Product Review: Blitz Turbo Kit

[PHOENIX]

Please post your personal experiences with this product and the company who built and sold it to you. Pros and Cons will help fellow mr2 owners in the market for this type of product make there purchasing decision. Posting pictures installed in this section would be great.

Blitz
http://www.blitz-uk.co.uk/what.asp?page=WIZARD (mr2 not mr2 turbo)

Unfortunately I couldn’t find any information on this kit. The picture is obviously a generic pic considering the manifold that is shown.

[Vaeth]

Product: Blitz K1-380v Bolt-on turbo

Comments:
I bought this turbo second hand on Yahoo! Auctions. Unfortunately, this turbo has been discontinued, and hence is only available second hand. The turbo is a complete bolt-on turbo for the Gen III (not sure about Gen. I and II), and is rated at 380ps (~368hp).

Looking at the turbo, it is physically UN-impressive. It looks very much like a CT20b, just without the "Toyota" casting. The size and shape are almost identical (not surprising, since it's a bolt on turbo). The exhaust housing of the turbo came with a port for an EGT probe though, which could be useful if I had an EGT probe.

Performance wise, I am COMPLETELY blown away. I am blown away not so much by the power it produces (since my car at the time of writing this review is badly tuned, and can't make use of the power I am sure this turbo can provide), but by the responsiveness and total LACK OF LAG of this turbo.

This turbo outspools the CT20b. This turbo outspools the CT20b. This turbo outspools the CT20b.

Yes, I thought it was worth repeating that this turbo outspools the CT20b. My CT20b used to start spooling at around 2800~3000 RPM. Around this engine speed, I would be close to or at 0.0bar (i.e. atmospheric). The Blitz K1-380v however, begins spooling at 2300 RPM. I almost cannot help but boost even when driving sedately. Coming out of corners, I am already spooling and in boost. This must be what an N/A car feels like.

Noise-wise, this turbo is louder than the CT20b. You can definitely here in screaming once you hit 4500+ RPM. At lower RPMs, it has a nice whirling/induction noise that isn't too annoying at all....apart from the fact that you'll be hearing it constantly since it begins spooling so early.

All in all, I am very happy with this turbo. I will post a more complete and accurate review once my Power FC is properly tuned, and report back hopefully with a dyno graph. Please stay tuned.

--V

[PHOENIX]

that is probably the best review i have ever read, nice vaeth

[Redlyne_mr2]

Hmm i wonder if just the turbo can still be source...is it internally gated?

[Vaeth]

It is internally gated, yes. I think that is a requirement if it is to be a bolt-on turbo. As for sourcing the turbo, I was informed that Blitz Japan no longer makes them, so if Blitz japan no longer makes them, I'm not sure who else would be. AFAIK, you will have to find one 2nd hand. They aren't very common either.

[DavidV]

I had this turbo too (Blitz K1-380v). It is a CT20b with KKK internals. Mine gave up the ghost after 1,500 miles, unfortunately. That being said, as Vaeth pointed out, it is a fast spooling turbo and on my car, was good for 290 whp. Since it is a bolt on, it can be used with the stock cat, although I ran the Blitz exhaust diffuser (cat replacement elbow) at the time.

My main complaint was the fact that no one in the U.S. could rebuild it and that I got zero support from Blitz U.S. on it. Other than that, great turbo and lots of fun. Should have been more reliable than the Ct20b too, since the blades were steel as opposed to ceramic, but in my case, it died way too early (still not sure why, but might have been oil starvation from a bent oil return pipe).



-- DavidV