wicked wheel

[buzzinghalfdozen24]

Does anybody have any real world experience with the wicked wheel, or batmowheel? Been looking to get one for some time now. But want to know if it's really worth $230.

 

[Tuesdak]

Some shady fleabay sellers dumping these on the market. Supposed to fit, but, seen some buyers need modifications to make them fit on GM turbo shafts they were advertized to fit. IMO If you are going to mess with a turbo get the entire known turbo that is balanced, tested, known HP/TQ results @ specific RPM, and has a good reputation with a warranty. Imagine the cost and damage to recover from a burst wheel. The fitment issues should be a clear indication of lacking quality.

 

[cerberusiam]

Not even worth the effort.

 

[buzzinghalfdozen24]

I'll post a reply to my own thread in case someone might benefit from it. I just got done with installing a wicked wheel 2 and AFE wastegate. I did notice a difference. Its minimal. It's barely worth the effort performance wise. But I did notice a difference. I did the wastegate and the wheel at the same time, so I can't say which one it was that made the most difference. What I can say is that my EGT's did seem to be lower on the long uphill drags on the interstate this morning. I was rolling on it pretty hard and was in the neighborhood of 1200 ± a few, and that is a large improvement over previously stock turbo. I could almost pull 1500 on the same hill. So this improvement is well appreciated. I'm overly protective of high egts, so this part of it is worth the money. It's seemed to bring the boost up lower in the range, which was my goal. Rarely do I run 2800 rpm so I wanted the air flow curve to be lower.

Doing the work.... not bad. The disassembly, sucked. The install was good. Removing a few things that had not been apart in 245,000 miles was a pain. I decided to take the turbo off despite many people saying to do it in frame. I'm a technician for a living and always find it easier to do the critical component work right in front of me on a bench, so not to screw anything up. The turbo-to-ex.man bolts sucked. The ones on the engine block side were crazy tight. I suspected breaking a stud. But, with proper amounts of kroil at letting it sit over night to soak, they came off with a 12" extention and wobble socket going from the bottom. The outside two were not too bad. Turbo compressor housing snap ring....sucked. I bought a large 16" snap right set, with 90° tips and it was a miracle worker.

Overall, it would be an easy project if you didn't have to fight 245,000 miles of midwest rusted threads and stuck hoses. haha. I still say it's just barely worth the money, but what the heck. At least I won't sit around and wonder.

 

[promisedland]

Compressor wheel?

 

[buzzinghalfdozen24]

Yes, its a replacement aftermarket compressor wheel. Lighter, different vane approach.

 

[promisedland]

You would get more gain by putting a larger wheel in the exh side....

 

[buzzinghalfdozen24]

I agree. Never saw an aftermarket exhaust wheel though. If I ever do any more, it'll be a different turbo. But most turbos I've researched have worse lag that stock. And don't spool as fast. So I chose to modify the OEM.

 

[seafish]

Gonna guess that most of your SOP gains came from the waste gate replacement, as the limiting factor of the oem turbo is on the exhaust side, not the compressor side.

 

[buzzinghalfdozen24]

Probably true. I hate doing two changes at once, can't tell which thing effected what.

As far as the AFE wastegate, they sent the set up procedure with it. Make it a slip fit, then tighten one revolution to make the preset pressure of 40psi.

After driving it today I never saw it clearing 36psi. I know there's a lot of variables to consider, but should I adjust wastegate more to see 40psi, or is this number basically just a calculation to keep it closed longer to build higher boost?

And tightening it equals more pressure, or, closed longer, correct?

 

[buzzinghalfdozen24]

The boost definitely came on earlier. And my egts were noticeable lower. Can't wait to tow with it and see differences.

 

[promisedland]

Hope u like it!
I went with TaterBuilt turbos for my 04.5, He machines both sides and puts in larger wheels. By far most size gain on exh side. Spools very close to stock and sound vveerryy nice!!!
Simular to the Cheetah but smaller wheels...