I am so tired of working on my friends car. 93 HB with a 96 GSR. He has pieced his own turbo kit together and we seem to be running into the same problem over and over again. He keeps buying used T3 from the salvage yard. First one smoked, second one had current problem, and the current one just dies. The first 2 T3's were from older Saabs's and the latest is from a 85 280? Z. I have personally checked for leaks, loose hoses, swaped ECU's, swaped FMU, swaped BOV, WG, changed fuel filter, fuel pump, ect... running 7psi. Car was way faster N/A. It pulls like a bitch to about 5500-6000 then just kinda dies and revs to 8000. Quits pulling hard. I have told him time and time again just get a T3/T4 and be done. Could some one back me up? Any insite into a T3 would be great. My 00 SI with a Drag kit (T3/T4) is awsome. He just wants to keep up.

 

as far as the turbos being junk, it is common sense... he is pulling a 20 yr old turbo off a car that someone threw away.. it is verry rare to find a good junkyard turbo...

I have heard the t3's die on top, but there was a guy on here a while back that had a really clean junkyard setup on a type r that made great power with a junkyard t3.. so who knows.. maybee your friend has another bad turbo

 

I'd say he needs to stop buying them and rebuild one, or get one NEW...and the T3 wont support the same kind of power you 3/4 does up top...but its a good autocross turbo

 

yah i'm guessin he just been getting bad turbos or too small of a t3. my t3 (60-trim .60 compressor/ .48 turbine off a ford thunderbird auto) is nice on my d16y8. just put down 193whp/164tq @ 9psi on saturday

 

Those turbo's are just way to small for that engine. Compare them to yours.
I had the same exact turbo on my b16a and had the same problem. They are just to small to flow enough up top. The a/r is only a .42 on the compressor side and .48 on the exhaust side.
He needs a larger turbo if he wants to keep up with you...