Turbonetics Stage 1 turbo installed

[pwerwagn]

So, I decided to give the ball bearing turbo another shot. I got a new stage 1 turbonetics turbo (same turbo as the old edge jammer ball bearing).



If any of you remember previously, LOtero and I both tried the Edge ball bearing and it sucked. We couldnt make it work right at all. Well, this one is a lot different. sounds different, spools better, and pulls harder. I think there was obviously something wrong with the old one (which we still couldnt get replaced under warranty... but thats another story).



I really am liking this turbo. I replaced a nice dodgezilla with it (the DZ was a city diesel, had the good comp wheel, 14cm housing ported, banks wg actuator, etc). This turbo has a lot less compressor noise in the cab (the DZ was a bit much at times). the exhaust note is nice. A lot deeper due to the larger wheel/housing.



As far as performance goes, this turbo spools just as quick as the DZ for normal driving. While accelerating hard, it is a little laggier. It likes the top end the best, but still makes great boost down low. It seems to be a great towing turbo too. At a 55mph cruise, its making somewhere around 5psi. 0-10 psi is real quick. From there on its real linear. It doesnt have that "hit" that a lot of turbos do, but it pulls hard. Its a very decieving power. Just by feel, it doesnt feel fast. but if you either watch the speedo, or race someone, its definitley faster. It just doesnt feel it.



One note though, I didnt have my 4K's in the truck when I first installed the turbo and it didnt work all that well. After putting the 4k's in, it works much better. even down low. I think partly the problem was the turbo would really start pulling a short time before I defueled and it made it seem sluggish. The dodgezilla turbine choked the engine before the defueling was that noticeable, whereas the BB turbo makes it obvious its defueling when it falls on its face.



In all Ive seen somewhere between 150* and Id guess 250* of EGT drop, with cruise EGT only up by about 25* or so.



I will probably have TN upgrade it to the 66 wheel sometime to see how that works out as well.



--Jeff

 

[Forrest Nearing]

they're nice, but I just can't imagine running a turbo on a 12v that isn't rated for more than 40psi

 

[pwerwagn]

I thought the same thing Forrest. The only reason I tried it was becuase I got a deal I couldnt refuse.



Im liking it more and more every day. I was making ~550hp before (corrected) and It feels much stronger now, especially on top end. At this power level, I have no spool problems whatsoever, and on a good pull (empty) my egt hits 1400* at 115mph. MUCH lower than the dodgezilla is.



I dont think its a extremely good performance turbo, it lacks the hit most hp junkies want. However, for towing and daily driving while making good hp, its been amazing so far.



I dont think Id pay the 2200$ turbonetics wants for one, but if you can get one for a good deal... Its a nice turbo.



Oh, and absolutley 100% no surge, ever. I cant even make it surge.



--Jeff

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Great information Jeff. Is there a website for this turbo? What HP range do you think it's suited for (it's probably too much turbo for ~350-375hp)? Any info on impeller & housing sizes?

Vaughn

 

[pwerwagn]

sorry I didnt see this sooner Vaughn!!



The turbo uses a t-58 compressor wheel. the turbine is a Q-trim wheel, 10 blade IIRC. The turbine housing is large, I think its either a 15 or 16cm housing. This turbo is the same thing as the edge jammer ball bearing. T3 flange, non wastegated, etc. Single ball bearing on the comp side, journal on the turbine side.



I think 375 hp would be plenty fine if you had gov springs. This turbo spools well on the bottom end, daily driving and towing... yet it loves to pull on the top end.



Id like to get a T-61 or HP66 compressor wheel on it and see how it performs then. I think the 66 would make it a crappy towing turbo though.



I took a vid of it spooling down. It spins for a long time. It also has a real nice exhaust note, and the compressor is quite a bit quieter than the dodgezilla it replaced!!!



here is the vid:

YouTube - Turbonetics ball bearing turbo on 12v cummins



this was taken with the truck cold. It spins way longer when the oil is warm and the truck is warm. a good 15 seconds or so longer.



--Jeff

 

[pwerwagn]

Another odd fact... . Ive known Ive had a small boost leak for a while. but I never thought it was bad. the dodgezilla would still make 50psi if I let it (obviously... with that small of turbine housing).



so anyways... I tried the dodgezilla everywhere from 32psi to 45psi regularly. It seemed to like around 36 the best. But even still at 36psi, egt's were off the gauge at wot in 4th or 5th. That was without gov springs.



This turbo is only making low 30's psi (30-32ish), and with 4K's, in 5th gear at 115mph im right at 1400*. I dont know what its making power wise, but I made 546 with the dodgezilla choking it!!! I knew it wouldnt last long at that power... hence my upgrade. no sense in destroying a good turbo.



--Jeff

 

[AFoulk]

your new turbo is probably much more efficient and flows more air than your old dodgezilla, thats probably why your boost is lower.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks for the info Jeff, sounds like you're liking it

Yeah it would be interesting to try with a bigger compressor. I remember a little about this turbo now, its main weakness would be the smallish compressor, but at least has good breathing on the exhaust side.

Vaughn

 

[NoSeeUm]

Did your DZ have a silencing ring?



My does and I noticed right off it was quieter than the HX35.



Jim

 

[pwerwagn]

your new turbo is probably much more efficient and flows more air than your old dodgezilla, thats probably why your boost is lower.

Actually the compressor flows less at peak, yet at the pressure ratio im running it at, its in a very efficient portion of its map, whereas the 40 wheel was down in the 60% area.

However, I think the exhaust side is what makes it work better over all anyways. The dodgezilla choked the top end real bad. This turbo likes top end... I can only hope a bigger comp wheel will make it even better!!!



Im not touting this as the best turbo or anything. I just feel this turbo got a bad rap (in part from me with the one I tried previously). I just wanted to make it clear that it really is a good turbo. Not worth the 2200$ turbonetics wants for it... but a good turbo.



NoSeeUm, my dz didnt have a sil ring. It was the loudest turbo in the cab that Ive ever been around. Louder than QD64's, PS66's, stock, DD jammers (HX40), etc.



--Jeff

 

[AFoulk]

I can't wait to see how it works for ya with the bigger compressor wheel. One question. What do you mean by it has a "Q-trim" turbine? I know what trim means, just wondered what the Q meant.

 

[pwerwagn]

Turbonetics has O, P and Q trim wheels... , along their stage 1-5 wheels.

I took some pics of the turbo and did some "mods" to it... I love flat black paint. :-laf

 

[pwerwagn]

More pics...

 

[Forrest Nearing]

NoSeeUm, my dz didnt have a sil ring. It was the loudest turbo in the cab that Ive ever been around. Louder than QD64's, PS66's, stock, DD jammers (HX40), etc.



--Jeff

the 6 blade HX40 compressor wheel is probably the LOUDEST turbo a lot of people will ever hear... I'm assuming your DZ had that wheel. at 15-20psi it has a resonance that will pierce your eardrums if you're driving next to an 18wheeler or a concrete wall!

 

[pwerwagn]

Yup, I had the better 6 blade wheel!! Mine was noisy all the way from 5psi to 50 psi. It never got quiet. It sounds very similar to a PS66 with a filter mounted directly to the inlet.



It had more of a small turbo sound though, more of a whistling and not a "whirr" as a bigger turbo has. It was less high pitch than the 35... but louder than the 35 and never went away (my 35 was quiet from 18psi on up).

 

[NoSeeUm]

NoSeeUm, my dz didnt have a sil ring. It was the loudest turbo in the cab that Ive ever been around. Louder than QD64's, PS66's, stock, DD jammers (HX40), etc.



--Jeff

Yeah, OK thanks. Mine is the 8 blade compressor with a silencer ring. It is surprizingly quiet. All I ever heard realistically was air noise.



Jim

 

[pwerwagn]

Mine was probably exaggerated because I have a scotty intake.

the DZ is on a first gen now making 300 ish hp, and its not nearly as loud as it was on my truck.