Help with turbo selection

[Crazi]

I am in the market for a new turbo. I wanted a TA-51 at first but then decided to get the TA-54. I have a full weight car with 2800 Xtreme converter. I am going to 65 lb inj and getting a shortblock from RCA. I have self ported heads and am getting the powerplate.

Which turbo would get me into the low elevens, have enough left to go 10's (if I am brave enough) and still be streetable with a 2800 or 3000 stall converter? Do I need a bigger TB?

 

[86brick]

For a 2800 stall converter a TA54 might be a bit laggy, but it should definately be enough turbo to run low 11's with some room to run 10's. If the converter was around 3200 stall or maybe a 3500 I'd suggest a TE45a or T63E cause you have good size injectors (65's) and IMO a 45 or 63 turbo would get you low 11's to high 10's easier than a 54. Just my .02

 

[c&cgn]

A guy in my club went 10.92 with a PTE54 and a bone-stock long block. He had lightened up the car some but either way he did it with no motor work at all. Go with the TE housing if you are not concerned about looking stock. You may want to consider bumping up the stall to 3200+.

 

[turboost]

I think you could run that turbo and converter together with no problem if you run high boost (~20psi) and have a good tune. I bet it would be pretty easy if you had a translator + or ME.

 

[frankg]

Go with a TE-61 Frank

 

[86brick]

I've heard that the TE-61 is basically the same turbo as a PT53 or PT54 turbo. Is this true? They seem to make about the same #'s and are both capable of mid 10's, but I wonder if the TE61 would work better with a 2800 stall converter than the 53/54 turbos? TIA

 

[Tubo Boy]

can a t45a be run on the street with a lot of converter and unported heads and stock cam? What would u do first heads or cam?

 

[Crazi]

So will a 2800 be livable with the TA54?

I care about street manners but would rather get a 53/54 then a 49 and run less boost to get the same numbers out of the car. Thanks

PS.

I have ported and smoothed my TB so do I really need an upgraded one?