Turbo upgrade diy?

08strokerr · Feb 21, 2016

So I have been looking at upgrading my turbos when doing my up pipes. I'd like to go 71/59 from elite but I have found where I can buy the 71 and 59 batmowheels by themselves for 800. Is all that's done to elites turbos just a rebuild and machined out to fit the bigger wheels or is it not that simple. I was thinking I could do the machining myself as I work at a machine shop but if I'm overlooking something then I'll just stick with buying them from elite.

Jonnydime · Feb 21, 2016

Elite uses much better wheels and has everything balanced.

Breaking Habits · Feb 21, 2016

The profile of the 59 and the 71 being used is 4 year old technology. Elites 59mm and 72mm wheels are different and make more power. Buy the elite chargers. Don't forget. Tadds 59mm has a bigger turbine as well

Lipka101 · Feb 29, 2016

Has anybody done this though? Is that all it is, just machine the housing to fit a bigger wheel? I get you need to balance the assembly too.

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White_monster · Feb 29, 2016

Essentially yes that's all that is done. While your there fresh bearings and seals would be wise.

f350guy · Feb 29, 2016

Lipka101 said:
Has anybody done this though? Is that all it is, just machine the housing to fit a bigger wheel? I get you need to balance the assembly too.

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I have on other vehicles that have a specific turbine inlet flange and a decent turbine wheel already.

It was nothing more than a good rebuild ($300-500 depending where you go and the quality of the balance), plus the cost of wheel, machine time for the compressor housing and/or backing plate.

The one I built for an older BMW ran $850 delivered with a coated turbine housing and billet wheel, including a 360° bearing upgrade, full balanced, and machine work. For this car, the only other wheel people have ran (aside from stock) was a 60-1 Garrett wheel. Works well but I went with a GTX3582R wheel. I took a guess as what would work better from what I have seen and examining compressor maps.

You are paying extra for the R&D of the company (Elite, RCD, etc) seeing what works best with what setups. Will a 71mm Batmowheel make more power than stock? Probably so. As much as the 71mm from Elite with the Precision wheel? Doubtful.

Would I spend the extra $500 or whatever for a known, proven, dyno'd turbocharger from one of the large companies? Yes. Knowledge is not free.

2¢

Lipka101 · Feb 29, 2016

f350guy said:
I have on other vehicles that have a specific turbine inlet flange and a decent turbine wheel already.

It was nothing more than a good rebuild ($300-500 depending where you go and the quality of the balance), plus the cost of wheel, machine time for the compressor housing and/or backing plate.

The one I built for an older BMW ran $850 delivered with a coated turbine housing and billet wheel, including a 360° bearing upgrade, full balanced, and machine work. For this car, the only other wheel people have ran (aside from stock) was a 60-1 Garrett wheel. Works well but I went with a GTX3582R wheel. I took a guess as what would work better from what I have seen and examining compressor maps.

You are paying extra for the R&D of the company (Elite, RCD, etc) seeing what works best with what setups. Will a 71mm Batmowheel make more power than stock? Probably so. As much as the 71mm from Elite with the Precision wheel? Doubtful.

Would I spend the extra $500 or whatever for a known, proven, dyno'd turbocharger from one of the large companies? Yes. Knowledge is not free.

2¢