Kinugawa 20g turbo review

[Tom N]

Couldnt really find any reviews on these turbos on SR motors so I am making one.

After looking into several turbo upgrades for the car I decided I wanted to stick with the factory T2 platform. The GT2871r seems to be the choice that so many go with. I`m sure there a great reason but I didn’t want to do that. Having been a DSM guy for the last 15 some years I contacted Robert from Forced Performance to see if I can get a FP green or even a 20g in a T2 housing. He didn’t have the stuff to do it. I was about to just buy the Tomie M7960 as it is a TD06 SL2 20g in a 8cm housing. Well I am told by a local guy about Kinugawa turbos and that they sell MHI style turbos in a Nissan bolt on turbine housing. So I do some reading into them and learn that Kinugawa is a basically Kamak turbos from Tiawan and are pretty popular over seas and are becoming popular here in the Subaru world. Found many people using them on Subaru boards with lots of positive results.
So after several emails ( which they answered promptly ) one of which was to confirm they do balance these turbos, I decide to give them a try and order their TD06 SL2 20g in 8cm housing with 3in anti surge cover.
It left Tiawan on Oct 2nd and Arrived at my house with signature delivery on Oct 6th.
That’s some fast delivery.





Came packaged well and looks good so far. Comes with coolant and oil lines using banjo fitting for all except oil return (obviously)
Also came with multi layer steel gaskets as well as new studs and bolts for the manifold and turbine housing.
And also a free keychain flashlight.

















After removing the stock manifold/turbo/02 housing I got to enjoy dealing with nuts that were hit with a welder on the turbine housing to manifold.





So new turbo is connected to the manifold and 02 housing and going back in the car. Install was not bad. I will say the lines you get are very much so universal in that the oil return pipe is too long and I needed to cut it down, but it worked after shortening it.
Both coolant lines are longer than they need to be and the size of them back the one that bolts to the block a bit difficult as where the lines screws on the the banjo fitting wants to hit against raised areas on the block when tightening the bango bolt down. I had to have the line sitting in this one specific direction to work. But all the lines supplied do work.







Took the car to the dyno Saturday morning so Martin could reflash the ecu. Car would smoke some at first ( oil smoke ) when going wot but it seemed to start to go away after a few pulls. Only problem we had was the little internal gate cant keep up and when the boost hits it starts to jump up and down especial above 18 psi.
If we turn the gain all the way down then it would smooth out some but we lose the benefit of a electronic boost control. You can see on this picture I took ater a few runs how the HP jumps up and down early on.
So next up is locating a S15 manifold to put a external on.
Car made 346/348 at 18psi




I will update this as it goes whether its good or bad.
Planing to hit the track this coming Thursday. Car went 12.48 @ 113 on the stock turbo last week. We`ll see how it does on this new turbo.

[Tom N]

Forgot to mention that the stock S15 turbo at this same boost level and same dyno made 291hp.

[antigravity]

Just curious, do you see any boost in first gear, and what rpm does full boost hit in 2nd? Thanks bro..

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by antigravity

Just curious, do you see any boost in first gear, and what rpm does full boost hit in 2nd? Thanks bro..

Forgot to add that also. Thanks for asking.
I have not paid attention to first gear but it must build boost as it blows the tires away.
In 2nd going wot at 2500 rpms it hits full boost right around 4k. Definitely more laggy than the T28 but lots more top end.

[s13silvia123]

the EVO guys seem to love these turbos in which you can costume them as well. I practically read almost over 3/4 of the thread to understand what was going on.
you can also refer to my link below from the EVO forum

[240sxfan6882]

The is the first review that I see from these turbos so far. Good work and keep us updated!

Kamak sells quite a bit of direct-bolt on turbos for the SR20 in tons of sizes with billet-wheel options and even some t3 flanged ones.

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by antigravity

Just curious, do you see any boost in first gear, and what rpm does full boost hit in 2nd? Thanks bro..

I took the car for a drive last night and tested rolling into it in 1st. Couldn't tell you when it hits full boost but boost controller read 18psi peak.

[Tom N]

The oil return pipe that it comes with doesn't really work on a LHD car.
I explained the situation with them and they sent me out a replacement one with a 45 degree angle that should work. They mailed it USPS priority no charge. So far experience with them has been very good.

Unfortunately the next test n tune session at the track isn't for a couple weeks.

[Tom N]

Track finally reopened for test n tunes. Unfortunately it was packed. Only got 3 runs.
I really need a 2 step. Bogged the car all 3 times. Car just doesn't launch like the little fast spooling S15 turbo. Next time out I'm going to try slipping the clutch a lot more.
Any ways with everything the same as with the S15 turbo, same boost level ( 18psi ), timing , fuel etc the 20g ran 5 mph faster in the 1/4 while bogging the launch and is picking up 26mph in the back half.

Swapping out the stock injectors tomorrow and then taking the car to Martin to retune it.

[rwtf]

I feel like i'm about to shit my pants.

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by rwtf

I feel like i'm about to shit my pants.

Thank you for sharing.

[ultimateirving]

That's awesome man good to hear you picked up a lot of top end. What et did you run with you bad launches

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by ultimateirving

That's awesome man good to hear you picked up a lot of top end. What et did you run with you bad launches

12.603 with 2.210 60ft
12.435 with 2.057 60ft
Can't find the 3rd slip. I think the clutch was slipping a little on the last run.

Need a 2 step and some 1.8 60fts.

[ultimateirving]

Originally Posted by Tom N

12.603 with 2.210 60ft
12.435 with 2.057 60ft
Can't find the 3rd slip. I think the clutch was slipping a little on the last run.

Need a 2 step and some 1.8 60fts.

Wow if you can cut a Better 60' no doubt you be close to 12 flat

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by ultimateirving

Wow if you can cut a Better 60' no doubt you be close to 12 flat

116 mph on a bogged launch should hit 11's with a good 60ft.
My GVR4 ran 11.4 @ 119 with good 60ft. And that was with a 16g

[ultimateirving]

Originally Posted by Tom N

116 mph on a bogged launch should hit 11's with a good 60ft.
My GVR4 ran 11.4 @ 119 with good 60ft. And that was with a 16g

That's pretty good. I haven't taken mine to the strip in two years since it was stock back the.

I try to be conservative. TO many bench racers out there with rediculous numbers

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by ultimateirving

I try to be conservative. TO many bench racers out there with rediculous numbers

No doubt about that. Good 60fts are much harder to come by in this platform.
Having raced DSM's for the past 15 years I'm a little spoiled in that department.

[Tom N]

Put the new injectors in the car today and had the ecu reflashed.
25 psi it made 392hp 412 tq.

It really needs a external gate though. As soon as I get a external set up on we will fine tube it. Still a good amount if power in this turbo.

[jr_ss]

Tom, can you throw up your dyno sheet for the kiddies?

Also, just to note, Tom has a Methanol injector system, so he can dip into the higher boost pressures.

[Tom N]

Ill have to see about getting the dyno sheet. I had him print it but I forgot to grab it.

Yes the car is on pump gas with alcohol injection.

Made a pass at the track at 22psi. Turned the boost down a little to start with.
Went 11.905 @ 117.90
Clutch us slipping. Car reeked of burnt clutch when I got back to pits.
So no reason to turn it back up any right now. Very pleased so far.

[Tom N]

Let the car/clutch cool for awhile and made one more pass before they closed.
60ft wasn't as good as the track prep had gone away but I did get a new best mph.
12.004 @ 119.76

[ultimateirving]

Thats bad ass man! great times for that thing.
What clutch you using for those passes?

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by ultimateirving

Thats bad ass man! great times for that thing.
What clutch you using for those passes?

It's a Silkroad kit that has a full face disk and lightened flywheel.

[RurouniMidnight]

Dang nice numbers and traps! I've been eyeing their 18g 8cm

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by RurouniMidnight

Dang nice numbers and traps! I've been eyeing their 18g 8cm

I can't speak for longevity yet but their customer service has been top notch and their 20g performers as good as any MHI 20g I've ever used. Love the hard hit of the 20g.
Going to continue pushing this one a bit then will have them swap their billet wheel onto it and compare the difference.

[s13silvia123]

Tom, this should help you a bit to understand what some inputs people have about the billet wheel.

Kinugawa 25g turbo thread - evolutionm.net

[Livinstrong]

After almost buying a 90 GSX, I learned quite a bit about MHI turbos. Nice to see there is a company hat produces them with "our" flange. How muh did the turbo cost if you don't mind me asking?

[Tom N]

Originally Posted by Livinstrong

After almost buying a 90 GSX, I learned quite a bit about MHI turbos. Nice to see there is a company hat produces them with "our" flange. How muh did the turbo cost if you don't mind me asking?

Turbocharger SR20DET CA180DET S14 S15 3" Anti-Surge TD06SL2-20G 8cm / 5 Bolt / T25 Internal Gate

[Livinstrong]

Originally Posted by Tom N

Turbocharger SR20DET CA180DET S14 S15 3" Anti-Surge TD06SL2-20G 8cm / 5 Bolt / T25 Internal Gate

Interesting. I'm curious how it would perform compared to a BorgWarner of similar size

[new2sr20]

Tom- Wish I would have known you were looking for a 20G. I have a Forced Performance 20G they made for the SR a while back with 3000 miles on the turbo.