbo on May 12, 2010, 10:42:34 PM
yes you can do it without a welder, and I did have the parts but we just used them on a buddies 88TC doing this swap.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 12, 2010, 10:53:32 PM
ok looks like im going to be in need of some parts.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: bhazard on May 13, 2010, 12:03:30 AM
Are you seriously thinking of buying THAT particular turbo? Do you realize that if a turbo is $120 BRAND new its probably made out of pot metal glued together by a 6 year old chinese boy paid a handful of rice a week?
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 13, 2010, 04:01:49 AM
Quote from: bhazard;321660
Are you seriously thinking of buying THAT particular turbo? Do you realize that if a turbo is $120 BRAND new its probably made out of pot metal glued together by a 6 year old chinese boy paid a handful of rice a week?


:laughing: thats very true. anything under $500 pretty much isnt going to last long unless you fix them up with better parts. your better off just getting a T3 off a SVO or 83-86 turbo coupe. They are good to up to 275hp or around there.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 13, 2010, 04:04:48 AM
and that turbo isnt a internal wastegate either, so you'll have to fork out more money for a wastegate and a new header, or do alot of work to your exhaust manifold and put a wastegate there.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: jangus on May 13, 2010, 08:30:03 AM
Quote from: SR71blackbird;321679
and that turbo isnt a internal wastegate either, so you'll have to fork out more money for a wastegate and a new header, or do alot of work to your exhaust manifold and put a wastegate there.


Wrong. Been a while since you looked at a T3? The wastgate flapper is in the elbow. Since the wastegate hole is present in the exhaust housing, all he has to do is find an elbow from a T3 and a wastegate actuator. He will have to modify the actuator bracket to work with the T4 compressor housing.
He can keep his manifold or header and not have to modify it.
Also, Charlie at Evergreen Turbo has said that people have been sending him these cheap chinese turbos to have the internals (ie: bearing and thrusts) upgraded to garrett parts and having success with them.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 13, 2010, 11:45:11 AM
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/T3-T4-HYBRID-SVO-TURBO-COUPE-TURBO-FORD-5-BOLT-/270567511263?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3eff1494df

would this work with my stock setup minus changing things over to the 83-86 tc stuff?
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: bhazard on May 13, 2010, 12:08:00 PM
Dude its the same thing, China junk. You CANT get a real turbo thats gonna hold up for less than $500 or so. Unless its used. You can get clean holsets for a couple hundred.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 13, 2010, 12:28:56 PM
problem is i have 300 bucks to work with... So unless someone has one on here for a smoking deal or even a IHI so i can just replace what i have then this is my only potion. I know it sucks and im gonna get bit in the ass for it.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 13, 2010, 02:01:26 PM
Quote from: jangus;321689
Wrong. Been a while since you looked at a T3? The wastgate flapper is in the elbow. Since the wastegate hole is present in the exhaust housing, all he has to do is find an elbow from a T3 and a wastegate actuator. He will have to modify the actuator bracket to work with the T4 compressor housing.
He can keep his manifold or header and not have to modify it.
Also, Charlie at Evergreen Turbo has said that people have been sending him these cheap chinese turbos to have the internals (ie: bearing and thrusts) upgraded to garrett parts and having success with them.


lol i learned something new today. i have never looked at a T3 wastegate flapper before, just holset ones where the flapper is part of the exhaust housing if im even thinking of the right thing. but anyways, you can pick up used T3's for not that much and the spool time is pretty good with them.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: jangus on May 13, 2010, 10:36:53 PM
I would try to get a T3, with a .48 A/R if possible. They spool just a bit earlier than the .63, and are still a great upgrade over the IHI. You should have to problem putting on a good used T3 with required parts for your budget.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 14, 2010, 10:38:43 AM
well ive found a few within my budget. Now to find the rest of what i need to finish it off.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 14, 2010, 02:06:26 PM
goodluck with it man. when you get a turbo, if you can you should post up some pics.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 14, 2010, 06:32:16 PM
will do!
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: 88turbo on May 14, 2010, 08:48:53 PM
Quote from: bhazard;321709
Dude its the same thing, China junk. You CANT get a real turbo thats gonna hold up for less than $500 or so. Unless its used. You can get clean holsets for a couple hundred.


I have been running these on my TC for the past 4 years and making awesome power.  now are you going to tell me mine is junk?  :rollin:
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 15, 2010, 12:48:10 AM
Quote from: 88turbo;321886
I have been running these on my TC for the past 4 years and making awesome power.  now are you going to tell me mine is junk?  :rollin:


lol you made that sound like you have had more then "one of those" turbos. i read one a honda form(keep your friends close but enemies closer) that a guy had a godspeed turbo for the last 3 years now and it was just starting to get very little shaft play. but ive heard bad things about them too. it might just be luck but a airesearch or evergreen T3's are well built turbos.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: bryan163 on May 15, 2010, 12:59:35 AM
Generic turbos don't last. I had a JDM Sport (seals failed), then an EMUSA (seals failed also), and now a Precision Garret (no problems).
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: 88turbo on May 15, 2010, 09:06:18 AM
Quote from: SR71blackbird;321904
lol you made that sound like you have had more then "one of those" turbos. i read one a honda form(keep your friends close but enemies closer) that a guy had a godspeed turbo for the last 3 years now and it was just starting to get very little shaft play. but ive heard bad things about them too. it might just be luck but a airesearch or evergreen T3's are well built turbos.


yes I have had more than one, bought one and ran it for a while and thought I was having an issue with it so I bought another one and me being nice let a buddy drive my car and he rodde3d the hell out of it flew in his drive way and shut the engine off not giving the poor thing time to spool down.  Lets just say the bearings didnt last very long at high rpms and no oil flow :( so now I am back to running the original that has been on for 3 years now.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 15, 2010, 12:26:07 PM
Quote from: 88turbo;321922
yes I have had more than one, bought one and ran it for a while and thought I was having an issue with it so I bought another one and me being nice let a buddy drive my car and he rodde3d the hell out of it flew in his drive way and shut the engine off not giving the poor thing time to spool down.  Lets just say the bearings didnt last very long at high rpms and no oil flow :( so now I am back to running the original that has been on for 3 years now.




oh i see. friends are crazy, what can ya do.. but thats cool your cheap turbo has lasted so long. was it just an ebay one with no name?
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: 88turbo on May 15, 2010, 11:07:45 PM
yes, this all I run as far as upgrades.  faster than the imports here ;)
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 16, 2010, 02:55:41 AM
Quote from: 88turbo;322000
yes, this all I run as far as upgrades.  faster than the imports here ;)


well in my book thats all that matters :cheers:
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 24, 2010, 09:28:46 PM
got a teaser pic for yall..... Enjoy!

P.S. Sorry for the py pic (cell phone).
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: 88turbo on May 24, 2010, 10:55:16 PM
that is the turbo I run on my silver TC... enjoy ;)
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: quicksilver on May 25, 2010, 01:50:16 AM
what are the specs? very cool btw
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 25, 2010, 10:00:04 AM
on the cold side its a A/R .50 and the hot side its A/R .63. So she will spool quick and be alot of fun.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: fluke on May 25, 2010, 10:58:11 AM
I wonder how much longer my T3 with 205,000 miles on it would last. lol.. I plan on getting another turbo when I rebuild it but I am curious. :P

I too have heard nothing but bad about Chinese made ebay turbos (except the price). Then again though, this was on import forums and LS1 forums. Different application so who knows. So much stuff is outsourced today everything is gradually getting to there or already is.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 25, 2010, 10:38:07 PM
yeah everything anymore is chinese. Im just wating on mt exhaust  and my oil feed  and then i can get it finished and pics for everyone. And then the all important test drive!
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: BogusSVO on May 26, 2010, 12:35:47 PM
I have the ebay turbo your looking at(one one just about like it, the WG hole is in it, so the stock 83-86 TC elbow and flapper will work

Mine has been on my truck for over 2 years now and over 30k miles.. no issues with it.. I have it set for 20psi
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: Cougar8775 on May 26, 2010, 11:04:01 PM
im going to set it at 15 for now since i don't want to push the stock fuel system any farther. But i will be upgrading the pump and regulator down the road.
Title: T04E Questions
Post by: SR71blackbird on May 27, 2010, 02:17:20 AM
Quote from: Cougar8775;323325
im going to set it at 15 for now since i don't want to push the stock fuel system any farther. But i will be upgrading the pump and regulator down the road.


good choice where to set boost. i run 15 right now and it works good. at 17lbs i noticed a decrease in power do to running lean. if you get a fuel pressure regulaor and run it at 42psi to 44psi, you can turn the boost up to 22-23lbs of boost.