Holset HX25

[Chris28]

So my ebay turbo has bitten the dust. Every time I come to a stop light I blow a cloud of white smoke out my exhaust, and sometimes I blow smoke while cruising. I think the premature failure (1 track day) was caused by my oil return line being horizontal at one point. Either way it's an Ebay turbo so I didn't expect too much out of it.

That said, I'm looking for a Holset HX25. I want a t2 turbo that has been proven to be high quality and only uses oil lines. I called up Goldfarb and Associates, the company BigGameHit mentioned in his Holset thread, and they quoted me 550 for an HX25. I see HX35's all the time for less than 200 bucks, but never any 25's. Goldfarb and Assoc. is the only place I've found selling them...no one seems to have them. I think paying 550 is pretty steep, but if that's what they go for then I guess I'll spend it.

I was thinking of going top mount, but that would mean new manifold, new downpipe, external wastegate, bigger injectors and a new tune...all of which i'm not looking to buy. Staying t2 would be the more economical choice, and I'm happy with the power I'm putting out with this size flange.

So my question is, anyone know of a place selling HX25's for less than 550? What about other reputable t2 turbos that flow well and only have oil lines?

[GTR PrYdE]

Why not get a sr t25 or t28? I'm positive you can find one for well under 550

[Chris28]

I would go that route, but they both require water lines, and I don't feel like fabbing them haha. I guess that's hypocritical because the ebay t28 I'm running now has places for water lines, I'm just not running them.

I would do t25, but I'd like to get something larger than that. The t28 requires water lines because it's fully ball bearing, correct? The HX25 flows just as much as a t28, but doesn't require water.

[koukiFC]

gti-r t28. flows 2 lbs a min. less than a gt2871

and you dont need to run water lines just because they are there. and they are journal bearing so they are cheaper to rebuild over ball bearing

[480sx]

Never even heard of a damned hx25, sounds cool though. Any idea what they came off of? 550 for the turbo new or is that used? If its used, PASS.

Its probably a bangin turbo, but as far as money for dollar ratio, it fails. For a little more money you can just get much nicer turbo but then your looking at most likely a t3 footprint or a custom t2 housing(200+ dollars).

Like mentioned, you dont need to run coolant lines just because they are there. No journal bearing turbo really needs water cooling(ignoring marine applications). Its debatable though.. Water cooling does have one major benefit, that being that if your engine seizes or you get a hot shut off situation, heat soaking(which leads to oil coking in the CHRA) is minimized by the coolant in the turbo leeching the heat away from the CHRA.

[Chris28]

480, the 550 dollars is for a freshly rebuilt turbo. Yeah I didn't think I needed the water lines but this turbo failed so fast I figured it was cause I wasn't running water lines. The problem with the gt series turbos is that they are so damn expensive...I would much rather have a t3 turbo with a custom t2 housing. I wouldn't mind some more info on that lol. Any other t2 options?

[480sx]

A t3 turbo with a t2 housing is very possible for some turbos. I would have to ask my boy if you wanted specifics. Basically, you take the largest t2 footprinted housing, probably ~.80 ARish and you would use a lathe to open it up to fit your turbine. Obviously, your limited to what size t3 you can run, you have to run one of the smaller t3 turbine wheels but i think thats what you want already anyway so, not really a problem there.

550 for that turbo rebuilt(as long as the shop has a good rep) is not a bad deal at all if your happy with the HX25's compressor map(which id love to see actually). Holset makes great freaken turbos. You could do it for cheaper, but you wont be able to do it much better. Even with a GT-R series that you'd pay twice as much for.

You can also check out K series Borg Warner turbos, the smaller guys. They are also sweet and very under appreciated.

[Chris28]

You know I actually looked into BW, but the general consensus I found was that they don't make anything smaller than a t3 flanged turbo. I'm about to google k-series right now.

I'm still considering the Holset, I'll try to find a compressor map.

[Chris28]

I didn't find a map, but they flow 30.5 lbs/minute.

[WDRacing]

If I were using a bottom mount setup I'd use the HX25. I've actually been looking for one on the cheap. I'll never buy a T2 flanged anything for $550 though...especially if it's just a reman.

So...turbo is good, price sucks.

[Chris28]

Yeah I'd love to get my hands on one, but the only place I've seen them for sale have been the place selling them for 550 and on a classified thread on Nico for 250. I emailed the guy about it but he never responded.

I just emailed someone about a gti-r turbo, I think that's my next best option. He wants 110 for it because it started whining like a supercharger. If I do get it I'll just have it rebuilt and still be under the 550.

[480sx]

^^ Nope. You dont rebuild those turbos, you just replace the whole center cartridge. At cheapest, your talking 850.

If its whining while it spools up or something, every time it spools, just stay the f away dude.

[WDRacing]

^^ Nope. You dont rebuild those turbos, you just replace the whole center cartridge. At cheapest, your talking 850.

If its whining while it spools up or something, every time it spools, just stay the f away dude.

Agreed, why buy anything that needs work when you can find a suitable sub that requires nothing but install?

[Chris28]

The gti-r t28's are journal bearing, so I thought they could be rebuilt. Ball bearing turbos I know you have to replace the chra, but not journal bearing.

[WDRacing]

I'm just saying not to buy ANYTHING that needs rebuilt. Why bother when there are tons of options already available for decent $$ that won't require work or involve any unknown conditions.

Does it have to be a T2?

[Chris28]

Yeah man I totally understand. I bought my first t25 in unknown condition, the thing didn't even spool. It hit the compressor housing and made horrible noises. Other than legit garrett t25's, what other options do I have for less than 550?

I already have everything for my bottom mount t2 setup. I would have to buy a new manifold unless I got a t2 to t3 adapter, which I'm kinda weary of. At this point it's easier to work with what I have.

[480sx]

The gti-r t28's are journal bearing, so I thought they could be rebuilt. Ball bearing turbos I know you have to replace the chra, but not journal bearing.

Oh are you sure? I always thought they were BB. So its only the s15 turbos that are true BB t2's?

If that is the case and its journal bearing, ill just let you know this. That whining sound is indicative of wheel to housing contact. If thats the case, it means at the very least you will have to replace both the turbine shaft and the compressor wheel. That is IF the CHRA isnt destroyed, which it usually is if you have wheel to housing contact.

[Chris28]

Yeah, since koukifc mentioned it I looked it up and sure enough it's journal bearing. Wheel to housing contact is not good, so I think I'll just stick with a t25 until I get everything to go top mount.

I was just out cleaning my work bench an I happened to come across a fitting with 63 stamped on the side...I took my feed line off and I had what looked to be a reducer in there, but the fitting I found seemed like it had a smaller hole in it. I went ahead and put what I found in there, maybe over oiling was the cause of it smoking.

edit: Just checked JGS's website...sure enough I wasn't running the reducer.

[480sx]

A restrictor is a bandaid for another issue. If your running a -4 an line, a .63 or slightly bigger restrictor isnt that bad of a thing however use only if you have an over oiling situation. If your running a -3an line however, you shouldnt have to use a restrictor. In fact you really dont want to run one.

If your turbo is smoking and not blown, its almost always a drain line issue. While adding a restrictor might solve that problem, it might cause another(shortening the life span of your turbo).

You want as much oil flowing through your turbo, especially a journal bearing turbo with no water cooling, as possible.

[Chris28]

Hmm, I thought it was necessary to run a properly sized restrictor with any setup. JGS includes it in their kit, so I wonder if it's really necessary. I'll see what happens with the restrictor installed, I'm prepared to purchase a new turbo anyway so if it still smokes I'm ready.

I have a new oil pan on the way so I can totally re-work my oil drain setup.

[s14derrick]

maybe run a used s14 t28? i think they are the same as s15 turbos accept journal bearing. can probably find one for 300 or so

[WDRacing]

Chris if I were you, aside from liking other dudes, I'd have a buddy or a shop weld a T3 flange right over the T2 flange and then port match it. Then you can use an internally gated T3 or bigger. The T3 super 60 is a decent turbo for someone wanting to run 15-18 psi or so and is pretty cheap. I saw one today for $400.

WD

[s14derrick]

not doubting you at all WD but would a t3 turbo have enough clearence down there? and would a 5 bolt flange off of a t2 work on a t3 for the DP ? j/w would rather go bottom mount because of ebing able to use sr DP and elbow

[WDRacing]

I can do a custom DP for like 35 bucks...have the same dude that welds the flange on, weld up a dp real quick. Done and Done.

But I can't say for sure that the T3 will fit, but I've seen some big T2 hybrids under there. The 2876r is not a small compressor and I know that fits.

Get pics together, postem up and we'll figure it all out. I know when I get back to boosting I'm doing almost exactly this. I haven't decided on how many wastegates to run yet. I figure a single 50mm will let me hit 400whp without to much back pressure.

[Chris28]

I was thinking about a bottom mount t3 setup, I might just pursue that if I find a decent t3 turbo for a good price. 400 doesn't sound bad.

What about this? It's still t2 but it can flow quite a lot of air. Only downside is that the guy wants 600 for it.

zer...4-t28

[koukiFC]

i dont think marshall even has that anymore. plus with the 49 a.r on a ka it will probably choke out. id go with the t3 setup imo.

[Chris28]

He emailed me and said it was still for sale, so I think he still has it.

I found a brand new super 60 for 435:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors..._1165

That + http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors..._1165

and +http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors..._1165

Bingo. Bottom mount t3 setup.

[koukiFC]

ah. havnt talked to him in awhile so i wasnt sure.

and rock the welded flange on a bm manifold. i did the same except mine is top mounted and restructured.vvvvv

[Chris28]

Wow I never thought about flipping the manifold over to make it top mount...that's a really good idea. How did you restructure it? I'm probably not going to do it due to my current dp setup, but that's really interesting.

[koukiFC]

thanks. we went over all welds re doing them,added braces under each runner and 2 braces off the new flange to support the weight, and added a external wg off the collector. id take some more pics but everything is installed right now lol