Help me pick a turbo
12-01-2002, 06:03 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Help me pick a turbo
Posted this on nasioc but its dead there, maybe everyones here.
I've been searching i-club wrxclub.net and nasioc.com for the past 2 days trying to finally decide on the right turbo however im getting so much mixed info I dont know whos right and whos wrong.
I have narrowed it down to an IHI but still unsure which. The VF34 seems very popular but a little rare and expensive. I have heard many different things about the rest as to how much power they will produce and what rpm they will spool.
My budget is about 1000 give or take, preferably less of course. I have seen some VF30's for around 800 which seems like a great deal.
I have read the VF22 will spool around 3500rpm with higher power and higher boost handling then the VF30.
Someone set me straight!
Here is the setup the turbo will be running on. I'm aiming for around 300 to 400hp with decent drivability.
Blitz cat back
Helix / Perrin downpipe (haven't decided)
Perrin uppipe
TurboXS TMIC
upgraded fuel pump/injectors
UTEC
I've been searching i-club wrxclub.net and nasioc.com for the past 2 days trying to finally decide on the right turbo however im getting so much mixed info I dont know whos right and whos wrong.
I have narrowed it down to an IHI but still unsure which. The VF34 seems very popular but a little rare and expensive. I have heard many different things about the rest as to how much power they will produce and what rpm they will spool.
My budget is about 1000 give or take, preferably less of course. I have seen some VF30's for around 800 which seems like a great deal.
I have read the VF22 will spool around 3500rpm with higher power and higher boost handling then the VF30.
Someone set me straight!
Here is the setup the turbo will be running on. I'm aiming for around 300 to 400hp with decent drivability.
Blitz cat back
Helix / Perrin downpipe (haven't decided)
Perrin uppipe
TurboXS TMIC
upgraded fuel pump/injectors
UTEC
12-01-2002, 07:53 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
bamfwrx: I realize this, just threw that range out there to give an idea what I was going for. Lets just say 350 then.
dick: Probably mids
Don't want some huge drag beast with no usable power at autox, but dont want some small turbo with no big power either. Nice name btw 
dick: Probably mids
Don't want some huge drag beast with no usable power at autox, but dont want some small turbo with no big power either. Nice name btw
12-01-2002, 08:02 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Lets see...
350 hp = about 270 whp...
You can get this with a VF30. It will be close to the max of that turbo, but it will get you there and will spool faster than anything larger. Also, look into the Ion performance upgrade, it will top out almost the same as a VF30 but with a flatter torque curve and a significantly quicker spool. It's $800 plus your OEM core, I believe.
If you want more than 350 hp you will want something bigger than a VF30 - either the VF22, or if you have the money the PE1818 or SR30. Both of those are really expensive though. All it takes is money! How fast do you want to go?
350 hp = about 270 whp...
You can get this with a VF30. It will be close to the max of that turbo, but it will get you there and will spool faster than anything larger. Also, look into the Ion performance upgrade, it will top out almost the same as a VF30 but with a flatter torque curve and a significantly quicker spool. It's $800 plus your OEM core, I believe.
If you want more than 350 hp you will want something bigger than a VF30 - either the VF22, or if you have the money the PE1818 or SR30. Both of those are really expensive though. All it takes is money!
How fast do you want to go?
12-01-2002, 09:27 PM
#8
Admin v2.0
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alameda, CA, USA
Posts: 6,965
Car Info: 02 Black Legacy GT
The best combo between the power and spoolup is the VF35. Devided thrust bearing center section, same compressor as the VF30 and VF34, but slightly smaller exhaust housing which dramatically helps to spool up the turbo.
VF22 is good, but pretty old and unreliable.
- Alex
VF22 is good, but pretty old and unreliable.
- Alex
12-01-2002, 10:44 PM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Say, what is the VF35 capable of power-wise? I'm sure the smaller exhaust housing will hurt top end, but how much power can this turbo make? What do the torque and hp curves look like? Anyone running this turbo, what kind of power are you making with what mods? Any reviews?
12-02-2002, 12:55 PM
#13
I've heard the VF35 has a pretty high drop in power at the high end. I'm not speaking from first hand experience though.
A VF22 would get you there. A VF30 would just barely get you to 300WHP if you tuned it very well.
A VF22 would get you there. A VF30 would just barely get you to 300WHP if you tuned it very well.
12-02-2002, 01:38 PM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
So difficult to find the perfect one haha
I definately dont want anything thats going to drop off at the high end. Its gotta hammer to redline The SR30 and PE1818 are twice the price of the VF30 it seems. 
May need to make sacrifices. $1500+ is a little steep for me unfortunatly. Is the extra money worth it for some of these high priced turbos?
edit - typo
I definately dont want anything thats going to drop off at the high end. Its gotta hammer to redline
The SR30 and PE1818 are twice the price of the VF30 it seems. May need to make sacrifices. $1500+ is a little steep for me unfortunatly. Is the extra money worth it for some of these high priced turbos?
edit - typo
Last edited by neurotic; 12-02-2002 at 01:50 PM.
12-02-2002, 02:08 PM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
The SR30 is worth it.
I've ridden in cars with the VF30 a couple of times and ones with an SR30 twice - the SR is definately worth twice the price. It spools faster, pulls way harder in the midrange, and felt stronger in the thousand RPMs before redline - in other words, a totally better turbo. Also, something I really noticed was 'passing' spool-up: when we were on the highway at 3k RPM in fifth if you wanted to pass the person in front of you and floored it the SR30 slammed the boost needle right to 1.1 bar (where this car's owner had set maximum boost) immediately - way faster than even the stocker. with the VF30, boost crawled up - you really needed to downshift to pass.
The PE1818 is more of a top end turbo than the SR30, with more power potential and A LOT more lag. I have no personal experience with it, but other than the lag I've heard nothing but good things about the PE's.
It comes down to how much money you have. I would love an SR30, but I just can't afford to drop $1500 right now, and I won't be able to for awhile. So for me, regardless of how nice it is, I just can't afford it. I'm gonna have to wait for awhile before I can even afford an $800 turbo, so oh well. If you can in any way afford the SR30 get it. If not, well there's your answer.
I've ridden in cars with the VF30 a couple of times and ones with an SR30 twice - the SR is definately worth twice the price. It spools faster, pulls way harder in the midrange, and felt stronger in the thousand RPMs before redline - in other words, a totally better turbo. Also, something I really noticed was 'passing' spool-up: when we were on the highway at 3k RPM in fifth if you wanted to pass the person in front of you and floored it the SR30 slammed the boost needle right to 1.1 bar (where this car's owner had set maximum boost) immediately - way faster than even the stocker. with the VF30, boost crawled up - you really needed to downshift to pass.
The PE1818 is more of a top end turbo than the SR30, with more power potential and A LOT more lag. I have no personal experience with it, but other than the lag I've heard nothing but good things about the PE's.
It comes down to how much money you have. I would love an SR30, but I just can't afford to drop $1500 right now, and I won't be able to for awhile. So for me, regardless of how nice it is, I just can't afford it. I'm gonna have to wait for awhile before I can even afford an $800 turbo, so oh well. If you can in any way afford the SR30 get it. If not, well there's your answer.