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Hello all I will be rebuilding my rb20 this winter and was wondering what the best turbo would be for response. I'm only looking for 300hp at the crank and want something responsive. Would an HKS 2530 be most suitable or a rb25 turbo? I'll be using an aftermarket intake manifold also. thanks!

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Hello all I will be rebuilding my rb20 this winter and was wondering what the best turbo would be for response. I'm only looking for 300hp at the crank and want something responsive. Would an HKS 2530 be most suitable or a rb25 turbo? I'll be using an aftermarket intake manifold also. thanks!

Shawn have a read through this it should help answer your question.

Other than upgrading turbo i take it you will be going usual supporting mods as well???

Your goal of 300hp should be fairly easily obtained and if not more if you have the right set up/tune :thumbsup:

Yup I read through that, but I'm wondering the laggyness of a 2530 compared to the rb25 turbo? I plan on doing coil packs, fuel control, injectors if needed, Cooler, N1 oil pump, new gaskets, rings, if I have the money new internals, little head work. I just don't want something powerful, I'd like it to be very responsive so I can use it on some small tracks and such and country roads.

Shawn have a read through this it should help answer your question.

Other than upgrading turbo i take it you will be going usual supporting mods as well???

Your goal of 300hp should be fairly easily obtained and if not more if you have the right set up/tune :verymad:

The 2530 is supposed to be the best turbo for response and power on the rb20, or so ive read

Theres going to be lag with any bigger turbo since its still an rb20

On the other hand, i'm running a GCG rb25 highflow on my rb20 and the response is pretty good

It wasn't that big of a difference in lag from the std turbo but it was pretty laggy for the first few days before i got used to it.

I get 12psi from around 3500rpm and 16psi at about 4200rpm compared to the std turbo 12psi at 2800rpm

I made 180rwkw on 14psi, couldn't go further coz my boost controller wouldn't hold any more boost steadily and the clutch couldn't hold any more power.

A highflow rb25 turbo would have similar boost response or just marginally poorer boost response on a rb20...almost unnoticeable...

Although...if ultimate response with a slight power increase with good reliability is what you want...it might be worth looking for a hks 2510 as well...you're not going to get a more responsive turbo than that...albeit with slightly less peak power again...its all a trade off...but the difference might not be as big as you think...maybe have pushed 200rwkw from those little things before...

Surely HKS do a GT-SS with a T3 flange?

High flow turbos suck. The wheels used mean they are generally around the 400hp to 450hp turbos which is way too big for what you are saying you need.

Then to make matter worse they never seem to make the 450 odd hp they are claimed to, so you are stuck with all that lag for only 220rwkws, when the recognised guys (garrett etc) that build 420hp turbos actually make 260rwkws etc. When a smaller GT2871 or something from Garret is only rated at 320-350hp or something and makes more then the high flows.... this is on RB20s anyway. The high flows seem to work a little better on RB25s

My RB20 made 183rwkw on 12psi with just a standard RB25 turbo (s1), made 12psi by 3500rpm. If that's all the power you're chasing then a 25 turbo is by far the cheapest way to go.

Guys he said 300hp at the crank..

Edited by bubba

Thing is the RB25 turbo doesnt really punch that hard. I know from when i have overlaid my TD06 sheet that at 3,800rpm i am making as much power as the typical RB25 turbo upgrade on an RB20. From 4,500rpm i am making over 200rwkws...so i think it would be interesting to see how a GT-SS would go on an RB20. It woudl punch harder then the RB25 turbo, be able to run 1.3bar albeit it will cost more. But the poster is looking at all sorts of other mods so surely the extra money on a quality turbo is money well spent ?

Thing is the RB25 turbo doesnt really punch that hard. I know from when i have overlaid my TD06 sheet that at 3,800rpm i am making as much power as the typical RB25 turbo upgrade on an RB20. From 4,500rpm i am making over 200rwkws...so i think it would be interesting to see how a GT-SS would go on an RB20. It woudl punch harder then the RB25 turbo, be able to run 1.3bar albeit it will cost more. But the poster is looking at all sorts of other mods so surely the extra money on a quality turbo is money well spent ?

He doesn't want 200rwkw though so it's pointless. IMO I think he's aiming pretty low.. 300hp @ crank is maybe 250rwhp, which is what my stock RB20 with RB25 turbo made without breaking a sweat. Obviously it's not as responsive as the stock turbo but if it's only aiming for 300hp @ crank then what's the point of spending bulk $$ on a name brand turbo and the supporting mods when all you need is a $300 RB25 turbo, fmic, mech. boost controller and a fuel pump.

Maybe we need a bit of feedback from the fella.

He doesn't want 200rwkw though so it's pointless. IMO I think he's aiming pretty low.. 300hp @ crank is maybe 250rwhp, which is what my stock RB20 with RB25 turbo made without breaking a sweat. Obviously it's not as responsive as the stock turbo but if it's only aiming for 300hp @ crank then what's the point of spending bulk $ on a name brand turbo and the supporting mods when all you need is a $300 RB25 turbo, fmic, mech. boost controller and a fuel pump.

Maybe we need a bit of feedback from the fella.

I wouldn't mind bumping up the hp (260rwkw) is my top goal) if the response is still there. I just don't want a huge HP laggy machine that is no fun to drive :(

Also what would be needed to rev higher safely in the drive train department?

hks2530 seems to be in mind..

Edited by sky_2.0T

2530 wont make 260 rwkw.. ever...

Go with a 3071R set up and you'll make the power... or something like Roy's set up which is a Trust kit, will also make the power. At the end of the day, the more power you want from the 20 means you will lose more down low..

I wouldn't mind bumping up the hp (260rwkw) is my top goal) if the response is still there. I just don't want a huge HP laggy machine that is no fun to drive :P

Also what would be needed to rev higher safely in the drive train department?

hks2530 seems to be in mind..

That is why I went RB30.. soon to have a GT35R strapped on :(

Edited by bubba

out of curiousity, the hks2510, what exhaust flange does that use? does it use a 6 bolt like the std. 20 turbo? I heard the 2510 is basically the same as the stock rb20 turbo with more top end, and can be boosted more. The 2530 is the 6 bolt pattern on the exhaust side I think...will probably go with the 2530. Anyone hear of haltech engine management?

300hp

Send the pistons through the hood if need be. Thats my motto.

I've just ordered a Garrett GT2860 (Infamous Disco Potato) and with just a rebuild with all new rings gaskets and graphite hot gaskets i'm going for whatever 18psi in normal driving and 22-24 psi with Boost Cool will give me.

Next year is an RB30/26 with twin disco potatos to build up for the following year. Saw a GTR for sale with twin GT2860 turbos at 16 psi making 500whp so i'm gonna step up with a rare RB engine combo (here).

Good luck. Checkout Garrett GT2860 (Disco Potato) and i hope not to see a post from you next year above mine how i just blew my stock RB20 at a retarded 24psi as i dont have allot of hope for my engine living through next year.

Edited by LedZepLen

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