19T turbo?

[foggyjames]

Turbo Technics are a turbo supplier (and service centre, etc). As far as I'm aware, they don't do any work on cars themselves (aside from a couple of conversion kits they offer), but they can advise on suitable products for your application, etc.

The T28 isn't a huge turbo. If you're getting a 360 degree thrust bearing, ball bearing cartridge version, it's a pretty tough creature, and I think Garrett are generally considered to be the 'best' turbo manufacturer. However, that's not to say that it's in a totally different league to an 18T / 19T. In terms of what you'll get out of it. Maybe it has a bit more potential, but I doubt we're talking more than a couple of tens of horsepower. A price comparison would be interesting. If they're a similar price, I'd be tempted to go with the Garrett.

Once you've got your chosen turbo, I'd take it to a specialist like SW, RTM, VT, etc.

cheers

James

[carpy]

Thanks for that. I think i'd rather order the turbo through the tuner, rather than get it and then turn up with it in my hand hoping it's the right one.

Out of SW Autos and RT mechanics, which one would be the best choice to get this work done. I know they are both excellent & get recommended all the time, but do both offer custom mapping (assuming I would need this).

RT is actually closest to me but SW isn't that far away either.

[foggyjames]

I think that's an impossible call for one of us to make. They both have a very good reputation. Russell tends to keep his head down more around here, so has something of a lower profile.

It probably comes down to who's more convenient geographically, cheaper, who you trust more, who'll lend you the better courtesy car...and who doesn't have a big-mouthed assistant

cheers

James

[don kalmar union]

As I believe that you live in Uxbridge, then I would deal with Power Engineering, they have a lot of experience with 5 pot Volvos and have a rolling road to set the car up for you.

They can order whatever hardware you want from various suppliers including myself.

PS you can contact Ian at PE or Dick Prior who is the owner of the business.


Regards, Don.

[foggyjames]

I'll add a voice in support of PE. Iain did some excellent work on my 360, and they're a bunch of top blokes with a fairly long association with this forum. Iain has a tuned Volvo himself, too!

cheers

James

[carpy]

Thanks for all the help. Put in a call to Stuart at SW today, and I'm going to take the car in at some point so he can have a once over & then we can discuss the next step from there. Watch this space!

[carpy]

Right then a little update. I've called Stuart @ SW Autos and had a long conversation about getting more power & told him my plans to go down the 19T / Garrett equivalent route when funds allow in future.

His advice is that the 16T (on my manual 850R) is virtually identical to the 19T so really no point changing that at all, so Best way to proceed now would be

Change my Milltek catback exhaust for a BSR catback exhaust
Change my ITG air filter for a BSR air filter
Use a lightened flywheel
Remove the current off the shelf RICA and go for a custom map on his dyno.
Also possibly change the clutch for an uprated one as mine is original (now done 135,000) & new torque level after mapping will probably destroy it.

Now everyone will agree that Stuart really really knows his stuff so my question is why on earth is there such a big following of the 19T route?

From what I can see it would appear the only thing that makes the difference is the custom remap over the off the shelf remap. I've based this on the fact that even people with a 19T hybrid & custom remap (no 3" downpipe) report large differences in power etc. It must come from the custom remap (albeit except a tiny increase from 19T)?

Let's be clear that I have absolutely no axe to grind with any tuning company or affinity with any particular forum either. I'm relatively new to this forum & VPCUK, and am simply trying to work out the best way to improve my 850R without wasting money on something that isn't as effective.

I just seem to spend my time going from pillar to post and every place I look theres conflicting advice and to be honest it's incredibly annoying because I have zero interest in any history between tuners / garages but what I do want is the best for my car!

[SIAMBLUE]

Carpy, come down to the Crooked Billet tomorrow there will be a vast array of tuned cars there, and take some passenger test drives,

Gary,

PS Hope you can make it

[carpy]

Mate I would definitely come but I have my little girl with me on Sundays and I think at 4 years old she wouldn't appreciate being driven around in tuned Volvos as much as her dad!

Also not got my 850R with me at the moment cos it's in with RT mechanics having a bit o restoration done to it.

Why can't you change the meet day to a Saturday eh!!

[pault5]

Speak to Russell, as your car is at RT Mechanics, he will give you good sound advise on your tuning queries.

Paul