454k30
Veteran Member
Back in June I installed a GT1752v turbo which I sourced from XMan Turbos in the UK. XMan calls this turbo a VNT 17/26 and claims that it is a hybrid turbo that uses the VNT-17 turbine and a custom 52mm compressor.
This is also one of the turbos XMan sells that is a direct fit to the ALH engine. All of the hoses, piping, oil lines, etc are a direct fit. The install took about three hours and I chose to do the "up and out" method of removing and replacing the turbo. That is I removed the intake manifold from the engine, removed the exhaust downpipe and compressor and intake pipes, undid the oil return line, and then lifted the turbo/manifold out through the top of the engine bay. Despite being a bit intimidating it was not a difficult process at all. The trickiest part is the oil return line but it is doable without too much fuss.
When first installed I was still running a Malone 1.5 tune which limited boost to 15psi. There was a noticeable increase in lag but nothing that couldn't be driven. Maybe the biggest change, and one i was told about prior, is that the familiar whistle of the VNT-15 is now gone. I kinda liked it and now miss it LOL. Because this was the same boost and the same fueling as before I didn't really notice much of a difference in driving short of the lag.
I ordered a Malone Stage 5 and a 3 bar map to go with it. Once installed and uploaded the car drives much stronger on the highway. I am seeing a sustained 26PSI without any spikes or noticeable boost creep. There is not a lot of smoke but rather a haze that is really only visible when backlit by sunset or headlights. But I won't say that it is other worldly. I can certainly tell that there is more power at the top end of the RPM range, which for highway driving in LA is where I need it. However, this combo of nozzle, tune, and turbo are not throwing me back into my seat as I had kinda hoped. The car is more powerful. Lane changing and passing is more assertive, but it still feels a bit meh. I do want to put the car on the dyno and see what the numbers are.
Anyway, just wanted to share my experience so far. and perhaps turn this thread into another long term test of these components.
This is also one of the turbos XMan sells that is a direct fit to the ALH engine. All of the hoses, piping, oil lines, etc are a direct fit. The install took about three hours and I chose to do the "up and out" method of removing and replacing the turbo. That is I removed the intake manifold from the engine, removed the exhaust downpipe and compressor and intake pipes, undid the oil return line, and then lifted the turbo/manifold out through the top of the engine bay. Despite being a bit intimidating it was not a difficult process at all. The trickiest part is the oil return line but it is doable without too much fuss.
When first installed I was still running a Malone 1.5 tune which limited boost to 15psi. There was a noticeable increase in lag but nothing that couldn't be driven. Maybe the biggest change, and one i was told about prior, is that the familiar whistle of the VNT-15 is now gone. I kinda liked it and now miss it LOL. Because this was the same boost and the same fueling as before I didn't really notice much of a difference in driving short of the lag.
I ordered a Malone Stage 5 and a 3 bar map to go with it. Once installed and uploaded the car drives much stronger on the highway. I am seeing a sustained 26PSI without any spikes or noticeable boost creep. There is not a lot of smoke but rather a haze that is really only visible when backlit by sunset or headlights. But I won't say that it is other worldly. I can certainly tell that there is more power at the top end of the RPM range, which for highway driving in LA is where I need it. However, this combo of nozzle, tune, and turbo are not throwing me back into my seat as I had kinda hoped. The car is more powerful. Lane changing and passing is more assertive, but it still feels a bit meh. I do want to put the car on the dyno and see what the numbers are.
Anyway, just wanted to share my experience so far. and perhaps turn this thread into another long term test of these components.
take some logs, ideally log a whole trip somewhere: 011+001, 011+001+004. if it's a regular MAF tune, also 011+001+003. and then one log for boost control only 011. logging only a couple pulls, while helpful of course, don't show the whole picture very well. when logging >1 measuring block, it's important to get long (5+ second at least) throttle positions at various rpm ranges because the sample rate is so low on these ecus. see what sort of EGTs you get for cruising between 60 - 85mph as well as WOT and say 80% throttle pulls.
