legacycentral bbs

Hi there. I have been looking around the site here and i cant seem to figure out much info about the T3/T4 Turbo's. My questions are:

Do i need to swap the injectors out for this turbo to run right?

How do you install this turbo.

How much of a gain is it over the stock VF11 turbo?

Does any one know of any tech. specs?

Im asking these question because im trying to figure out the best turbo for me. I want good spool or instant, good power, not super hard to install. Oo ya and i don't want huge lag!

Thanks!

Based on what you've described, instant or good spool, not super hard to install, I wouldn't go for the T3/T4.

If you're going to upgrade your turbo then there are a ton of supporting mods that need done, research a bunch, look at the build journals etc....

OK well i have an intercooler and a TBE and soon to have a boost gauge and boost controller. So i have some of the stuff to get me going. Im just wondering info. reguarding the T3/T3

The supporting mods you described will allow you to up the boost on the stock VF11 to about 11-12 psi. Lots more needs done for any kind of turbo upgrade.

The T3/T4 will require custom fabricated up-pipe and down-pipe flanges. IIRC, it's a water cooled only turbo so you'll have to do something about the OEM oil lines. Even at low boost it will max out your MAF, you'll need bigger injectors, a Walbro 255 FP, some sort of EM, FCD, if you want to run over 12 psi, and then after all that, your 4eat tranny is going to take a shit on you within a year, almost guaranteed so keep that in mind too.

The mod bug is a dangerous thing, trust me, I know from first hand experience. If you cut corners, it will bite you in the end. If this car isn't your daily and it's just something you have to screw around with then by all means, experiment and try new things but either way, the T3/T4 wouldn't be on even my top ten of turbos I'd want to throw in.

Try to get a VF8 or 16G, the installation is incredibly easy for those as they will bolt up to your existing exhaust flanges. The compressor outlet to i/c inlet will need worked, and the PCV "F" pipe needs modded for them to fit. Both a very nice upgrade over stock though. Keep in mind, most of the supporting mods are the same though and you'll tranny is still going to hate you.

Matt is correct on all areas regarding the supporting mods. The T3/T4 is a very capable turbo, it's an old design and it's not as nice as the new turbos but it will support 400+ at the crank while the rest of your car will not.

However, the T3/T4 is only oil cooled and you will need to set up a turbo timer - not hard but another thing to keep in mind.

Keep us posted though.

Soo a better turbo combo would be like a VF8,VF12,VF39 or one that has me most interested is the VF11 hybrid or called the T-bird mod. I just need to find some one with a 87-88 T-bird turbo for sale

Another very popular option is the TD04 off the WRX's. Some of them even have the 90* housing - I think. It will match up to all your existing exhaust flanges though without modification.

It will be as strong as the hybrid you are thinking about and will offer equivalent spooling. The TD04 is kind of like a VF11 that can support a higher boost pressure as the VF11 does start to drop off up around the 14-15 psi range.

You may have already looked at it, but I thought I'd throw it out there incase you hadn't.

skid542 wrote:Another very popular option is the TD04 off the WRX's. Some of them even have the 90* housing - I think. It will match up to all your existing exhaust flanges though without modification.

It will be as strong as the hybrid you are thinking about and will offer equivalent spooling. The TD04 is kind of like a VF11 that can support a higher boost pressure as the VF11 does start to drop off up around the 14-15 psi range.

You may have already looked at it, but I thought I'd throw it out there incase you hadn't.

Plus they're readily available and cheap. I picked one up off of craigslist with 40K miles for $70.

skid542 wrote:
However, the T3/T4 is only oil cooled

Ahh, oil cooled only, I had it backwards!

skid542 wrote: The T3/T4 is a very capable turbo, it's an old design and it's not as nice as the new turbos but it will support 400+ at the crank while the rest of your car will not.

so true....


if you do get one, stay away from the cheap ones on ebay. i know two people that used those 50trims and the turbo's didnt last 500-1000 miles before the center section went out.

Well a TD04 is ok i guess but, I want something that i can install and get better spool than stock. yes BETTER than stock and i want a easy 15psi. Is that out of the question. All i know that can give me that is a VF11, T-bird moded turbo. is that a good idea or is there a better way?

the TD04 spools faster then the vf-11 and has more top end then the vf-11.


it can hold 15psi where the vf-11 cant. it will just die off.

But how much better is the TD04? can it make more power? can it pull harder? does it push more cfm's?

ooo and is that the biggest turbo i can run before i need to swap out injectors??

if you answer yes to all of those answer i can so easily get a TD04. I work at the subaru dealer!

I can answer all of the above questions but I will first need confirmation that you work at the dealership and can lay your hands on two TD04's .

Tommio RS wrote:But how much better is the TD04? can it make more power? can it pull harder? does it push more cfm's?

ooo and is that the biggest turbo i can run before i need to swap out injectors??

if you answer yes to all of those answer i can so easily get a TD04. I work at the subaru dealer!

It's a little better. It can make more power than a VF11, should be able to do close to 300chp with proper supporting mods and most importantly, tuning. (as a reference, of the shelf maps from COBB for 02+ wrx's make 285chp and thats on a 2.0)
I'm sure guys on here have maxed the TD04 out on the EJ22, I just haven't reserached it, but I'd assume its similar unless the EJ22 heads are a severe bottleneck...
It will pull harder in the upper RPM's where the VF-11 just dies off. It's rated around 380-390CFM, I believe. Here's a link to its compressor map (thanks Josh) http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... or_Map.pdf

You can run it on your stock injectors but you won't be able to maximize it unless you get bigger injectors, EM and a fuel pump

theres not very meny turbo's that you can get that will have lots of low end and lots of high end.


if you want the best of both worlds you'll just have to do a twin scroll set up.

Tommio RS wrote:Well a TD04 is ok i guess but, I want something that i can install and get better spool than stock. yes BETTER than stock and i want a easy 15psi. Is that out of the question. All i know that can give me that is a VF11, T-bird moded turbo. is that a good idea or is there a better way?

So you want something that spools better than stock, and with many journal bearing turbos that means you want a smaller turbo. But you want to flow more, so you want a bigger turbo? In this world its pretty hard to have your cake and eat it too.


What might make you happy is a Disco Potato (GT2860RS). Great spool, and capable of about 350hp. They're not cheap, and take some work to get them on the car.


I hope you realise it's going to take much much more than slapping in some injectors to provide adequate fuel and control of whatever turbo you may decide on. The old ECU's aren't open source like the new stuff.



Otherwise, if you want more grunt down low, buy something with a V8. Seriously.

Hmmm very interesting. I would love to keep the carzy low end of the VF-11, but a TD04 would be a good replacement.

OO ya and i failed to mention. I live in manitoba canada! There is only 1 subaru dealer in the province!! and it one BIG province.

legacy92ej22t wrote:

skid542 wrote:
However, the T3/T4 is only oil cooled

Ahh, oil cooled only, I had it backwards!

Interesting i must have a freak of nature because mine is oil and watercooled.

dzx wrote: Interesting i must have a freak of nature because mine is oil and watercooled.

na, you just bought a good turbo that will last a long time.

Soo what if i T-bird moded the turbo? Thats suppose to give sick spool time and a little bit better cfms. And probably i dont need to swap out injectors!

dzx wrote:

legacy92ej22t wrote:

skid542 wrote:
However, the T3/T4 is only oil cooled

Ahh, oil cooled only, I had it backwards!

Interesting i must have a freak of nature because mine is oil and watercooled.

Most of the T3's were water-cooled. Most of the T4'3 were not. The T4's take a bit more oil than the T3's do. The Garrett T3 is IMO the best turbo out there. The configurations are almost endless. Upgrades and rebuilds are easy and cheap.

what about the gt2871r? not as fast of spool but its a ball barring turbo and makes a lot of power. $1500 or so.