Well, after months and months of debating and research I've decided i want to turbo my KA with 75 k on it. Its been meticulously mantained since I've had it and I've had no problems with it at all so I think I'll be safe. Im still gonna get it rebuilt with forged pistons, metal gaskets etc...etc.. I know I can get a deal on labor cuz I know people that do this stuff for a living. Anyway, I was wondering if someone with experience could tell me which turbo is best for the KA and where I can get a manifold. I was thinking I could just get the turbo and manifold from somewhere that makes the turbo kits, or if someone could point me in the direction of a better way to go that'd be great. Any other advice would be appreciated too. I'd like to be able to run between 12 and 14 psi max. if that helps any.
sorry bout the pic, I just got a digi cam and this was my first post on the new forum so Im just toying with some things...heh..and yes, first post. I work too much I know.
made my decision
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wicked_S14
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Drift Machine
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wicked_S14
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Well, thank you all. I've got tokicos with sportlines and 18's plus front and rear sway bars and a front strut tower bar. It handles wonderfully now so next Im doing the brakes and then the engine. And, although I really want an SR, I can come away cheaper on turboing my KA..not to mention I'll get more torque that way too. :rockon
my car has similar mileage on it, and i'm pretty sure that i'm going to turbo it before i do a full swap. the only thing im worried about is that i'll only be able to push about 8lbs of boost into it...
even after i replace the injectors, and with I/H/E, i dont think it'll be good for the engine to run anymore
and i too like your car:)
even after i replace the injectors, and with I/H/E, i dont think it'll be good for the engine to run anymore
and i too like your car:)
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C-Kwik
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The Best way to choose a turbo would be to get test drives or rides in turbo cars. But that's not always easy or practical. Try to determine reasonably what your ultimate power goal is. And do not fool yourself here...once you boost, you will want more. Decide what kind of response you want. How much do you want to spend?
There are a lot of compromises in choosing a turbo. For everything you gain, you will lose something somewhere else.
I run a T04B. I've driven a T3/T4 powered KA. Both feel pretty good. The T3/T4 I drove used a ball bearing turbo so boost was exceptionally responsive. The T04B is laggy by comparison,but plenty streetable. Boost comes in quite gradually in comparison to the T3/T4 I drove, but is plenty streetable and plenty responsive. A ball bearing version may allow better response. Yoiu could also toy with a bigger compressor A/R to get snappy boost or a lower turbine A/R for quicker response. But I rather like having the boost come in a little slower.
For good response, you could go as small as a T3, but I would go with the T3/T4 to extract more power. I personally like the T04. It's got a lot of options in this family of turbo.
As far as manifold, you could go Revhard for T04 or even a T3(clearance may be an issue, but some have done it). Fmax will sell their manifold seperate from their kit and this will fit a T3 Turbine. Keep in mind the F-max manifold is sidemount and would not facilitate a larger turbine family without a lot of modification to the turbine. And then you would have to hope the turbo clears the front rail. The revhard manifold has heat issues as the turbo sits real high. Also more prone to cracking, but you can seperate the flanges and drill out the bolt holes to allow more expansion to reduce the chance of cracking. Mine has been holding up pretty good with just larger bolt holes. And it was cracked when I got it(used, had it repaired).
More than the turbo choice though, if you are gonna run 12-14 psi, make sure the fuel system can handle it. Mine is marginal at 8-9 psi with an 8:1 FMU. I run 6.5 psi regularly, but my Deltagate was allowing spikes. My Tial sticks 6.5 all day.
There are a lot of compromises in choosing a turbo. For everything you gain, you will lose something somewhere else.
I run a T04B. I've driven a T3/T4 powered KA. Both feel pretty good. The T3/T4 I drove used a ball bearing turbo so boost was exceptionally responsive. The T04B is laggy by comparison,but plenty streetable. Boost comes in quite gradually in comparison to the T3/T4 I drove, but is plenty streetable and plenty responsive. A ball bearing version may allow better response. Yoiu could also toy with a bigger compressor A/R to get snappy boost or a lower turbine A/R for quicker response. But I rather like having the boost come in a little slower.
For good response, you could go as small as a T3, but I would go with the T3/T4 to extract more power. I personally like the T04. It's got a lot of options in this family of turbo.
As far as manifold, you could go Revhard for T04 or even a T3(clearance may be an issue, but some have done it). Fmax will sell their manifold seperate from their kit and this will fit a T3 Turbine. Keep in mind the F-max manifold is sidemount and would not facilitate a larger turbine family without a lot of modification to the turbine. And then you would have to hope the turbo clears the front rail. The revhard manifold has heat issues as the turbo sits real high. Also more prone to cracking, but you can seperate the flanges and drill out the bolt holes to allow more expansion to reduce the chance of cracking. Mine has been holding up pretty good with just larger bolt holes. And it was cracked when I got it(used, had it repaired).
More than the turbo choice though, if you are gonna run 12-14 psi, make sure the fuel system can handle it. Mine is marginal at 8-9 psi with an 8:1 FMU. I run 6.5 psi regularly, but my Deltagate was allowing spikes. My Tial sticks 6.5 all day.
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wicked_S14
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Well I can probably come down on the boost, I want something thats gonna give me more low end. I mean, I still wanna lil kick when Im doin 80 but for the most part, Im not usually doin over 50 during my normal driving/cruising or whatever you wanna call it. Anyway, I'd need a turbo that spools up faster, so Im probably lookin at a T3/T4. and thanx again for ur compliments
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Movingviolation240
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'93 Lexus SC300 w/ SP66 turbo kit
Go for somthing like a GT30 turbo, a Revhard manifold, and a Tial wastegate. Some people would say the GT30 is too big, it's BS, big turbo's are the greatest thing since sliced bread, even if it dosn't come up on boost till 4,000rpm... (and I'm not saying it comes up that late) the only time your going to notice it is accelerating in first gear. Bellow 4,000rpm you can boil the tires 'all motor' in first... so boost really dosn't do you any good. Above that number every time you shift you keep the turbo spun up and you don't even have to worry about it anymore. The bigger turbo will give you lower EGT's, they are more reliable, they flow a lot more, and they have "bling factor" 
I'd go with somthing your not going to grow out of, and if you have a built motor there is no reason to sell yourself short and go with a T3/T4.
As for the wastegate, simply put deltagates suck, the Tial is a work of art and it fits the deltagate flange (which is the flange that's molded onto the Revhard manifold).
RevHard is the only company making turbo KA manifolds, but the guys at Unstable hybrids are in the final stages of doing a prototype KA manifold, so I'd give them a call and see what they've got as well.
Hope that helps a bit,
Paul
I'd go with somthing your not going to grow out of, and if you have a built motor there is no reason to sell yourself short and go with a T3/T4.
As for the wastegate, simply put deltagates suck, the Tial is a work of art and it fits the deltagate flange (which is the flange that's molded onto the Revhard manifold).
RevHard is the only company making turbo KA manifolds, but the guys at Unstable hybrids are in the final stages of doing a prototype KA manifold, so I'd give them a call and see what they've got as well.
Hope that helps a bit,
Paul
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wicked_S14
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actually, that did help, thank you. Now....where might I go to get prices for these toys. And Im also taking intercooler options for a turbo KA. I was leaning toward the GReddy RSPL 2 row from jspec but thats an SR intercooler. Im not sure what fits the KA though....and where might I find performance internals for a KA. I see a lot for the SR but cant find any KA internals. Thanx again.
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C-Kwik
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Duy owned that. And as far as I know it's still running. He sold it to someone who I used to see post in the old NICO boards. Osofast240, IIRC. I don't know if he still comes around, rumor has it, he sold the car, I heard it was on Ebay. I actually have two MPeg Clips of it somewhere on my harddrive.
Paul- Why the hell are you telling him to use a POS crappy revhard? You know me and all the problems I have had with mine. For those who dont know, they crack! I am not the only one this has happened to either. Do not waste your money on it. Get a fab shop to make you one. The is a shop here in Orlando that said they would make me a tubular one for about $300 so I know it can be done.
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Movingviolation240
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well Tinny I was making the point because the revhard is the best commercially avaliable manifold out there right now. The problem with them is you have to do some grinding and cutting to make it work safely as a top mount manifold. It was originally cast as a bottom mount manifold and dosn't quite work as a topmount. If you grind it down a bit around the ports it won't heat up as much and therefore dosn't crack. Also you should look into cutting some releif into the flanges (Estphan did that on Ray's turbo manifold).
Overall I still think more people have problems with tube manifolds cracking over the Rev Hard.
but that's just my humble opinion
Paul
Overall I still think more people have problems with tube manifolds cracking over the Rev Hard.
but that's just my humble opinion
Paul
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wicked_S14
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C-Kwik
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I bought my turbo kit used with a crack already in place. I had it fixed and no problems since. The Rev-Hard Manifolds are not bad. But the fit to the studs on the head are rather tight. I drilled out the holes on the flange to allow some room for expansion. Has worked fine since...
I heard that Turbonetics now makes the rev-hard stuff. Something about it moving to Turbonetics with Myles Bautista.
That manifold looks pretty good though.
I heard that Turbonetics now makes the rev-hard stuff. Something about it moving to Turbonetics with Myles Bautista.
That manifold looks pretty good though.
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TrunkMonkey
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just for everyone's info, http://www.realnissan.com now makes turbo manifolds for the KA24DE. i haven't done any business with them personally, but they seem pretty knowledgeable.
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wicked_S14
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