13T Turbo Setup?

[SHADES TREGO 88]

Ok so as the title entails I would like to have a 13 Turbo setup on my '93 VR-4. I can get one 13T from a friend's WRX when he upgrades his and I can get another off of eBay or Craigslist used for a very low price (~$450 each) and I've read and researched that people who do this needed to "modify" their turbos to fit and I was wondering what they had to do and just how hard it was to do. Also, what fuel system should I run? I was thinking of getting the full 3SX fuel kit including the Aeromotive Stealth fuel pump, FueLab pressure regulator and filter, stainless steel lines and fittings, with 3SX fuel rails. Then I would buy the Precision Turbo 580cc fuel injectors and a APEXi AFC to control this. Feel free to give any advice on my ideas or help me edit this because I'm on a budget and it seems like a good idea. --Thanks!

[R/T93]

If you're on a budget all you need for the fuel system is a drop in 255 lph pump and a new OEM fuel filter and OEM FPR. you don't need lines or rails for a 500 hp setup at all.
Get a downpipe and gut your cats.
I don't know about the turbos, someone will chime in.

[anyonebutme]

there are a couple ways to do it, but the most common uses your current 9b turbine housings that are machined to match the larger 13T turbine wheel, you also might find that early 9b's have a different turbine housing lip that'll require more machining. You'll probably need to trim the front motor mount bracket, and you'll need to modify the rear IC pipe because the 13T doesn't have the 9b's o-ring connection. You'll might need to modify the coolant lines to clear the larger compressor housings. if you have some FMIC kits you'll need to add couplers and pipes to clear the large housings. You'll need a wastegate relocation bracket to use your 9b wastegate actuators. You'll also need to retap the rear turbo oil supply line adaptor or use a new line that has appropriate fittings.

This is not a drop in turbo, but if fiddling doesn't scare you they are the best bang for the buck. Also, look harder for turbos, as they should be had for less than 200 each.

[mb3000]

You can get very low mileage good condition snails from NASIOC for ~$200 all day long. Do not overpay.

[RealMcCoy]

I've bought a bunch of those turbos from various sources...(craigslist, ebay, forums, ect.) I've never paid more than $150 each... Admittedly, I'm never in a hurry to buy, and only snag the deals when they arise. If you're willing to pay $200ish, you could buy them all day long...

It is far from a bolt in deal... As has been posted, there is a lot of conversion work to be done. You have to have a set of 9B exhaust housings to machine to fit the L turbine (don't discount the cost of the core 9B's you just killed to do that), you have to modify the coolant passages in the CRHA if you want to run the coolant lines in the factory location, the oil inlets need to be changed to a different thread pitch, ( I use a helicoil) you have to make or buy brackets for the wastegate actuators, ( I weld new mounts on the compressor housing) You will probably have to deal with the compressor housing interfering with the front motor mount, (All the ones I've installed, I was also building solid mounts for, so I just built some bias into the mount and moved it over a little.)

They're awesome turbos, but unless you have an in with a quality machinist, and are willing to put in some of the conversion work yourself, you may find it cheaper to go with some 15G's for very similar power...

[SHADES TREGO 88]

Ok so now the question I have is this: where can I get some 15Gs for cheap, how much work is it to install them and how much potential do they have compared to the 13T?

[mb3000]

100% bolt on.

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[sergechronos]

Ok so now the question I have is this: where can I get some 15Gs for cheap, how much work is it to install them and how much potential do they have compared to the 13T?

I've bought a bunch of those turbos from various sources...(craigslist, ebay, forums, ect.) I've never paid more than $150 each... Admittedly, I'm never in a hurry to buy, and only snag the deals when they arise. If you're willing to pay $200ish, you could buy them all day long...

It is far from a bolt in deal... As has been posted, there is a lot of conversion work to be done. You have to have a set of 9B exhaust housings to machine to fit the L turbine (don't discount the cost of the core 9B's you just killed to do that), you have to modify the coolant passages in the CRHA if you want to run the coolant lines in the factory location, the oil inlets need to be changed to a different thread pitch, ( I use a helicoil) you have to make or buy brackets for the wastegate actuators, ( I weld new mounts on the compressor housing) You will probably have to deal with the compressor housing interfering with the front motor mount, (All the ones I've installed, I was also building solid mounts for, so I just built some bias into the mount and moved it over a little.)

They're awesome turbos, but unless you have an in with a quality machinist, and are willing to put in some of the conversion work yourself, you may find it cheaper to go with some 15G's for very similar power...

The cost of the "cores" you just killed though isn't quite killed. I've talked to Midwest, DR and Boostmore, all say that they can adapt their turbos to use the larger WRX compressor housings which should even net an increase in power over the 9B compressor housing.

Rob Beck on 3SI used to do the conversions, I got the last set he did, you could contact him and see if he would do it, but you'd need send him your 9Bs and 13Ts. Total cost for me including the 13Ts was around $900. You can either do braided AN lines for the coolant, or bend the metal lines to work. You will have to grind the motor mount as others have pointed out, but Rob's conversions include everything else (such as the brackets and new hose connection for the rear turbo and the turbos are clocked already.) Main benefit to the 13Ts, IMO anyhow, is that they will net 400awhp all day (up to 500 on E85 or meth injection) and they are cheap as hell to replace.

15Gs would be a direct drop in, generally around 700 used, although I'd be cautious about buying used turbos from someone without rep. New they're around 1300 I think. 15Gs are about the same power as 13Ts IIRC.

[SHADES TREGO 88]

Alright, so if I were to buy 15Gs new where would I buy them?

[mb3000]

Like all TD04 turbos (excluding MHI 13G's), the 15G is a custom made part. You cannot purchase this new. The compressor housing and CHRA are enlarged to accept the 15G compressor wheel. Turbine housing is bored out if you choose to get a TD04L or TD04HL turbine wheel. Here is a good comparison page: Stealth 316 - Turbo Upgrade Guide

If you want brand new, you have to source new factory 9b (or 13G) turbochargers and have this machine work done. As I'm sure you can imagine, this is not cheap. Most people get rebuilt turbos with the machine work done. If this is an option for you see my link above:

100% bolt on.

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