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A-Spec 500R -vs- HKS or Garrett T04Z

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Old 10-31-06, 12:35 AM
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A-Spec 500R -vs- HKS or Garrett T04Z

They seem to be very close in power but about $2k difference in price assuming you can fabricate otherwise the price is pretty close as well. There's a few T04Z setups but i've never seen a thread on one. I'm especially curious on the HKS version with the air pump relocation kit. Supposedly the Garrett version is more streetable and HKS version has higher end power. If anyone has a HKS v-mount and T04Z setup, could you please post an engine bay pic!


http://www.jdm-option.com/eng/event/06_07/rf.html
:

Last edited by GoRacer; 10-31-06 at 12:38 AM.
Old 10-31-06, 06:32 AM
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Originally Posted by GoRacer
Supposedly the Garrett version is more streetable and HKS version has higher end power.
Untrue, the Garrett version you have different options on rear Exhaust A/R
So if you go for the 1.15 or the 1.3 you have the pontential of bigger top end power. I believe the HKS version only comes with a 1.00 A/R so in theory the top end pontential is not as great as the Garret version
Old 10-31-06, 07:17 AM
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I suggest you do some some research on your turbos

The 500r is a GT35R variant where the housings have bored out to accept larger wheels.
http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbob...R_714568_3.htm

The T04Z is simply a dual bb T04R:
http://cheapturbo.stores.yahoo.net/garrettt4to4r.html

I don't know the size of the wheels in the 500r, but the t04r has a bigger compressor than the 35r, thus will make more power but be laggier. In my opinion the 35r/500r is a better street turbo, the t04r/z is better suited for highway pulls/drag racing.
Old 10-31-06, 07:39 AM
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hmmm....interesting...
Old 10-31-06, 07:53 AM
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Also, from what I have read, the 500r is supposed to be the 'ideal' setup, in that you get good spool and low end (3500ish) power for the street, but can crank up the boost (good for up to 30 psi) to go drag racing and make some highway pulls. The idea is to have your cake and eat it too
Old 10-31-06, 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
Also, from what I have read, the 500r is supposed to be the 'ideal' setup, in that you get good spool and low end (3500ish) power for the street, but can crank up the boost (good for up to 30 psi) to go drag racing and make some highway pulls. The idea is to have your cake and eat it too
that's what they said the 40r, was suppose to be.
Old 10-31-06, 09:07 AM
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''They'' being A-spec or other Forum members? I was going to buy the 500R but ended up with a 40R. Tried to solicit feedback from this Forum regarding the 500R and got one response. Emailed Sean at A-spec and asked to talk to a few satisfied customers, no response. Frankly, I have been unable to distinguish good promotion skills on the part of A-spec from good product. Might be the greatest turbo kit ever but I sure could not independently confirm anything about it.
Old 10-31-06, 09:40 AM
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What are you trying to do? WHP wise, what is your goal? Highway, drag, drift, circuit?
Old 10-31-06, 10:20 AM
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This was my point (quote from my link above) Yes HKS is slightly over priced (but almost the same price because of air pump bracket fabrication) and you can get generic garrett T04Z (allthough not exact same wheels) but they are local to me and their kit includes an air pump bracket and retaining the air pump was the main deciding factor for my purchase of the 500R short manifold.
There are no special modifications made to the engine, just the usual side porting and other modifications that they provide for their customers. The engine was mated to a HKS T04Z turbine and pumped at 1.1 bar of boost good for 480 hp.
* both turbo will make about 450hp at 15lbs.
* both turbos can shoehorn/retain the airpump...
***although HKS comes with everything needed to relocate the battery and air pump. I maxed out my bendover express card to have mine fabricated.
* both are pretty similar in boost response. (never said both are the same turbo)

I prefer the streetable idea. In fact I wonder if I should have stayed 35R and minimized my power (smaller tubine snail) so I could use a hyper single isntead of a twin plate. I really never understood the top end if it meant the rpm's were limited or the hp dropped off sooner/later.

Last edited by GoRacer; 10-31-06 at 10:46 AM.
Old 10-31-06, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Madee
''They'' being A-spec or other Forum members? I was going to buy the 500R but ended up with a 40R. Tried to solicit feedback from this Forum regarding the 500R and got one response. Emailed Sean at A-spec and asked to talk to a few satisfied customers, no response. Frankly, I have been unable to distinguish good promotion skills on the part of A-spec from good product. Might be the greatest turbo kit ever but I sure could not independently confirm anything about it.
I dont think there is enough logged data on the 500R. Just have to wait and see when enough people get done to compare data. I am sitting back and hopefully make the right decision by next summer. Although there will probably be something supposedly better yet by then?!
Old 10-31-06, 02:54 PM
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have you tried looking into turbonetics i hear they have a pretty good set up i will look into them all and see whats good for your car depending on what you want to do and whats also good for your budget that helps as well
Old 10-31-06, 03:54 PM
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^ No no, this thread is specifically "500R (1.06 A/R) short runner manifold -vs- T04Z (1.0 A/R) short runner manifold". They are both similar in power and price ($5k vs $6k). There is not enough feedback, data or pictures of either setup. Long runner version does not apply becuase it will not allow for air pump fitment.

Comparison of:
quality of build
fitment issues (HKS includes air pump and battery relocation brackets)
ease of instillation and maintenance
ability to rebuild
power range - at what rpm do they kick in (not vacuum but boost), at what rpm is full boost
limitations - low end, mid range, high end - at what rpnm does power drop off or does it keep climbing to or past redline?
Manifold design and material
Wastegate - HKS or Tial (any problems with either? one too small? One leak more?)
More streetable or more trackable (zoom zoom)

Last edited by GoRacer; 10-31-06 at 03:57 PM.
Old 10-31-06, 06:53 PM
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what size is the hks wastegate you are looking at.
Old 10-31-06, 06:58 PM
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The HKS T04Z kit comes with a 60mm HKS GTII waste gate.
The A-Spec 500R comes with a 44mm Tial (46mm is special order)
Old 10-31-06, 07:26 PM
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Well my 500R has been installed for sometime now, but yet to be tuned. I'm hoping that in a 2-3 weeks I'll have some solid numbers and will update this thread accordingly.
Old 10-31-06, 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by str8ryd
Well my 500R has been installed for sometime now, but yet to be tuned. I'm hoping that in a 2-3 weeks I'll have some solid numbers and will update this thread accordingly.
How does the car drive? are you boosting it at all? I'm curious, what setup did you go with (manifold, turbine a/r, dp vented or plumbed, etc)
Old 11-01-06, 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by zayrx7
that's what they said the 40r, was suppose to be.

Sure we did, what was said and sold was, that it is more of a drag oriented turbo, that it would be better for overall power over the then T3 35R but that it would be laggier due to the increase in size. I love people spreading misinformation it rocks!!


-S-
Old 11-01-06, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Madee
''They'' being A-spec or other Forum members? I was going to buy the 500R but ended up with a 40R. Tried to solicit feedback from this Forum regarding the 500R and got one response. Emailed Sean at A-spec and asked to talk to a few satisfied customers, no response. Frankly, I have been unable to distinguish good promotion skills on the part of A-spec from good product. Might be the greatest turbo kit ever but I sure could not independently confirm anything about it.
Not sure if I ever got that email but I do remember you looking for peoples response. I have a ton of these kits out there. Most people are either not done with their motor, their build, or their tune. I cannot help that in any way. We got a little over 440@15lbs and 503 at roughly 20, 21lbs. Motor built by us, tuned by us, whole car built by us. Will everyone get that hp? No. Will some? They should. But I will not vouch for say "XYZ" member on here and his tune or his build. How many 350-520 T78 cars are out there? Is it the T78 kit not performing when the numbers don't match the big numbers? Hardly. Is the 500R the best "all around" turbo for the car? I think it's pretty darn close, and there are very few people on this board who can say they've played with as many single turbo 7's on this board. Is it the end all of end all turbo kits? No. Everyone has different ideas on what ideal is. Some feel price is more important while others only care about quality at any cost. Others feel lag is overrated, I feel if well put together lag wont be a issue. What one person thinks is a loud exhaust another wont. It's all about preference, but trying to compare two different kits or turbo's is kinda odd, and using others dyno's to base where you will be can be very misleading.

-S-

Last edited by Zero R; 11-01-06 at 02:21 PM.
Old 11-05-06, 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
How does the car drive? are you boosting it at all? I'm curious, what setup did you go with (manifold, turbine a/r, dp vented or plumbed, etc)
Well, the car drives.....hehe.....let's leave it at that. No, but seriously, I'm not boosting yet because when I tried tuning I ran into issues with the wideband not fitting on my downpipe bung. I purchased my own wideband now and I'm going to see if that solves the problem otherwise I'm going to have to talk to Sean.

I'm running a T4 manifold, with a .70 A/R and 1.00 Hotside. 3" downpipe (Which I might switch to a 4" one if the bung on mine is no good) and a re-routed wastegate.

I've decided to have my car street-tuned because it's already winter and there's no point in tuning it twice and then have it dyno tuned come spring. I just want to feel the frickin' power again!
Old 11-05-06, 03:42 PM
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smg944 got 427 @ 15.4lbs on 93oct without the 500R wheel upgrade (GT35R). It would be easier to compare if it was 15lbs even since Broken09 was 15lbs on 93oct. THere still ahsn't been any T04Z resonses and I know of at least three people on here that have the kit. I know they are pretty close in power but the 500R is less money even when overpaying with your bendover express card for additional fabrication. So this is actually a good shootout. A-Spec underdog - vs- HKS heavyweight.

I have the 500R tuned at 10lbs (321rwhp). After fixing all the mistakes my builder and fabricator did, it runs amazing. Being a non fabricator myself, the HKS kit would be a simpler choice. It comes with both air pump and battery relocation kits. If I knew I would have gotten so assraped on the fabrication for those I may have opted for the HKS kit instead. I still need to do some fab work on the dump tube to clear speed bumps. With that asside, I can tell you there is no lag delay. The boost is instant. 3500 to 7500 is about 2-3x faster then it takes me to shift to the next gear. But it's possible the same could be said for the T04Z as it's BB as well but without any replies from HKS owners we won't know. So does the T04Z have a longer spool up delay before boost kicks in? Does it hold power longer? As far as I can tell without a video camera or recordable gauges, my 500R kicks in positive boost about 3200rpms. The biggest problem with verifying is the spool is so instant that I can only avg between 3k and 3.5k rpms for above vacuum 0-10lb boost. So untill I can video record the guages, I can only specualte that i'm getting the full 10lbs at 3.5k rpm and it's kicking in around 3krpms. Please remember this is a guess without verifying with at least a passenger if not video.

Last edited by GoRacer; 11-05-06 at 03:50 PM.
Old 11-05-06, 04:28 PM
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GoRacer, a couple of quick points:

I'm making an educated assumption here, but the t04z has a larger compressor wheel, so it is going to be laggier than the 500r. It's not really an apples to apples comparison. You had may as well compare the GT35R to the Greddy T-78.

Most people on this forum aren't concerned about airpump fitment b/c they don't live in cali and don't run a cat. It's a non-issue for 95% of the target audience.

On a side note, I am very glad to read about the specifics of your boost response, thanks for posting that information up. I think this kit will be just what the Dr. ordered for me
Old 11-05-06, 04:59 PM
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off topic, For a street turbo, the R85 performs great and maybe consider that as well... I am guessing it would be comparable to the 500R, however the 500R has a bigger compressor wheel and wont run out of breath as soon. If I were to get another turbo, it would be the GT42R hands down.
Old 11-05-06, 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by BLitzed33
off topic, For a street turbo, the R85 performs great and maybe consider that as well... I am guessing it would be comparable to the 500R, however the 500R has a bigger compressor wheel and wont run out of breath as soon. If I were to get another turbo, it would be the GT42R hands down.
The 500R has a bigger compressor wheel than the R85? I wasn't aware of that, I thought the R85 had a pretty larger cold and hot side.......
Old 11-05-06, 06:17 PM
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...yer welcome Goodfella's.

I though those two were a good apples to apples comparison though.

Both are short runner manifolds capable of retaining the smog pump otherwise you would get the long runner 500R. The majority may not care about the smog pump but that is one of the reasons for pairing those two in a comparison.

Both are approximately 450hp at 15lbs of boost with a street port.

Both are oil and water cooled ball bearing.

If Apexi RX6 was capable of more power then it would be a tripple shootout.
Old 11-05-06, 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
The 500R has a bigger compressor wheel than the R85? I wasn't aware of that, I thought the R85 had a pretty larger cold and hot side.......
The R85 has like a 62mm compressor wheel and 74mm exhaust wheel, the turbine housing is big at 1.15 A/R. It runs out of breath and settles at around 27-28 lbs, wont hold 30 at high rpms. Makes full 27 lbs at around 4400-4500 rpms which is pretty good with a big A/R and being NON ball bearing.

The turbo pulls nice and smooth with the torque being nice and flat and holding good. Smoothing of 0 on the dyno graph. We overlaid the speed with RPM's and it lines up at around 4400-4500 rpm mark.
Attached Thumbnails A-Spec 500R -vs- HKS or Garrett T04Z-greg27psi.jpg  

Last edited by BLitzed33; 11-05-06 at 10:17 PM.


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