Liberty GT Auto - Turbo upgrade suggestions please

[Kekotic]

Fair enough. I'll be very happy with 200 for my first tune. I'm not expecting huge numbers anyway.

[<GB>]

Wait for the dyno day boys

[senator]

Tony, he meant a pulse dyno 230kw.

I was referring to a Pulse tuned my07 tb sti with FMIC, blitz intake , fuel system upgrade and a VF 52.

[Rome_BRZ]

Tony, he meant a pulse dyno 230kw.

I was referring to a Pulse tuned my07 tb sti with FMIC, blitz intake , fuel system upgrade and a VF 52.

That sounds like a well known liberty on here!

[T-REXX]

for an Auto there is a few things to consider.

Auto will loose around 20kw over a normal manual car.
20G turbo is WAY to big for that car and will be a dog to drive. Be it a Kando or BBK
18Gs there is the BBK or Kando but two totally different turbos. The BBK is a Billet wheel and will spool around 200-300 rpm faster then a Kando etc Cast wheel and make around 20% more power. With auto u need as much responce as possible.
Stock Injectors for that car is fine.. they are 550cc and will handle it no worries.

The VF52 off the WRXs is a good turbo and WRX guys are seeing 210-225kw@wheels with it. So if you can get one of them jump on it.. they are cheaper then the Billet BBKs and also direct fit.. Plus spool pretty impressive.

[bass_straitener]

The VF52 off the WRXs is a good turbo and WRX guys are seeing 210-225kw@wheels with it. So if you can get one of them jump on it.. they are cheaper then the Billet BBKs and also direct fit.. Plus spool pretty impressive.

Confirms what I've been saying all along. I have one and will be putting it in as soon as I stop spending money on other stuff. Currently booked in for the first week of April for the install. Spoke to my tuner, who has tuned them before, and he reckons we should be able to see 215kws at least.

[Rome_BRZ]

The VF52 off the WRXs is a good turbo and WRX guys are seeing 210-225kw@wheels with it. So if you can get one of them jump on it.. they are cheaper then the Billet BBKs and also direct fit.. Plus spool pretty impressive.

Confirms what I've been saying all along. I have one and will be putting it in as soon as I stop spending money on other stuff. Currently booked in for the first week of April for the install. Spoke to my tuner, who has tuned them before, and he reckons we should be able to see 215kws at least.

Pretty sure you were saying 250 not 215

[bass_straitener]

The VF52 off the WRXs is a good turbo and WRX guys are seeing 210-225kw@wheels with it. So if you can get one of them jump on it.. they are cheaper then the Billet BBKs and also direct fit.. Plus spool pretty impressive.

Confirms what I've been saying all along. I have one and will be putting it in as soon as I stop spending money on other stuff. Currently booked in for the first week of April for the install. Spoke to my tuner, who has tuned them before, and he reckons we should be able to see 215kws at least.

Pretty sure you were saying 250 not 215

Nope, checked my 3rd post in this thread and I said 230kws so pretty close.

[Rome_BRZ]

Confirms what I've been saying all along. I have one and will be putting it in as soon as I stop spending money on other stuff. Currently booked in for the first week of April for the install. Spoke to my tuner, who has tuned them before, and he reckons we should be able to see 215kws at least.

Pretty sure you were saying 250 not 215

Nope, checked my 3rd post in this thread and I said 230kws so pretty close.

I'm sure I read it somewhere, could be mistaken though. Still, the results will speak for themselves!

[lozza]

Don't forget those wrx's running the vf52 are also running a more aggressive cam profile and ecu tune than our Libs, wouldn't that give them more killer wasps?

Plus your tuned boost setting will determine your final output.

Mine's running conservative but safe boost setting for about 190@wheels....happy with that

I always remember what arith said, it's about how your car feels and drives, not so much about the kw figure on a dynosheet.

Sorry Jim, if that's a misquote but someone said it....if not I'll say it now.

It's about how your car feels and drives, not so much about the kw figure on a dynosheet....IMO

[Rome_BRZ]

Don't forget those wrx's running the vf52 are also running a more aggressive cam profile and ecu tune than our Libs, wouldn't that give them more killer wasps?

Plus your tuned boost setting will determine your final output.

Mine's running conservative but safe boost setting for about 190@wheels....happy with that

I always remember what arith said, it's about how your car feels and drives, not so much about the kw figure on a dynosheet.

Sorry Jim, if that's a misquote but someone said it....if not I'll say it now.

It's about how your car feels and drives, not so much about the kw figure on a dynosheet....IMO

True...like I said the results will speak for themselves we may get a surprise and see a lib perform similarly to a wrx!

[<GB>]

Get a turbo like mine...custom atp thats really expensive ha ha ha,

if you want more power later i would get a bigger one and deal with the lag but if 200rwkw are what your after then go the 52, the problem is after the power bug kicks in that might change lol

[Jim]

All these disney dyno figures are making me cringe. They can slap any number on it they like.

Get yourself a tune to suit your needs, they can tailor it to do so. Ask how you want it to drive.

If you want a REAL power figure, throw it down the strip and calculate that way, dynos are a tuning tool, simple as that and nothing else.

[PoidaGT]

Hey Guys

I'm still debating weather to go for a IHI VF52 ($1,100) or a decent ball bearing turbo ($2,000)

Has anyone seen or know someone that has installed a BBK TD05 18G ball bearing turbo on their 2.5 Liberty GT?
I have seen some threads to suggest they were available previously but they may be discontinued (Prospeed Racing).

Also has anyone heard of modifying a VF34 turbo by machining a VF46/52 housing to fit?
MSR mentioned it to me as an option and i believe MRT do something very similar for their XC power up kit.
Apparently its a direct bolt up with minimal lag with the benefits of a larger ball bearing Turbo.

Also i haven't seen anyone on this forum using an AVO 380 ball bearing turbo.
There are a few US threads where legacy owners are using them and they seem impressed with it (costs $2,200 here).

Does Garrett make an 18G ball bearing turbo that is a direct bolt up for a 2.5 Liberty GT?


Cheers

PoidaGT

[Rome_BRZ]

Hey Guys

I'm still debating weather to go for a IHI VF52 ($1,100) or a decent ball bearing turbo ($2,000)

Has anyone seen or know someone that has installed a BBK TD05 18G ball bearing turbo on their 2.5 Liberty GT?
I have seen some threads to suggest they were available previously but they may be discontinued (Prospeed Racing).

Also has anyone heard of modifying a VF34 turbo by machining a VF46/52 housing to fit?
MSR mentioned it to me as an option and i believe MRT do something very similar for their XC power up kit.
Apparently its a direct bolt up with minimal lag with the benefits of a larger ball bearing Turbo.

Also i haven't seen anyone on this forum using an AVO 380 ball bearing turbo.
There are a few US threads where legacy owners are using them and they seem impressed with it (costs $2,200 here).

Does Garrett make an 18G ball bearing turbo that is a direct bolt up for a 2.5 Liberty GT?


Cheers

PoidaGT

My honest opinion is if you are looking to upgrade your turbo don't upgrade it to another factory turbo, especially if you are prepared to spend up to $2,000 as mentioned in your post. Get something aftermarket that is beefier, it will keep you happy for longer! The VF52 might be better for not having lag etc. but honestly does anyone really think you are going to notice a few hundred RPM difference in when the boost kicks in? The power that will eventually be thrown down once the turbo kicks in properly will more than make up for it and you're much less likely to run out of puff!

Try speaking to a few different people Poida, speak to Phat and see what turbos are available at your $2,000 price range. I wouldn't get the BBK turbo, I'd get the Blouch turbo they imitate, the 380xt or the 440xt if I were you. You could probably land them cheaper too!