Ball Bearing Turbos?

[KevinG]

Could anyone more knowledgeable than me give a brief overview of Ball bearing technology and the associated advantages and disadvantages. This application is for a street driven low annual mileage car( >1000 miles a year) Thanks in advance. KPG

 

[Russ Merritt]

The only disadvantage is it costs more. I drive mine on the street as much as possible. Jack Cotton distributes T-netics BB turbos. Call him. 413 789 0531

 

[KevinG]

And just how expensive might that be? Dare I ask? Thanks

 

[turbo buicks]

example: T-72 BB Q-trim, .81 housing is $2000 from turbonetics and about $1500 from a dealer.

 

[turbo buicks]

http://www.geocities.com/rad87gn/tech/bbturbos.html

 

[Russ Merritt]

I'd probably go with a BB stage 5 on yours but with bigger injectors. Not sure but probably 1400$. You'll need a wastegate actuator for it too so might be a bit more.

 

[d0n_3d]

ball bearing turbos are supposed to spool up almost instantly...i've never had one...but i mean with the right converter you can spool almost any size non bb turbo instantly just as well...i MIGHT be in the market for one, but i don't want to spend gobs of money...you can get a PT-61 turbo (non-bb) for $675 from PTE and can run low 11's, high 10's all day long with the right combo...i think ball bearing turbos are a little overrated myself

 

[KevinG]

Thanks for the response. Any converter change is out of the question. No one ever said the cutting edge of technology was going to be cheap. The reason I am asking is although my car runs and drives excellent ( 12.6 on street tires) I feel the bottom end is sluggish. I am just looking for a more responsive throttle on the low side and felt a quick spooling BB might be the answer. How are the BB lubricated? Thanks again. KPG

 

[turbo buicks]

BB is lubricated the same as std bearing. i agree with don, BB have been hyped a lot lately but i guess if you want a tighter converter and a big turbo its the way to go.

 

[salvageV6]

If you are keeping the D5 get dual ball bearing.

Jack can get you an Innovative Turbo as well.

3200 stall with a GT70.

Takes less oil than the stock type setup due to the bearings used, I also filtered my oil at the turbo feed line.

Water cooling is recommended for the dual ball bearings since one is on the exhaust side.

Not sure what would be recommended with a D5 converter maybe a 65 dual ball bearing would work.

Jack also has some new Garrett turbos up there, I'd call him to discuss what you want to do.

Great on the street.

Dual ball bearings are just over $2K I think, I got mine on sale and a great deal from Jack Cotton.

 

[GNSCOTT]

...but i mean with the right converter you can spool almost any size non bb turbo instantly just as well...

Very true at the track (as long as you have enough time to spool it on a pro tree, and don't mind putting added stress and heat on the motor and transmission ) but on the street more stall means more heat on the transmission, a crappier ride and crappier fuel economy. Look at Salvagev6's car. I helped talk him into buying it (I owned 3 - 66, 70, 80). He was very skeptical, especially with buyng a 70bb, stock unported heads, and only a 3200 stall. Lets just say he was a beleiver after he took the car out for a spin.

I think its been proven that they work, even though everyone at a certain turbo vendor said they didn't (i can dig up the old posts I copied and pasted from 2 years ago), so much so that Garrett has now jumped on the band wagon and will be making bb turbos for them. People will not waste $500 for this option in the numbers they have for years now if it had a high failure rate, or didn't work. Its been asked in every bb turbo thread that i've seen. Who had a bb turbo, and went back to a regular and was happier with the latter?

Bottom line is it comes down to money. If its in the budget, it works. To pay an extra $500 to $700 for putting that less of stress on the driveline, or if its a street car, to save gas, IMHO is worth every penny, and compared to what we spend on other parts for our cars, is literally a drop in the bucket for some.

 

[Taffy]

http://www.limitengineering.com/Leaflets3_2.jpg

 

[JRGN]

I have a 66bb on the rosewood and wouldn't go back to the standard turbo,the bb might and does cost a little more but what I was looking for quick spoolup and not have to run a high stall since this is a street car, I am running a 9/11 3200 stall and still getting over 26 mpg on the hwy, the car has run a best of 11.2 at 122 with 23 lbs of boost with a crappy sixty foot,so in my opinion I like the BB turbo and Jack Cotton is the man ( in my book) to talk to about the BB turbo. HTH jr.

 

[Reginald West]

Buy one Dual Ball BEARING TURBO and you will never own anything but a BALL BEARING.They do spool fast.