Starting turbo project this weekend. Getting all the parts together. I’ve been debating this for a while whether to go with the T3 which is commonplace in the world of KA-T; or go with a quick-spooling T28 (aka disco potato).
It wont just be a bolt on project. This will include tuning my ECU, piggyback fuel management, full exhaust, dyno tuning etc. Looking to make a modest 280 WHP, but still not sure which turbo to go with.
Any and all opinions would be much apprieciated. Thanks.
If you are only going for 280 whp, a quick spooling turbo seems like it would be more fun and streetable. But then again, I probably haven’t done anywhere near the research that you have done on this.
I’ve got a few KA buddies that are running T3’s with hacked ECUs and stock internals. They’ve only added full intake and exhaust along with 255lph fuel pump, bigger injectors and Z32 MAF. At 10psi they’re making 300WHP.
I used to work as a tech at the Infiniti dealership in my city and have seen quite a few SR projects with bigger turbos, most of them are running the T28 at 15psi most are making around 280WHP, but the repsonse is insane! You’ll be making 5lbs of boost as early as 1800 RPM, and full boost is easily reached before 3000 RPM. Perfect for autocross in my opinion.
I honestly think either would work really well. And of course, at the end of the day, it’d boil down to your own choice and what you’re looking for.
Probably more important would be whether the turbo is new (would recommend) and where it came from & its internals/quality etc (and having a good quality manifold).
Also consider that each would use a different kind of manifold, so if you went with the T28, you’d have to live with a T2 style mani and vice versa in case you ever decided to upgrade your turbo later on.
Good luck on your project!
disco potatoe wont make 280whp with out alot of boost. Ur better off with a T3 so u can boost it even higher. Its not that much bigger. The Disco potatoe is good for a 280whp on a sr 2.0 litres. not good for a 2.4 litre motor imo
if I was piecing together a KA-T I would likely go see this guy;
T3 based turbo is the better product for a 2.4L , a well sized T3 turbine/housing will spool plenty fast and have the top end flow that a T2x won’t have
I have seen some KAs with T28 hit 300WHP but that is with very good tuning. A T28 is very responsive and streetable. The only downside is that you will be on boost all the time and that will put wear on your engine over time. Also fuel economy won’t be very good.
Personally I am leaning towards a T28 for my KA when I have the money 
If I get to do it this summer I will make a nice thread with plenty of pics of the install and some videos of how it runs.
T28’s cost more to buy, cost more to rebuild and have to be run at higher boost & ‘higher’ internal RPM’s ( heat and wear increase, lower thermal eff.) to make the same CFM’s as a T3. T28 is either for mid 200 hp needs on a 2.4L or for those that don’t know any better then to follow the heard.
Something along the lines of a T3/T4 hybrid 57 trim with .48 A/R?? Thats the least amount of lag on a T3 as far as I know, but I could be wrong.
BAS built my T3 setup for my Silvia.
T3 Super-60 with a .48 exhaust housing on my 1.8L spool reasonably fast, on a 2.4 it would probably be a low 2000rpm full boost turbo.
I’m very happy with his work and no one has ever beat his turbo pricing.
T28 all the way man, i know somone selling one lol… i think he wants like … 600 for it… or best offer… naw man im kidding, for quicker spool i would definitally suggest a nice t28, t3 is always nice to have for big boost, just dont kill your self . peace
a t28 and a t3 super 60 is pretty much the same. You wouldn’t really notice a difference on a KA since it’s a 2.4 litre. If the T3 was ball bearing then it would definitely beat a t28 and vice versa. A T3 isn’t for “big power”. haha.
Might as well tell him to go with a “stage 2” turbo kit if he wants big power, and stage 2 fuel and computer tuning.
a ka should not have anything less than a stage 3 wheel in it, the disco potato will eventually blow your motor because of its restriction.
think about it all the exhaust gases are collected by the manifold and go into the turbo. the 2.4 litre engine is pretty big so what happens to all those exhaust gases that dont escape between combustion cycles?
Ill tell you they stay in the cylinder and manifold and create more heat. more heat = detonation , detonation = blowm motor.
Im running a stage 3 t3 turbine with a .82a/r i make 15 psi at 3400rpm.
If you want your setup to last dont use anything that came on the sr20 other than the injectors and maybe the intercooling setup if your on a budget.
and a stainless 200 dollar manifold will only crack on you.
if you want to know how to build it right ask me through PM ill help ya out.
Radek.