ON 3.... Yea or nay?

[Boosted92LX]

Been eyeballing turbo kits for a while and pondering building my own, spending tons on an expensive kit, and what's looking to make the most sense is buying one of these ON 3 kits and just replacing the cheap turbo if it craps out with a precision or something of the like...

I've read a lot from haters calling them Chinese junk, but people who own them seem to really like them, the only gripe I've seen are that in older kits the v-band clamps didn't hold well. That problem is easily remedied with a $60.00 purchase.

I don't DD this car, so wear or reliability is not an issue, it can push a stock block to it's limit, and later when I build a dart based engine I can swap out the turbo to a 76 and make big steam..

Oh, and the kit's only $1600.00. How do you beat that?

*gets ready for people srceaming you get what you pay for*

Thoughts? Keep it civil, please.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Funny you mention this, I posted a link to a thread in 4.6 Talk earlier. Granted the kits are probably quite different, but the quality, from what I've heard, has improved. This should hopefully help: http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/got-my-ff-on3performance-turbo-kit.851562/

 

[RacEoHolic330]

You always get what you pay for in this industry. Many people are happy with the On3 kits, but I would personally rather support a company like B&G buy buying one of their kits. After hacking away at my HP kit, and making it my own to suit my needs, building your own kit is not the hardest thing in the world to do. You can get everything you need from Mandrel-bends.com. They even have header flanges and collectors if you want to make your own headers.

I would personally be concerned about the long term durability of a chinese turbo kit. I understand that not everybody has the budget for a B&G kit with a Precision turbo, but their entry level hotside is less than $500. You can add a downpipe and WG flange and still be under $800. Then throw in the turbo of your choice and a coldside. A used 67mm precision can be had for $700 and then figure on $600 for a coldside/intercooler. BOV and WG are another $500. So you're looking at around $2600 for a quality turbo kit with a quality turbo. To me, it's worth the extra $1000

 

[MY 85 GT]

I will let you know if a few weeks what and how i like the kit...its getting installed now...I hear bad and good things so i will see...

 

[Boosted92LX]

You always get what you pay for in this industry.

Most of the time. Most of the time that's true. I've learned, however there are exceptions to every rule... and If you do enough homework you can save money.

I would personally be concerned about the long term durability of a chinese turbo kit.

I think this phrase would be more acurately stated, "Kit with Chinese turbo and wastegate." From what I understand, the headers and piping are made in the USA, and the turbo can be replaced or upgraded. We all know that turbo kits made here don't always fit, and If I save a grand and spend $700 to replace or upgrade a chinese turbo haven't I still saved money? From everything I've read, fit and finish are remarkable on these new kits and quality of headers and piping is on par with big name kits.

What I'm asking for here is more than speculation.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

If you can just buy the pipes from them, then go for it, but stay the hell away from their branded turbo, BOV, and WG. Hopefully their kits are better these days than the older ones I've personally seen and read all about online. There is no speculation here. Their old stuff was trash, plain and simple. But companies and their products tend to evolve as time goes on, so I'm sure that is the case for On3 if they are still in business.

 

[MY 85 GT]

The kit looks really good...quailty looks good..I bought the House turbo 70mm .68 A/R and whatever waste gate and BOV comes with the kit i can always upgrade down the road..the 1st kits did have some problems but i think they resolved it..The shop doing my install did one a few months ago they said it fit nice...they only problem they found was the MAF that the kit comes with did read right so they had some problems tunning they found out it was a bad sensor...So when i bought my kit they told me not to but the MAF from On3 they would get it...

 

[Boosted92LX]

Hopped over onto the turbo forums at the suggestion of a friend and WOW! lots of on3 flaming over there. It's worse than one they hammer over here! LOL..

 

[Boosted92LX]

...And who makes master pro turbos? Chinese also?

 

[MY 85 GT]

About 90% of the stuff we buy today is made from China...does it really make a difference if the turbo is...lol...Worst case senireo you upgrade to a better turbo down the road...Hey for the money to me its worth a try...

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

I'm sure the results from my research of Chinee VS American turbos can apply here. I posted a write up on the "Junkyard Jewel" article awhile back where HRM pushed 14.7 PSI through an all stock 4.6 2 v using a Chinese turbo. They made 592 HP on an otherwise stock 2 valve using a 76 mm Master Pro. when they were done, they bolted on a 76mm Precision turbo in it's place, and at the same boost made 46 more HP while the air inlet temp dropped by 25 degrees.
Sooo,..given that the precision probably cost 3 times what the Egg Foo Yung special cost,...is it worth 46HP/-25 degrees to have an emptier wallet?

 

[RacEoHolic330]

Hopped over onto the turbo forums at the suggestion of a friend and WOW! lots of on3 flaming over there. It's worse than one they hammer over here! LOL..

I was acutally going to tell you not to go over there if you are looking for any positive comments about On3. You won't make any friends by starting a build thread with an On3 kit. lol. They'll feed you right to the wolves.

...And who makes master pro turbos? Chinese also?

I'm relatively certain they are manufactured in Brazil.

About 90% of the stuff we buy today is made from China...does it really make a difference if the turbo is...lol...Worst case senireo you upgrade to a better turbo down the road...Hey for the money to me its worth a try...

It's not always about the performance aspect. Turbos, blow-off valves, and wastegates are all products made with moving components that rely heavily on the quality of materials used. I'm not saying that if you put a Chinese turbo on your car, it's going to make everything explode. I am saying that I have seen cases (in person and online) of people that have bought non-name brand ebay special blow off valves and gates that have failed (read: fell apart internally) because of shotty parts/manufacturing processes. I've also seen chinese flex bellows (from the On3 kits) implode on themselves nearly taking out a turbo impeller.

If you want to save money on a turbo build, buy the pipes wherever you can get the cheapest set, but hit up Corral and buy a used Precision or Garrett turbo, or a used Tial BOV, and NOT one on ebay from KungPow Turbo Accessories Inc. Used quality parts are typically always better than cheap new stuff.

 

[Boosted92LX]

Sounds like sound advice..

Oh, and no, I didn't post a thread over there, I just looked around. It didn't take long.

 

[MY 85 GT]

I agree with you i know some of the cheaper stuff isnt the best i will give it a try..if i have problems they i will replace with better parts...hopefully it doesnt take my motor out ....Hey if i listened to what everyone says about a powerdyne i would have never bought one...And i loved mine...made 10 psi never had a problem with it...And i heard horror stories about them...

 

[NIKwoaC]

Haha yea those guys over at the turbo forums are elitists. Realize that while some of those guys really know what the F they're talking about, some of them also have many thousands of dollars in their turbo setups.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

There are a lot of bandwagon jumpers over there for sure. Gotta weed through those people to find the ones with good, reliable advice.

 

[MY 85 GT]

I agree i never said the On3 kit was the best i know it has its issues...But i think for my budget and for what im looking for it should be ok...lol...Im looking for 400 rwhp..and run in the 11's...

 

[RacEoHolic330]

SSeater, have you given much consideration to building your own turbo setup? If you have some fab skills, the only other thing you need is lots of time, which is understandably hard to find these days. It's a fun experience, though, to see a pile of pipes turn into a turbo kit.

 

[Boosted92LX]

SSeater, have you given much consideration to building your own turbo setup? If you have some fab skills, the only other thing you need is lots of time, which is understandably hard to find these days. It's a fun experience, though, to see a pile of pipes turn into a turbo kit.

Yes, I have given much thought to it. I have an extensive machining and fabricating background. What I don't have is access to a is facility to do it in. Twenty years ago I had a full welding /machine shop at my disposal. I used to make all kinds of cool goodies. Now I swipe a badge and walk through a turn style. Nothing goes in or out.
I have a friend who has a shop with a nice dry rig, mig, plasma cutter, lathe, etc... but it'll take weeks or longer for that kind of job, and I don't want to impose on his floor space... and I don't want to leave my car there with all of the traffic going in and out there..

Eventually I'm going to build my own shop, but that's going to be a few years. Right now it's just the garage.

And free time? Ha!

 

[RacEoHolic330]

Free time? Have you seen my car? lol Give me a year and I'll get back to you on that!

I hear ya about imposing on your friend. I wouldn't want to do that either. FWIW, I'm doing my welding in a 2 car garage with a little 110V MIG. Nothing special by any means, but when all you're welding is 16ga mild steel, it gets the job done.