I've no experience with Zero Clearance turbos... looking for feedback and experience from those of you who've researched them or have had them. Pros... Cons...

Thanks!

 

Also, how much can I expect to buy a set of used K16 turbo cores for? Anyone have a stock pile of them? I'm about to order turbos Kevin, and he has a $500 service charge for exchanges.

I can just sent him mine, but prefer to minimize down time. So, if someone has a set that I can send in, I'll send mine to you after the new turbos come in. OR, I don't mind buying a pair so long as I know I can sell mine at or near the same price... that way, I can apply that $500 towards more useful options for the turbos!

 

I have the Stage V Zero Clearance turbos made by Kevin exclusively for Speed Gallery and I am very happy with them. They spool quickly and push a lot of air. Kevin has done a very impressive job with these turbos.

The primary gripe with ZC turbos is that lack of available programming matched to the turbos. Sharkster has had terrible problems getting a program to work well with his ZC turbos. Speed Gallery is the only tuner I know of that offers a program designed specifically for their ZC turbos (developed in conjunction with GIAC, on GIAC’s dyno). Certain people here have had Upsolute design a program specifically for the Stage II ZC turbos and they appear happy with this combination. I have no experience with these set-ups. However, the Stage V ZC turbos have the potential to push more air and the GIAC program designed for these turbos works well.

The only problem I know of concerning the Stage V ZC turbos is that the stock intake cannot supply them with enough air and the current GIAC program does not maximize the turbos because of the insufficient air supply. Speed Gallery is installing upgraded air intake piping on mine and their car this week and will be developing a new, revised program with GIAC based upon the additional air supply. The fuel supply may have to be upgraded as well to counter-balance the additional air. That being said, the Stage V ZC turbos work great without the upgraded intake – only horsepower junkies like me need go this route.

The only other issue I have heard of concerning the ZC turbos is that they have to be broken in very carefully. I have heard of one or two instances where the driver failed to follow the break-in procedures, pushed the car right after getting the turbos installed, and damaged the turbos. If broken in properly, they work great (but its painful knowing you have all that power under your foot, but being unable to use it for a couple hundred miles).

BTW, the 996TT that recently beat the Enzo out West (as opposed to the upcoming Florida challenge) was running Stage V ZC turbos with the GIAC program, without the upgraded intake. The power is immense.

Hope that helps!

Craig

 

I had a lot of problems with ZC to. Mostly programming but I did find the Ceramic had peeled off after only 800 miles.

 

Thanks for the input...

 

Duane, has this been fixed wrt to the peeling? That said, have your ZC turbos worked properly at some point?

 

Don;t know I am now running Garretts.

 

I also went from Zero Clearance to Garretts. Never will know if it was the turbos or programming that did not work.

 

My current Stage 4GT setup gives you more power from stoplight to stoplight than you can control. Without Drag TA's, it is more power than regular tires can take. I have spun the tires a few times in 3rd gear at 60mph.

 

Can you post more details about the Garretts? Model, setup etc...

 

It is all standard EVO/Imagine Auto stage 4GT/R stuff. You can check out their website www.imagineauto.com or www.evoms.com. Many of the guys on this board are running the same setup.

 

I wonder if garretts can be ZC?