RB20 turbine replacement

[rcrdps]

I know there are companies that will replace the bearings and turbine in an RB20 turbo, and they usually use a larger one. My question: Will any T3 turbine fit in any T3 turbo? I've seen a forum where someone posted the size of the turbine. I've also seen T3 turbines on Ebay, but they usually don't list a size, so I'm kinda assuming they are all the same.

Just seems like such a nice turbo to swap out for a bigger but probably not as good one. It's ball bearing, water cooled,....that's an expensive turbo.

Thanks,Gene

[240z4u]

I dont know what your asking here. Are you wanting to rebuild the stock rb20 turbo or what?

IMO stick an RB25det turbo on there for a little perkier setup.

Evan

[rcrdps]

If I say "rebuild", then everyone will say, it's not rebuildable, you have to send it to Garret to get the bearings replaced. So no, I don't want to rebuild it. I want to swap the ceramic turbine for a steel one. I don't really like the RB25 route unless it's one of the turbos with the steel turbine swap.

Thanks,Gene

[Nissan2367]

Why not just upgrade to a different turbo instead of wasting the money on a factory one? Just wondering...

[240z4u]

Gene, I thought you meant you needed bearings replaced etc..

I am sure there is a steel wheel that would work, not sure out of what application or supplier. Might be wise just to call a turbo rebuilder and ask, they can likely help.

[rcrdps]

Why not just upgrade to a different turbo instead of wasting the money on a factory one? Just wondering...

A turbo that's as good as this one would cost several thousand, I think. I've seen the turbines for several hundred. I'm also somewhat of a stock junky. Like to see how much I can get out it. It obviously wouldn't be totally stock, but close.

Gene

[rcrdps]

One of the things I'm wondering is if the shaft size is standard? Is the profile standard? Is that what T3 designates, or is that just a flange designation?

Gene

[Shocker]

A turbo that's as good as this one would cost several thousand, I think. I've seen the turbines for several hundred. I'm also somewhat of a stock junky. Like to see how much I can get out it. It obviously wouldn't be totally stock, but close.

Gene

Huh? Several Thousand? I hope your not talking about an rb20 turbo here....

[240z4u]

T3 is a flange.

I have absolutely no idea what your talking about now.

[rcrdps]

That's a good bit of what I wanted to know. So T3 has nothing to do with turbine size. It's just the flange.

Gene

[rcrdps]

Huh? Several Thousand? I hope your not talking about an rb20 turbo here....

Used, no. But new?,.... probably so. The RB20 turbo is ball bearing and water cooled. Those aren't cheap. Aside from size, the RB20 turbo would make a nice core. So I just want to swap the turbine wheel for the same size, but in steel. To me, that's better than downgrading in turbo quality to get a bigger turbo. You might end up with more power, but I'd rather the better turbo.

It's either that or spend the big bucks to get a bigger, ball bearing, water cooled turbo. I think it'd be more fun to get more out of my current turbo.

Gene

[l0nestar]

Used, no. But new?,.... probably so. The RB20 turbo is ball bearing and water cooled. Those aren't cheap. Aside from size, the RB20 turbo would make a nice core. So I just want to swap the turbine wheel for the same size, but in steel. To me, that's better than downgrading in turbo quality to get a bigger turbo. You might end up with more power, but I'd rather the better turbo.

It's either that or spend the big bucks to get a bigger, ball bearing, water cooled turbo. I think it'd be more fun to get more out of my current turbo.

Gene

Sounds like your attempting to polish a turd. It would be far cheaper to get a 30r than rebuild a 20 turbo. Heck, if you dropped to a T2 flange, you would be closer to the stock turbo dimensions. Garrett's site is having issues, but there _was_ a GT28 series that used T3 flanges on a 28 frame.

To me, this really comes back to - why are you so adamant about having a water-cooled turbo? Most modern turbos don't use it, just oil cooled - only Garrett. (e.g. Holset, IHI, Borg-Warner, etc.) What is your necessitation? Do you plan on doing mostly endurance racing?

[Shocker]

Used, no. But new?,.... probably so. The RB20 turbo is ball bearing and water cooled. Those aren't cheap. Aside from size, the RB20 turbo would make a nice core. So I just want to swap the turbine wheel for the same size, but in steel. To me, that's better than downgrading in turbo quality to get a bigger turbo. You might end up with more power, but I'd rather the better turbo.

It's either that or spend the big bucks to get a bigger, ball bearing, water cooled turbo. I think it'd be more fun to get more out of my current turbo.

Gene

I cannot agree with you man. Sure its a nice turbo for a stock engine, but you will max out at mid to high 200 hp with it. (assuming you've installed larger injectors)

People sell their good condition rb turbos for under $200.

Do you know the cost to rebuild a DBB turbo? You might as well just buy a new one in most cases.

There is no problem with a journal bearing turbo, sure its not quite as efficient as DBB but your only loosing 200-300 rpms spool time in comparison to the same unit in DBB. If your going with a relatively small turbo that will make full boost very fast, this doesn't even matter. Not to mention it will flow a lot better at less boost pressure than your stocker will.

I suggest you research this in depth before dumping $$ into a stock rb20 turbo.

[l0nestar]

If I remember correctly, there was a bloke from Austrailia who would rebuild the factory turbos, but he wanted ~$1200.00 or $1500.00 to do it.

Charlie @ Evergreen Turbos might - but I would assume he will just tell you the same thing - not worth it. Especially when you can get a newer, and more efficient turbo for less.

Even the 25 turbo begins losing efficency around 10-12 lbs. reguardless of wheel material. It's the design that is the problem. Just not designed for it, unless you only plan on running factory 5-7 lbs with it. lol!

[rcrdps]

Thanks for your concerns and opinions. I guess no one knows much about the actual size and shaft size of the turbines.

I do care about longevity. Obviously Nissan did too when they put the turbo in there.

I'll keep my eye out for a bigger turbo though.

Gene

[l0nestar]

I believe Pirate 87 made a 'teardown' thread about the stock 25 turbo. It used a T-28 shaft if I'm not mistaken. That was all that was "standard" about it. Everything else is 'custom'.

Thanks for your concerns and opinions. I guess no one knows much about the actual size and shaft size of the turbines.

I do care about longevity. Obviously Nissan did too when they put the turbo in there.

I'll keep my eye out for a bigger turbo though.

Gene

[rcrdps]

So, for everyone who has upgraded their turbo, which one are you running?where'd you get it?how much did you pay for it?How many miles have you put on your car since then? Also, did you go toward higher boost and efficiency, or quicker spool? I'm more likely to go for quicker spool.

l0nestar- A T-28 shaft,... But T-3 only specifies a flange? See, that's where I'm confused. Guess I need to just go read up on turbo specs and what they mean.

Thanks,Gene

[rcrdps]

Here's a quote about the RB20 conversion:

The limit is a bit clouded, staying under 14psi is commonly agreed to be safe, but you will hit pinging problems before 14psi. Garret offer a conversion to steel turbine and at the same time change the internals to T3 spec, while keeping the stock compressor housing, Ive been told its about $1200. RB20DETs running this mod have dynoed up to 270hp at the wheels."

[nos487]

I replaced mine with a rb25 turbo and I am happy with it. It bolted right on and makes good power for cheap. It cost me 215.00 shipped(EBAY).

[rcrdps]

I replaced mine with a rb25 turbo and I am happy with it. It bolted right on and makes good power for cheap. It cost me 215.00 shipped(EBAY).

You know, I wasn't totally impressed with those at first. Sounded like they had the same 14psi limit due to the ceramic turbine. But from what I read not too long agon, that is the limit on the RB25. The limit would be much higher on the smaller RB20 since it can make more boost with lower turbine speed. I think they said 20psi,......which would be plenty. Probably much more than I'll use. I may wouldn't even hit the 14psi, but I'd like to know it has more.Gene

[rcrdps]

Check out this thread:

zerothread?id=370250

About the 10th post down, someone mentions slapping a new compressor on an RB25 cartridge. That's kinda along the lines of what I've been thinking, except swapping the turbine( and housing maybe) also.

Gene

[nos487]

Let me know if you decide to go that rought. I would like to know how it worked out.

[rcrdps]

Not sure now if I want to go that route. I read that thread that l0nestar mentioned. Pirate87 says he thinks the middle is a Hitachi unit. So if I did spend the money to swap the ends, and then the seals blow not too long after, I'm up the creek.

I just bid on a RB25 turbo and lost,... but I was already having second thoughts about it, so I didn't bid real high. I think I'd rather go the Holset route, and have a turbo that I know won't blow the turbine. The Holset's seem to be about the same price, but they're a little more work to hook up.

Gene

[fmendoza2929]

im probably waayy out of topic i got my stock rb20det turbo rebuilt with a stage 3 wheel watever that means and the guy charged me 450 flat i did not go ballbearing but the internal and the turbine were replace new its a huge diffrence i havent tested it but i can show you guys pics

[rcrdps]

Definitely!!! I'd love to see pics.

Is your's an R31 or R32? If R32, it should already be ball bearing. Are you saying he swapped them for floating?

Gene

[PorkChopExpress]

the hot side is just sooooo small. i dont care if you put a food processor fusion reactor on it, its not going past 280hp.

is thhe nissan t28 the exact same thing as the garrett t28?

[fmendoza2929]

To be honest i dont know the diffrence i know its an rb20det and for some reason they told me its a t3 im new in the game and learning as i go i have the motor sitting on my s14 project thats going rhd. by the way whats the diffrence from r32 to r33 i know there is a diffrence in the car?

[rcrdps]

I thought R33 was the Rb25. R31 is the first RB20, and has a terrible turbo. R32 is the RB20 with the ball bearing turbo that most of us have.

I think,.... I didn't doublecheck this against wiki.

Gene

[rcrdps]

I just won a Holset Hx35 on Ebay, so I will most likely not be trying anything further with the RB20 turbo( except making a jet engine).

Got it for $180. Woulda got it for much less, but I wasn't able to watch the auction and someone bid me up to my max. That stinks, but I think I still got a good price.

Gene

[SullivanRacing06]

why not install a 48-43 standard t3 turbo on your motor?