I've spent the past two years building my car and trying to mod it towards reliability. After doing what I feel was a great job, one of my turbos blew a seal and has left me with needing to make a decision.

I have the original 80k mile twins but they've been sitting for 2 years and kinda don't want to risk doing the work for them to fail.

I don't mind going single at this point. I want to spend the least amount of money and drive as soon as possible.

I'm thinking of getting the GT4088 kit from Jason at RX7store. He will be able to let me know if he'll have enough parts to assemble and ship by monday.

I'm not looking for my most ideal setup right at the moment. I was accepted to the nursing school I want to go to and then I got a full scholarship on top of that. I will be needing to focus all my attention to school for the next 2 years. After I complete school I can redo my turbo setup. After being taken advantage of with buying the car while deployed I would just like to get the car running and through the next 2 years.

For $2k and being able to get it by not this weekend but the next, I'm leaning towards doing this. I wouldn't even be trying to push too much power. I wouldn't want more than 400-430whp.

 

I'd just get a fresh set of twins. Bolts in w/o any re-engineering. Works w/o major fuel system mods. Don't have to worry about clutch. Tuning is a known quantity.

 

Fuel system is already upgraded. I'm running stock flow tested prim and 1600sec and Aeromotive FPR. I even have 4 850's and a modded prim rail, if I needed but don't plan on pushing that much power. Plus the supra pump. I also have an upgraded clutch. When I put the car together I did so in a manner that the twins would be my limiting power factor. I PLANNED on running twins to the fullest potential before upgrading them.

I want to get the car back on the road as soon as possible and spend the least amount of money. If I can get a decent single setup quickly for not too much and sell off all my twins parts then I'll re-coop some money spent and get to drive it.

I've had the car for 2 years got screwed buying it and spent lots of money and time getting it back together. My brother has been the one putting it all back together and now needs a lot of things done around his house. I start nursing school in September and my brother needs surgery on both shoulders so we won't be able to do the stuff to his house after the summer or work on the car. I'm not looking for the best or most ideal setup, just one that works for the next few years.

 

I would just pick up a used working set of twins. You can usually find them for around $200. Even if they have 40k miles on them, you should be able to get at least 80-100k miles total on them depending on how well they are treated.

I typically pick up used sets of turbos just to keep around (as you never know). I'd sell you one but I sold my extra set locally not too long ago.

 

I've got my stock ones that have been sitting around for 2 years with 80k on them. I just don't want to take another chance as I did with the BNR rebuilt twins that started leaking in 1200-1300 miles without even boosting them. I don't mind spending a little bit of money to have the peace of mind of what I end up doing is going to work. This is why I am ok with buying a decent NEW single turbo setup. I really want to get the A spec 500r-sp with the wastegate rerouted to the downpipe. I just can't go as far as to spend the $4k to get the setup I truly want right now.

 

If you don't have the money to get what you want, then don't get something half-assed. Do the right thing by putting your old twins on until you have the money to get "exactly" what you want. With your turbos, you are only out the time to change the turbos.

 

That's where my dilemma is, time. I don't have the time to waste on chancing what I put on to not work or last. I really don't want this car to end up sitting around for another couple of years. I'd rather spend $2k-$2.4k now sell my parts that are twin specific, re-coop some money and when I'm done with school if I really want, sell the set up I have and change it up. With the amount of money I've spent so far I'd rather spend a little more for the car to be in a "guarantied" working condition then take a chance.

Don't get me wrong, if my twins were to work that would be the best solution. BUT, if they don't, I'm screwed and set back real far in terms of this car running. Being in this situation is what has me so skeptical in the first place. I thought the BNR rebuilt twins would have lasted me till I was out of school, at least, not 1300 miles.

 

If you are counting on selling your twin components for $2k, then you may as well stop right there. You aren't going to get anywhere near $2k for damaged BNR twins, twin manifold, modified y-pipe for BNR's and a handful of solenoids. You'll be lucky to get $1k for that.

You asked for opinions, and you got one. If you are dead set on getting a single turbo, then do it. I think you area making a mistake by not waiting until you can get what you "want", but then again the cheaper single may be what you "need". What we want and what we need aren't always the same things in life.

 

I don't plan making as much money off the twins parts as I spend on the single, I'm not that dumb, lol. And you're right on this being a situation of "want" and "need". I know in the end there will be wasted money in what I do now, I'm ok with that. This was kinda a gift to myself after the completion of my tour of duty in Iraq, so far it hasn't seemed to be much of a "gift". I just want it up and running and for it to stay that way.

I guess this is kinda just a thread to vent my frustration on the whole situation.

 

I think alot of people here understand. GL man.

 

Thanks. I just hate to contribute to another FD not seeing drive time, lol.

 

I'd go for the single if I were you, it simplify's things a ton and it will prove nice and reliable, not to mention faster...

I have seen jason's kit before and you would never guess the price tag, looks like a well constructed kit! Hey, it may turn out down the road that this is the kit you'll need now, and also the kit you will want later!

 

I would spend $300-1000 for a good set of used stock or 99 spec turbos from a reputable seller. Then take a day to install them and worry about bigger projects later.

No matter what you do you're taking a gamble. Even a "sure thing" project like a single can quickly consume much more time and money than was planned. Keep the stakes low, don't run high boost, and even a less-than-perfect set of stock twins will probably work just fine for a couple year.s

Dave

 

Well, I'm gonna order a GT35R with the tial 44mm wastegate tomorrow. I don't imagine that I'll be disappointed. I don't think the GT4088 would be a good fitment since I don't ever want to go for big power. I'm shooting for a good 380-400whp street car. I don't want a large amount of power that will cause the rest of the car to start breaking. I'm also gonna order the 3 bar map sensor from Banzai-Racing that comes with the plug in harness. I figure having a 3 bar can't hurt.

My problem with this decision is not being able to run my air pump deletion idler pulley that I got during the group buy. Jason said he doesn't know if it will clear the GT35R.

 

Hey wow man just came across this thread and this makes me sway away from twins...If anything I say get a 6262 turbo from Precision, I think it can be had for less than 2k? Hope that helps with your budget and sorry to hear the bad news.





~Shar

 

Have you tried calling Bryan at BNR and talking to him about the problems with the turbos? Were they bought new or used? Something doesn't sound right.

Be prepared to spend some cash when you're installing the single turbo setup. The incidentals add up quickly.

 

+1 get the BNRs fixed. 2K for a single setup is not enough. every time i read of guys going single they spend about 4K. tuning and all the small stuff add up quick.

 

Well my car can handle a GT35R setup as it stands, I believe. I built the car in a manner that allowed the twins to be the limiting power factor. I still haven't gone for tuning time yet so no money lost there. I'm still breaking in the motor. I only have 1300 miles on it and Banzai-Racing requires 2500 miles to consider it broken in to be covered under warranty. The twins were stock rebuilds that I bought off a forum member that never mentioned how long ago they had been rebuilt and I didn't ask. From looking at his posts they had been rebuilt years ago. They were nice and clean with no shaft play.

I honestly don't think it was anyones fault or a reason to discard twins. I've made the decision to get a single set up strictly due to my personal situation and at no fault of the performance or reliability of twins. This is just going to be the fastest way for me to get my car up and running in a way that I will be satisfied with the car and it's performance. I understand that many people would do things differently if in my shoe's, including my brother.

My one and only goal is to get my car back together and enjoy it for some time before the end of summer. I won't be able to do anything crazy with the car over the next couple years while I go through nursing school. I don't need the fastest car or anything to enjoy it. I just want it to work and be a well modified FD for reliability, or as reliable as a performance car of this nature can be.

As far as needing other stuff, are you talking about supporting mods?

 

Just to clarify these were NOT BNR Stage 3 turbo's, rather just regular old rebuilt twins. When I bought them I knew I was taking a risk and I got them for a decent deal. I really just thought I would have gotten more than 1300 miles. I just wanted something to last me a few years till I got through school.