Technical Another cast manifold vband N54 turbo kit

[veer90]

What's up with the recent influx of VTT designs released by other companies? First the alibaba special turbos, now this cast manifold v-band kit from Tomioka Racing:

http://www.tomiokaracing.com/products/tr-twin-turbo-upgrade-for-bmw-n54

Some interesting things about the above linked turbos:

• They have compressor / turbine wheel measurements listed for 3 different variations. Maybe corresponding with stage 2, GC lite, and GC?
• Manifold looks to be a dead ringer for the gen 1 GC / GC lite v-band manifolds.
• Turbine wheel is an 11-blade vs the usual 9-blades that have been blowing up.

Just some stuff I noticed. Interested to hear some further discussion on these things.

 

[Cornfed54]

Very interesting to say the least, the mani all the way Down to the clamp looks exactly like my set of original GC manifolds, I suppose it was bound to be copied and made cheaper, just makes you wonder how many actual manufactures there are for these components. Are they all actually the same parts from the same factory, or are they copies made by manufacturing plants all over the globe, we may never know haha....

 

[langsbr]

I think the company that manufactured them originally, Zage, must now be offering them to anyone. Perhaps an exclusivity agreement has expired, especially since VTT now has the GC 2.0s.

I don't know if I would trust the "shipped from China" as much as a U.S. vendor. You could technically call them a VAR, and the value they add is ensuring they are assembled correctly, balanced properly, and also warrantied.

 

[Jpotter]

Wonder if this is what the guy had when he claimed he had some froma guy who collaborated with vtt i think but separated to have his turbo all American made.

 

[veer90]

I don't believe so, he was asking $3,000 for that set. They looked identical though.

Lack of transparency on turbos hurts everyone except the vendors. Getting kind of ridiculous tbh.

 

[veer90]

Here's a screenshot I think the post got nuked. The OP claimed he has a one-off turbo kit from when Vargas had them US-made during development but ultimately decided to go with an overseas manufacturer for cost reasons.

Could be legit, could be baloney. You never know when someone's selling used no-name turbos

 

[Cornfed54]

yea that one off thing is weird, might actually be decent and last 50k or might fail the same weekend you put them on, what great odds haha

 

[Jpotter]

I should have screen capped the thread. Ye said i think ktony? Of vtt (i dont know companies very well forgive me) was designing them with someone else and vtt wanted to go cheaper but his partner wanted us made. I think he said he had like 5 or so pairs actually made and those were one of the pairs. Maybe the owner of vtt could verify but i dont feel they would.

 

[veer90]

I should have screen capped the thread. Ye said i think ktony? Of vtt (i dont know companies very well forgive me) was designing them with someone else and vtt wanted to go cheaper but his partner wanted us made. I think he said he had like 5 or so pairs actually made and those were one of the pairs. Maybe the owner of vtt could verify but i dont feel they would.

Tony isn't on this forum but @Chris@VargasTurboTech is.

 

[dyezak]

These are most certainly Zage turbos flooding the market under various brand names.

 

[John@DBV2]

We are in the VW market as well when it comes to turbos and Zage units are all over the place as well under various names. Each claiming to be the best.

We’re the only guys on that platform to use OEM housings, full Mitsubishi TD06 conversion, billet compressor wheel and inconel turbine wheel.

Yet, everyone charges almost the same price as we do and claims reliability and big numbers. It’s completely out of hand and like you said, the only person to lose is the consumer.

 

[ShocknAwe]

Looks to be offlabel VTT turbos. They had all the components made for them. Not too hard to believe this would happen after the Gen1 versions became obsolete with their G2 products.

As far as companies reselling alibaba parts and making claims, there's no regulation on having to prove their products performance, so why would they? Even here with the enthusiast population and depth if automotive knowledge, someone comes out with a turbo kit claiming 750whp for half the price, and folks looking to save a buck jump all over it without any proof. *cough* Shaudfab/JP *cough * Or another example, Hexon hybrids a few years back with shaft failures.

Market is full of criminals looking to make money off naive ir desperate car enthusiasts.

 

[ajpagosa]

Looks to be offlabel VTT turbos. They had all the components made for them. Not too hard to believe this would happen after the Gen1 versions became obsolete with their G2 products.

As far as companies reselling alibaba parts and making claims, there's no regulation on having to prove their products performance, so why would they? Even here with the enthusiast population and depth if automotive knowledge, someone comes out with a turbo kit claiming 750whp for half the price, and folks looking to save a buck jump all over it without any proof. *cough* Shaudfab/JP *cough * Or another example, Hexon hybrids a few years back with shaft failures.

Market is full of criminals looking to make money off naive ir desperate car enthusiasts.

Well in this case their 19T version is already $3k so they aren't even trying to price them very aggressively.

 

[ShocknAwe]

Well in this case their 19T version is already $3k so they aren't even trying to price them very aggressively.

I was more referring to the other Chinese cast turbos hitting the market at absurdly cheap prices. But also yes.

 

[JuniorB]

Still, for $1999, your getting a lot more that what's out there for the money. Definely something to consider! Thanks DD for straighten this out!

 

[veer90]

Still, for $1999, your getting a lot more that what's out there for the money. Definely something to consider! Thanks DD for straighten this out!

What do you mean? These things have zero track record as far as I know.

If you feel like gambling 2 grand + install + downtime, go for it.

 

[JuniorB]

I'll rephrase what I mean by more, I didn't say better, but more as in other than just another oem stage 1. Looking at what these offer, removable chras, tdo4 turbine, with a 15t wheel. What's a stage 1, 14t comp, with tdo3 components. Stage 1 are a solid 5-525, these 550-575. Just by the numbers, these look like your getting more than just an upgrade oem turbo. This is what I was referring to. It will make more hp, by the hardware itself.

 

[ajpagosa]

Interesting, they have a twin Garrett GT30 BB kit for 911 turbos:

https://www.tomiokaracing.com/colle...s/tr-twin-turbo-kit-for-porsche-996-997-turbo

and a bunch of Subie kits as well, one Audi. Maybe not no-name China junk after all. Except they don't have the years right for 996/997 turbos.

 

[veer90]

These are most certainly Zage turbos flooding the market under various brand names.

Looks like you were right. Found on the Zage website.

 

[Abacus38]

Yeah if I remember correctly Tony had an agreement with zage to sell this turbos in North America but I'm guessing that agreement ended so now Zage is private labeling these suckers to everybody now. It pretty much what I do for what I sell on Amazon. I hop on Alibaba negotiate with the suppliers, order in bulk, and use Amazon fulfillment. There's only a few suppliers out there for things and everybody is buying for these suppliers and private labeling on Amazon or eBay. I don't mess with car parts though to much to invest and the chinse will just steal your shit and sell to eveyboeve else lol.