Is Bigger Actually Better

[DjHonda247]

I have some unanswered questions that I can't seem to find in the search engines as far as turbos. I have found some great info at importbuilders.com about building a turbo car, but what is actually better. I have guys telling me that smaller (.60 a/r) is the way to go because it spools much faster and your launch as if you were in a v8. The downside being that you have to boost to 18-20 psi to have a chance and the octane level will have to increase to 93+. A larger turbo (.83 a/r) doesn't spool as fast and has a lot of lag. Your launch is slower, but through second and third you will eat the smaller turbo guy alive. So in my uneducated eyes the larger turbo sounds better. Not to mention you can boost 8-10 psi at 91 octane and have the same HP as the smaller turbo car. So to get any spool out of a lager turbo, would you need to go balls to the wall and try to get high rpms in your car everytime you wanted to use your turbo or what? I am just planning for room to grow. Thanks

[imported_Lacuna]

It all depends on what your set up is, and the amount of boost your pushing. You don't want to go to big if your pushing a small amount of boost. It's better to get something that spools quick. If you have a full build and your getting up there on PSI than you should go with a larger turbo.


List out what you have done and what trim you have. One of the more turbo savvy people on the site will be able to pick out a good fit for you.

[Hybrid_Coupe]

alright heres how it is...boost doesnt make power...cfm makes power. a bigger turbo puts our more cfm per psi therefore it makes more power at lower boost levels. its also not boost levels that your octane ratings are dependant on. it depends on how much power you want to make. i have a rather large turbo right now, and am planning to go even bigger. i dont have any trouble spooling a t3/60-1 .82ar exhaust side turbo before vtec. i have full boost at around 52-5500 rpms.
i also run my car up to 15psi on pump gas...i wont take it any higher than that. its what my car is tuned for...C16 anything above 15. now granted i drive around at 7psi and i drive it like a bitch around town...once you have the hp. you dont worry about trying to show up every little wannabe that pulls up next to you...and you will learn real quick that a turbo honda gets absolutley no traction onthe street.
give me a better outlook on your setup, and how much power you wanna make and ill try to help you out a little bit more.