Liberty GT Auto - Turbo upgrade suggestions please

[jacks-GTB]

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!

+1 to that jerome....I got my 2.5dom xtr for $1900.00 landed.... happy days

[kiahatsiu]

The BBK turbos are identical to the blouch ones as far as I can tell. So much so, they have blouch castings on them, and when you remove the CRBD badge from the comp housing they have Blouch written on them. Mine fell of by mistake.
I think the blouch 20g-xt or xt-r would be just dandy on your 2.5. Would spool well, and kiddies seem to be getting big numbers out of them.

[PoidaGT]

The blouch 380XT looks like a good turbo worth considering.

I would assume its a journal bearing turbo but i can't find anything on the net to confirm.

It sounds like it has good bottom end performance but with much better top end than some of the other options.

Price is only $1,299 USD which is pretty good and only $200 more than a VF52 http://www.bptstore.com/Subaru-Legacy-GT-380XT-Turbocharger_p_113.html

I'm really enjoying my newly found bottom end torque after my MSR dyno tune the other day and really don't want to give a big chunk of that back for top end power.

It looks like its between the Blouch 380 & VF52 at the moment.

I still haven't heard from anyone that has an MRT XC kit turbo upgrade either!

Cheers

Pete

[jacks-GTB]

The blouch 380XT looks like a good turbo worth considering.

I would assume its a journal bearing turbo but i can't find anything on the net to confirm.

It sounds like it has good bottom end performance but with much better top end than some of the other options.

Price is only $1,299 USD which is pretty good and only $200 more than a VF52 http://www.bptstore.com/Subaru-Legacy-GT-380XT-Turbocharger_p_113.html

I'm really enjoying my newly found bottom end torque after my MSR dyno tune the other day and really don't want to give a big chunk of that back for top end power.

It looks like its between the Blouch 380 & VF52 at the moment.

I still haven't heard from anyone that has an MRT XC kit turbo upgrade either!

Cheers

with the low end torque & power, you will usually find that with the 2.5ltr, and the plastic intake manifold gets low to mid end as well...i still get full torque at 2800rpm, so i wouldn't worry a great deal....i think 380

Pete

[destroman]

http://www.rexnet.com.au/forum/index.ph ... 8cm-turbo/

Worth getting for a 08 Lib STi with auto tranny ?

Im thinking supporting mods (for the time being) along the lines of :

Fuel pump
TMIC
Panel Filter
3" TBE

Opinions ?

[SillySora]

I got a avo 450 Pretty good I got some older post somewhere. I made 220 plus with no auto issues at all.

Also thinking about going bigger for me Blouch make good turbo's from what I have heard

[senator]

I got a avo 450 Pretty good I got some older post somewhere. I made 220 plus with no auto issues at all.

Also thinking about going bigger for me Blouch make good turbo's from what I have heard

Shane, you refering to your old car with the built engine??? The one that was for sale???

[PoidaGT]

VF52 turbo from Celtic Motorsport for $995 USD. I think i have a winner:

http://www.celticmotorsport.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_452_461_509&products_id=3264

[bass_straitener]

VF52 turbo from Celtic Motorsport for $995 USD. I think i have a winner:

http://www.celticmotorsport.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_452_461_509&products_id=3264

That's a ripper price and cheap to get you the 200awkws. Don't forget to get the gaskets included as they're 3 times more expensive in OZ. I got mine from there and they were brilliant to deal with.

[PoidaGT]

My VF52 was delivered from Celtic Motorsport today.

I ended up finally choosing the VF52 after speaking to Mick South (MSR).

Mick said it was a really good Turbo upgrade for an auto as they are a lot slower off the mark compared to the manuals.

He also said this turbo produces more torque per PSi compared to other aftermarket turbos around this price bracket.

I didn't want a peaky engine and wanted good torque from low to mid range.

Turbo gets fitted next week by MSR along with headers and intake pipes.

Mick thinks with a retune I should hit around the 210kw mark.

Can't wait

[PoidaGT]

VF52 now fitted with headers and intake pipes.

You can definitely feel there is more lag than the VF46 turbo however the power comes on smoother and is a lot more progressive all the way to redline.

The headers smooth the engine note out and definitely makes the engine sound a lot better on boost. (off boost cruising sounds a bit drony though).

The Dyno re-tune resulted in 200.3kw atw which is what i was after. (Mick South believes a manual version with the same setup should see around 215kwatw).

Overall i'm happy with the result and i would recommend this turbo to anyone that wants a relatively cheap improvement to the performance to their GT.

[t.renshaw34]

Congrats mate .

What boost are you running on it?

[LiamVJ]

Hey man congrats on the upgrade.
How were Celtics postage rates?

[PoidaGT]

Congrats mate .

What boost are you running on it?

It looks like its running a bit over 19psi between 4100rpm to 5200rpm. (see the graph a few more posts up)

[PoidaGT]

Hey man congrats on the upgrade.
How were Celtics postage rates?

Thanks Guys

Postage was about $120 USD and it took about 5 Calendar days to arrive.

I was pretty happy how quick and easy it was.