3 or 4 bolt turbo mount

Discussion in 'Turbo's and turbo related parts' started by supercoupe5, Feb 19, 2007.

  1. supercoupe5 New Member

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    i see on here and on some websites that there are 3 and 4 bolt flanges for the turbos on these cars. is there an advantage to switching to a 4 bolt over the 3 bolt that comes stock on gn's. guess what i am looking for is the good the bad and the ugly.
  2. RUQWKNF KEEPER OF SECRETS

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    3 bolt vs 4 bolt. A long debated topic.
    In a nut shell, here's the good and bad.

    3-bolt style

    Garrett 3-bolt turbine housing on a TA-49 turbo.
    [IMG]

    PTE 3-bolt turbine housing.
    [IMG]

    Factory located 3-bolt turbo with a 3" Terry Houston downpipe attached.
    [IMG]

    Factory style 3-bolt turbo with external wastegate mounted off the downpipe.
    [IMG]


    3-bolt good,
    Direct bolt on replacement for all 86-87 Turbo Buicks and TTAs. Largest bolt on 3-bolt turbo available without having to change around a lot of stuff is a PT76 GT-Q. Uses the factory style downpipe flange for stock downpipe, Terry Houston style, or external wastegate mounted onto the downpipe style. Factory heat shield will fit over even the PT76 GT-Q.

    3 -bolt bad,
    Limited flow capabilities once you start looking to make over 975 fwhp. GT-Q is currently the largest turbine wheel option available. Back pressure can become an issue when trying to hit the elusive 975 fwhp mark. Wastegate hole will need to be ported if wanting to run high hp and high boost levels with a standard Internal wastegate style downpipe, in order to maintain boost control. To anyone that knows how to recognize turbos, the larger 70 series turbos would frighten most.



    4-bolt style

    [IMG]
    PT88 Stage II setup with external wastegate and V-band style downpipe.

    [IMG]
    GT42 series turbo on Stage II with external wastegate and v-band style downpipe.

    4-bolt good,
    Tremendous flow capability when using the T4 Tangential style turbine housing. Significantly out flows the 3-bolt T3 style housing on 800+ hp applications. Less back pressure at high boost than the 3-bolt. Turbo selection and hp capabilities far exceed the currently available 3-bolt turbos. You can get a GT4788 with a T4 style turbine housing that will support close to 1300 fwhp.

    4-bolt bad,
    Requires the use of an external wastegate that will need to be mounted either onto the crossover pipe, or off the up-pipe from the header. Requires specific headers or at least a 3 to 4 bolt adapter flange. Will not work with internally wastegated downpipes. Requires a different style v-band clamped downpipe. If you go larger than a PT76 GT-S, you will need custom air intake piping as most turbos larger than the PT76 have 5" inlets. Higher than 4000 stall converters are required to properly spool up non ball bearing turbos larger than a GT4276, even no Stage II applications. Factory heat shield will not work and on larger Medium framed turbos, and will typically scare the poop out of most on lookers.

    Hope this helps a little.

    Patrick
  3. 86brick It's just a V6 Brick.....

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    Good work Patrick!

    Awesome little write-up on the differences between the 3 and 4-bolt turbos... Great use of pics as well!:cool: This might make for a good sticky!:D
  4. RUQWKNF KEEPER OF SECRETS

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    Thanks 86brick.
    Just trying to help.

    Patrick
  5. RobV6 New Member

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    Jeez I learned more on this reply. Than any I could remeber.Oh there was one.Thanks for input photos made it really work. JMO
  6. RobV6 New Member

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    And you always do. I love toread your answers. I learn.
    Isn't this what it's about. Thanks for inputs
  7. Dr. Jeckel New Member

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    What about sealing of the turbo to header, which is easier/harder to get a good seal on it and keep it?

    Thanks, James.
  8. RUQWKNF KEEPER OF SECRETS

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    Technically, they should both seal just fine when used with a copper gasket and some copper high temp rtv. The T4 would have more clamping force due to the 4 bolts vs 3.
    Just my O2s worth.

    Patrick
  9. Dewey Resident Smartass

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    He said....poop......:eek: :D
  10. jarheadcmchnj New Member

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    You mentioned an adaptor to go from 3 bolt to 4.Do you know where to get one? Thanks, Dan
  11. RUQWKNF KEEPER OF SECRETS

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    Precision should have some left on the shelf.

    PTE part number 074-1017, 3-bolt to T4 4-bolt adapter inlet flange. Last price I had was $53.99.

    219-996-7832 ask for Pete.

    HTH

    PatricK
  12. jasjamz Heavy Street LOL

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    Will this throw off the alignment of the downpipe?
  13. Alky V6 Let's go racing, boyz!

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    Using a GT4788 with a T4 housing and a hp level of 1250hp at 45 psi boost, what kind of back pressure can be expected? At what point is it best to just go with the T6 housing?
  14. Alky V6 Let's go racing, boyz!

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    I guess this is still a grey area that people are experimenting with.
  15. gstenz New Member

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    What turbo do I have?

    I bought a "rebuilt" turbo about 4 years ago and am finally getting around to adapt it to my non-Buick engine. It was supposed to be off of a Regal but just recently someone looked at it said it was not. I have attached some pictures of it here and would appreciate any response on what it came off of. I've been out of the performance game for many years and am trying to get back into it so please excuse my ignorance.

    Thank you.
    gstenz
    000_0002.jpg

    000_0006.jpg
  16. turbonut85 Hot and Cold....

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    Unless it's off a carbed TR (78-83). I'm not 100% on those cars, but it's definately NOT off a SFI turbo regal. (84-87) HTH
  17. che8700 New Member

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    any help?????

    one question?i just bought a four bolt turbo and i was wondering if theres a adapter to make my three bolt downpipe to and four bolt.anyone know of such of thing.
  18. asloan5 Corn Fed alcoholic

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    look 7 posts above this post
  19. RobV6 New Member

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    RE:Could be an earlier carberated Turbo

    Not sure but I had one came off a turbo Riverera.Nw I'm not saying for sire. But it is not one for an 86 to 87 buick. Just don't know. Sorry.
    Would like to know. Curios...Rob
  20. gnandy Member

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