ZD30 Turbo Upgrade

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^ cheers mate, i appreciate that. That sounds about right too. Especially since it looks like you have pretty much all the same mods as me. The little gt25 isnt really that far off that considering how much bigger the hotside is to stock. Im probably about 12-13 about there. Its better with a load in tall gears though.
I think ill try out this td04 for shits and giggles anyway and see which one is better.
 
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Was driving around with nothing on the back today - you can really notice the lack of boost down low with an empty tray cos your not in gear long enough and not enough egt i guess. Still faster than stock though.
Anyways, iv been working like a dog 7 days 12 hrs the last few weeks, livin the dream, just ordered the td04 and bits and pieces for another dump pipe. Should land by the time i finnish the next job by which time ill take a few days off to **** around with it and see if its any good.

Here is the turbo im getting; http://www.shop.mambatek.com/MAMBA-...-15T-w-5cm-T25-Hsg-001-0742.htm?categoryId=-1
Vs the turbo i'v got; http://www.shop.mambatek.com/Ball-B...n-Y60-Patrol-RD28T-002-0416.htm?categoryId=-1
Was very impressed with the quality of the first one, so going with the same mob.
Anyone have any predictions which one will be better?
 
Just as a side note, the td04 is usually found on a subaru wrx with a three bolt pattern that looks fairly similar to zd30 three bolt arrangement. Could possibly redrill something or elongate some holes for a cheap wrecking yard upgrade??? Food for thought maybe anyway...
 
So anyway, ive finally got a couple days to fit a new turbo and fab a dump pipe ect like i planned for, but the turbo hadnt shipped yet. Contacted them a couple days ago, they said they were under the pump at the factory (made to order?) but would give us a refund if i couldnt wait (till yesterday) Anyways, i just cancelled the order, got my refund. I will buy from them again.
Was half and half whether it would be much of an improvement any way - and its a fair bit of work and money for possbly no real improvement. Then again, it might have been awesome - oh well might still do it some other time.
Anyway the "gtx"2554r is still going good - just a little bit lazy below 2000 - im rollin coal a little bit if i stand on it down that low. Just bought a turbo beanie to see if keeping some heat energy in the t-housing will help a bit with that.
 
Chucked the beanie on, and got the stock heatshield on on top. The seller was in the area and dropped it off personally this morning which was handy. Does seem to make a difference, seems a lot snappier. Egts are so low i think it needs all the help it can get keeping the energy in.
Made some enquiries about a custom BorgWarner s1BG, but i think the tdo4l-13t i was going to get would be better value. Also looking at garrett gt2029 and 2259, but they arent really any bigger in the compressor deparptment.
Got a hair brain sceme for a tubular manifold - i reckon i can do a full tubular that fits inside the stock heat shields. and keeps the turbo in roughly the same spot.
Of course it doesn't really need it, but **** it i enjoy this sort of shit. Plus i'll be able to wrap it and keep more heat in as well as getting serious flow and pulses straight up the turbine.
 
Been busy in the garage. Chucked the td04 on. Similar size compressor as the gt2554r but much smaller turbine - closer to (but still bigger than) stock.
Spools up much faster which is a relief after all that work because i wasn't sure it would. Off the actuator spring thats in there now it gets to its max 14.5psi at 2000rpm! And no more coal smoke at low rpm take offs with the heavy tune- just boosts and goes. Will put a boost controller in and squeeze a bit more out of it.
 

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Ok so chucked in a boost contoller, set it to 17psi. It gets there before 2000rpm. No smoke, early shifts, chirps the tires all over the place without meaning to.
I am hoping for good fuel economy out of this set up.
Still winds out to 4000 and beyond, but without the same kind of pull (arse seat dyno) that the gt2554r did, but i dont drive it like that so thats the compromise i wanted to make. I put it down to exhaust flow between the two different sized turbines.
Intercooler is getting warm though - kinda wondering if the 19t version (bigger compressor, same size turbine) would help this.

Just putting all this up to help out in case anyone else feels inclined to upgrade a clapped out stock turbo. That and because i think its cool.
 
That's awesome R-C. This would have been good too know before I replaced mine 2 years ago.
Its funny I was gonna start saving to upgrade(was thinking BT50) just before I joined this forum and now I have spent money on 3 in exhaust, catch can, 2 in lift, remapped ecu, new satnav head unit, lightbar......
Now I have to play around with the turbo!!!
 
Yeah, i recommend it, especially if your old one is clapped out and you dont mind fabbing up your own dump pipe and manifold adaptor and whatnot. The VNT option sounds tasty, but I'm scared of electronics so didnt go that path. This turbo im running now blows more air, spools faster, and lets the exhaust breath more than stock - win win win! and is cheaper than stock replacement!
 
Was thinking of upgrading my turbo myself as a preventative option as I approach 200k. Was thinking a forefront version. Is there anything better on the market? I have all the usual mods and some performance increases would be nice b4 I possibly remap. Opinions appreciated. Cheers
Don't mean to hijack the thread fellas.
 
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Was thinking of upgrading my turbo myself as a preventative option as I approach 200k. Was thinking a forefront version. Is there anything better on the market? I have all the usual mods and some performance increases would be nice b4 I possibly remap. Opinions appreciated. Cheers
Don't mean to hijack the thread fellas.
The Forfront site has a dyno chart that shows a modest gain, most that have fitted it report faster/earlier spool up rather than much of a horsepower gain.
 
Suit yourself but you might so well to check/get your turbo checked out.
There are unotouched d22s running around on the original turbo with 350,000+ ks.
 
As far as I know there is nothing on the market that is a straight bolt up upgrade. The forefront sounds like a good stock replacement - about half the price of original and possibly a slightly better compressor.
I wonder if you could take the stock turbo to a specialist and get it rebuilt and machined for better compressor and maybe even exhaust wheel? I think a large part of the performance gains are had from a better breathing hotside, but its a fine balance between spool and flow, although pretty much any performance turbo on the market out performs the bottom shelf units the Nissan used on these rigs.
 
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Adam, Jamie at forefront is/was a ZD navara owner and a very good business owner that goes out of his way to help. Ask him about any concerns, r/c has been very helpful too. Lets hope you get it sorted mate.
Cheers.
 
i know this is old thread but does anyone know if rabbid chop used the TD04L-15T w/ 5cm T25 or the TD04L-13T w/ 5cm T25, in one of the later posts he reckoned a 19T compressor wheel might be the go, i wonder if a compromise at TD04L-16T w/ 5cm T25 would also work? cheers
 
Al from Allied Performance Products (The Skid Factory on YouTube) is the absolute genius when it comes to turbos.
 

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