TA 49 or PTE 51???

[TIMS87GN]

I am looking forward to upgrading from a stock turbo this x-mas. Originally I was thinking of the TA 49. From all I've read it is a reliable combo. But, the other day a friend mentioned that he has a PTE 51 that was on a car that went into the 11s(or maybe it was high 10s). I admit that I am real curious about buying it for $500. I have seen some treads about PTE 51s self-distructing which concerns me. I would like some honest input on this. I don't want to throw away $500. My car has 101K on it now with good compression, see sig for the rest. Thank guys.

 

[86brick]

Get the TA-49 or a TE-44.... both will work great with the 2800 stall converter (some have said that they needed more than a 2800 stall for the PT-51) and from what I've seen there is NO difference in performance between the 44/49 turbos and the PT-51 turbo.... Also, the PT-51's exhaust wheel seems to have some kind of problem (ask REDS HOT AIR) because they seem to come apart when pushed and the 44/49 turbos don't have this problem and many guys are in the 11's with the 44/49 turbos.... Just my .02
HTH

 

[TIMS87GN]

Thanks 86 Brick, So there is no difference in performance? I would need more stall? I would like to go 11's but have to go through the 12's first. Sounds like I should stick with the TA 49. Thanks man!

 

[UNGN]

Both the TA49 and the TE44 will go easy 11's on a stock longblock/stock converter T-R with no downsides.

Even if a TE51 went high 10's on a friends car, it wasn't the turbo that made the car run high 10's. It was the thousands of dollars in other mods that did it. Mid 11's and high 10's are a world apart in the amount of money you have to spend.

 

[TIMS87GN]

Thanks UNGN, I don't plan on a rebuild anytime soon (no money stashed away) so I won't be seeing 11's for sure. I would like to hit 12's sometime next year. The car spools like mad as it is, I assume the TA49 will spool quickly also? My biggest problem right now is holding boost on the line and not smoking the **** out of the radials I have. I need softer tires! Thanks for the replies!

 

[J Banning]

I'm very happy with my 51.

A friend of mine has a TA60 that he seems to like as well. He's running 009's, a red stripe convertor, and a 3" houston DP. There are NO drivability issues with this car. He drove it to BG the last two years in a row (700+ miles) and got 20+ mpg.

-Banning.

 

[bob86gn]

I am also happy with my 51. It has about 5K on it and about 50 low 12/high 11 passes without a problem.