Short story: Cast manifold with turbo specs below won't fit with a/c. Keeps hitting the block. Anyone else with same setup run into this? Any advice? Will the new turbo I ordered work since it is smaller?

Old turbo T3/T4 .50 .63
New turbo is T3 .42 .48

The turbo is positioned where cold side is facing the transmission because the other way would run into the a/c unit.

I need some help or advice with my current setup that I have been dealing with for a while now.

Current setup to install/tried to install 3 times now

T3/T4 turbo with .50 .63A/R
Tial wastegate
HKS blow off
ebay intercooler piping
DSM 450cc
Neptune P28
Walbro 255
godspeed intercooler (came with parts bundle I bought a long time ago)

Goal is 220-250 WHP

just need to know how to get the turbo to fit with a/c. My daily and want to retain functionality.

I have a factory b16a2 in my 99 civic si. I have a cast manifold that said it would work with a/c. My problem is that my turbo will hit the block pretty much no matter what. I have enlisted the help of someone that has his own private shop. He is a mechanic for Toyota and does these types of projects on the side for people. He has done over 10 honda turbo-setups that my friends and I know of. He cannot get it to fit either. Said if it were a b18 it would fit but the b16 is shorter so there is not enough clearance. He even switched the cold side housing to a smaller one to see if it would work as well. He told me to first get a "stated" a/c friendly manifold so I went to go-autoworks and got their cast for the b-series motor. Still does not fit. He said that this turbo is too big and I need to order a smaller t3 turbo. I ordered a turbo that is a t3 .42 .48. Am I just shooting in the dark or has anyone else ran into this problem before and possibly has a solution?

We also tried to "notch" or "shave" the block like everyone else has suggested. Got it close but no cigar. The new turbo will be in monday. I figured that if that doesn't work at least I can return it for the price of return shipping. It has just become a big hassle because I thought I had researched enough to get all the right parts that will work with an a/c unit. But I guess not...

 

P.S. I also searched on here, not found anything helpful but I would be more that willing to read if someone has found a thread I have missed with this problem and can give me some direction. Thank you.

 

its always known that you need to shave the block for cast manifolds depending on the turbo. even with my old 42/48 garrett i had to shave it. its not a big deal.

buy my manifold and downpipe, it will clear the block

 

what type do you have? I just bought that go-autoworks one and I have another cast manifold that is not name brand but is almost identical to it.

Nevermind. Just saw it in your sig.

 

It could be the turbo you are using. From personal experience I have used a rev hard replica cast iron log manifold from eBay on both my Integra and my gfs Integra. Both GSRs. I was running and ebay t3/t4 turbo and had to shave/ notch the block quite a bit where as with her car we used a turbonetics 57 trim and barely had to notch anything. So if you are using a generic eBay trbo then that could be ur issue.

 

That could be it. But I am not sure the difference in actual clearance in the blocks of the b16 and b18. It could be that, ebay or not, there still is not enough clearance with a cast manifold and that big of a turbo on my b16? I hope not but I guess we will see. Thanks for your help 95dc2teg.

I am not going to lie I ordered an ebay turbo to get me started and see where I would be at. I didn't want to spend 700+ dollars on a turbo that would not fit to begin with. So my hopes are that if this smaller turbo works then I can go to some shops and compare sizes with the turbo in hand to see what will fit in there. Then get a good one (garrett) in a trim that will fit. It seems logical to me but I am just starting out with putting turbos on hondas so if anyone else has a better idea or way to figure this out I'm all ears. Or if anyone else has put some on a factory b16 setup...

Also I will be putting together a build thread and hopefull results on what will fit and what will not with a factory a/c system and cast mani. Hopefully that will help people in the future with what is possible on a factory b16 setup and hopefully I am not completely missing a thread with this exact same situation haha.

 

My ebay turbo with a rev hard replica:


My garret t3 with a rev hard replica:


Gfs t3/t4 turbonetics 57trim (more comparable to the eBay trbo I believe) with rev hard replica

Don't mind the dirty *** engine.
Just an idea to show you better of what I'm talking about.

 

One was using a T04B housing and the Ebay was using a T04E compressor cover. Whether it is e-bay or not is irrelevant. Its the compressor housing size that's your issue. Some Garretts are T04B some are T04E

 

Shodan do u know what size housing a turbonetics 57trim would be if I posted a picture? I will try and snap one tomorrow to show how it fits with the same rev hard manifold. I feel it will be more of comparable picture than the Garrett ad eBay turbo pictures I posted

 

Nevermind I found one. I went ahead and updated my post with another picture showing how the turbonetics sits with same manifold. From the three u can see that the eBay turbo sits much closer to the block where as the other two don't. I feel that the turbonetics turbo is a more comparable picture than the garret because the compressor housing size is similar in size of the generic eBay trbo.

Either way u will just need to find a turbo that suites ur needs and fits correctly.

 

its the center line of the wheel on the back housing to the flange. on real turbos its closer than the ebay turbos one to the other they difer like 1/2inch the turbo manifold u have was designed to work with a real turbo like garrett or precision

 

It depends upon where it came from. Turbonetics is one of those companies that could put that turbo in either housing/backplate. Most of the time they were T04E, which rarely fit. but if it came from one of their kits, it could be in a T04B configuration.

 

If you already haven't seen it Shodan I posted it picture up of the turbonetics turbo and how t sits with the same manifold

 

Yes, which looks a bit more like a T04B compressor cover (though the cover is dirty)

 

Thanks for all the replies. It seems like that fits perfect in there. It is frustrating that mine will not clear it. I just want to get this on and feel boost!

I will try to get this setup together next week. I think my plan will be to see if anyone of my friends will be willing to donate their brand name turbo for a while to mock it up and see exactly what will fit and what will not fit. Once I get this information I will post it up so at least there is some sort of basis on what to get if you want to keep your a/c on factory b16.

Interesting to hear about it being 1/2 inch off from ebay turbos because it seems like a 1/2-1 1/2 inch would just about do it to get it installed

Don't get me wrong I hear all the horror stories about ebay turbos and why not to get them but I don't plan on running it long at all. Just to get me by until I can finalize the install. Got the first ebay turbo for free in a box of parts so I might as well use it to mock everything up.

 

Just an update, I got the new turbo in today and plan on getting something done with it this week. I will get some pics of it and how it fit in there here soon. I am going to put up a build thread as well so keep your eyes out for that.
I am going to try to get dyno results of both an ebay turbo and a garrett in the same size as well as clearance comparisons in the future.

 

When you do your test, be sure to measure the actual inducer/exducer wheels inside the housings of each. Just because one has a different housing than the other, doesn't mean it makes more power. Your issue is you keep thinking that ebay turbos automatically fit the Rev-Hard and the others don't. It all depends upon whether or not it is a T04B or T04E. Hopefully you know which cover your new turbo has.

 

TheShodan is correct it is all in the cover the E cover will always hit the block with a cast mani. You need to ask for a B cover when buying a turbo, a real turbo not a Ebay.

 

I will definitely look at those features and post up some results. I will make sure to measure the wheel sizes, outside diameters, length and put them up. I just hope that some of this info can be used for reference.

I am about to look at the new one right now and take some measurements.