I'm living in Japan, and I'm buying an Evo IV in about a month. $530,000 yen (about $5,500 usd) but theres a catch. The turbo is going out. I was looking at the Tommi Makinen turbo from the Evo 6.5 TME. Anyone have this turbo and want to lend me some feedback or maybe recommend another turbo?? The car is mostly going to be my daily driver, but doing a little togue on the weekends.

 

Unless the EVO 6.5 TME turbo is new, don't bother, or if you really want to get it (it is a really nice turbo), send it to some place like Majestic Turbo for a refresh on the internals and balancing. My friend has one of the only three TME 6.5's in the Middle East, and it is a phenomenal car.

Since this potential car will be your daily driver, you want a turbo that is close to the specs it already has with some room to grow. Some good candidates are Garrett GT3071R, GT3076R, and up to GT35 with internal wastegate. Authorized Garrett dealers are selling these as a kit, so nothing more than a potential reflash. You can get a reflash for the EVO IV at most private tuners. If you are in the Kanto area, I strongly recommend Monster in Yokohama. Those guys can give the EVO an honest assessment on anything else you may need. As you know, being in Japan means that costs for things like shop installation, parts, servicing is very expensive. If you can do most of the stuff yourself, you should, but I also know that if you live in any metro area, the chance of being able to wrench on your stuff may be impossible. I don't know if you have looked at other potential EVOs, but I strongly suggest you get one that is going to cost you little more than what you will have to put into it just to be able to drive it. Translation... Japanese LTO inspectors are really stringent and if you have things like oil leaks, worn boots, questionable wear of the rotors and pads, etc, they'll send you home to get the repairs made before they will pass you and give you your plates.

Good luck.

 

thanks for the insight. the car is still very much drivable and i already got a quote for the JCI inspection ($5500usd for everything), but I think the guys at the dealership are just pretty picky and the turbo has a little shaft play but ill definitely look into those garrett turbos. Thanks again

 

Conservative is right. Those guys don't want to risk their rep with definites. You will never get a definite yes or no in Japan unless it is 100% certain or the person telling you is a very close friend. The run of the mill Japanese maybe "tabun ne" is what will normally be said. Sounds neither for or against and more neutral stance. I am sure you have already picked up on that by now. Inspection is $5500 USD or is that purchase with inspection certificate plus tax?

ATP Turbos, an authorized Garrett dealer, has the kits for around $2,300 USD. They say they are made for 6.5 thru 8 and are rated max 525 HP. That's a really good deal for a dual ball-bearing with all the associated hardware to just plug and play.

 

$5500 USD is the purchase price with the inspection, and yes ive heard "tabun" quite a bit. Would that ATP turbo be a direct bolt on for the IV?

 

Turbo-wise you do not want to go for anything above stock frame if you intend on retaining stock internals - so E4 - E9 turbo. I only say this as the E4 has relatively weaker engine internals compared to the later models and therefore I would not recommend running more than 340-350 flywheel hp. Stock frame turbos are more than capable of producing that power. The main issue is that the E4 pistons have weak ring landings and will crack with high boost.

The E4 crank bearing design is also not the best and is why e4s suffer from crankwalk - therefore if you ever choose to go with a forged engine you are better off starting off with a E5-E8 block.

In terms of the other posters comment about reflashing. You cannot reflash the stock E4 ECU.

 

The Garrett GT3071R and GT3076R are both stock frame for the EVO 6.5 thru EVO 8. The max rated HP these turbos can potentially push are 525. This is not to say you will get 525 with the current set-up (other factors), for as with most things dealing with forced induction, one must build to support it if one doesn't already have it. So, will the GT3071R thru GT3076R bolt up? Yes.

As for reflash, I stand corrected. Nianlala says the EVO IV ECU cannot be reflashed, but didn't mention why. The reason the EVO IV ECU cannot be reflashed is because the wiring harness does not have the cable for reflash. If you want to upgrade to a later version ECU, you will have to insert pin 79 into the connector to give you that capability. You can get a tuning shop like Monster to do it for you, and I am sure that they can also recommend other tuning methods for you, as well.

 

Thanks for the advice guys, gotta go to work now, but ill let you guys know how the test drive goes on friday

 

Just stay open-minded and drive some others before you settle on the one. The magic number is 60,000 km. In Japan, once a car reaches 60,000 km on the odometer, the value of the car goes down dramatically. That's ok. It will be in your favor because most of those cars with 60,000 km or more km are in still great working order. Pick up a copy of Car Goo at the konbini and check out more dealers in your area. You may find some other candidates worth pursuing. Good luck

 

What are you talking about, dude? Stock-framed turbos would all have to be in the MHI factory 16G series. Garrett is not stock-framed for the Evo. Anything Garrett will need a complete kit, including manifold or manifold adapter, or a one-off turbine housing casting, a downpipe or exhaust elbow solution, an intake adapter, oil and water lines ad etc., new injectors, a high-flow fuel pump, as well as a major ECU retune.

 

For EVO VI.V thru IX http://www.atpturbo.com/Merchant2/me...gory_Code=VEVO

This kit has been out as a complete right down to allowing you to retain your stock heat shield since 2004, and yes, it does bolt up to the stock mani.

For EVO X http://www.atpturbo.com/Merchant2/me...egory_Code=BCS Looks familiar, right? Looks like the one in my EVO VII

If you read what I originally wrote, I said bolt-on kit. I would never say bolt-on kit unless it is a true bolt-on. The other stuff you mention, that's a no-brainer. Anytime anyone wishes to plus up on something especially with forced induction, a re-tune is in order. It will run, but not at the most efficient unless there is a re-tune.

I don't rep for anyone, but I do look out for products that work.

 

a bigger fuel pump and injectors... that will be found out in the tune. never waste your money on something you don't need and maximize what you have.

Anyway, what do I know.

 

So they dropped the price for me, 500,000 yen ($5,200-ish USD) which is pretty awesome. It's got 83,000km on it so not too bad, but its almost bone stock, and I can tell the guy took care of the car considering the excellent shape its in. I couldn't test drive it today though, got too busy, but I did help a buddy put a Cusco Rear Sway bar on his Evo VI.

 

I figured that you might be hawking the ATP 3071 kit, detuned. I wouldn't bolt that thing onto my car, even if they gave it to me for free. The 3071R, even without the uber-restrictive ATP turbine housing, has long been an outmoded stone.

No one(Granted, there may be, uninformed exceptions to the rule.), buys the ATP 3071 anymore. The slightly outmoded Forced Performance EvoGreen bolton turbo delivers the same compressor CFM as a 3071 at a fraction of the cost of the ATP kit.

The newer straight boltup, 16G housed turbo upgrades such as the CBRD BBK Full, and the Forced Performance EvoRed, provide performance clearly superior to that available from a ATP 3071 kit. They both bolt right up to the stock factory manifold using stock oil and water lines and are less expensive.

 

This kit has been considered ultralame due to its highly restrictive one-off turbine housing solution, for several years now. The 3071R, even in its original Garrett configuration, is not considered a justifiable option, in comparison to the several true bolton, 16G housed, turbo upgrades currently available.

I did read what you wrote, and, as quoted, you did state that the 3071 is a stock framed turbo.