ORIGINAL: TomRitt

Turbo's

K04-015
The only turbo that will bolt up to a 1.8t with no modifications is the k04-015. This turbo is available from rippinralf on vwvortex as well as www.ecstuning.com. The k04 is great set-up when supplied with all the supporting mods. The regular bolt on kit available from Awe is a great bolt up kit that is very reliable. This with a proper exhaust system will make around 230 crank hp and 265ft/@ crank. This turbo is very drivable and reliable, and has massive amts of torque. If you are into autocross this is the turbo for you, and depending on your driving skills it will get you into the mid 14's.
Once you have the k04 you can expand on it by adding 310cc injectors, a 3 bar or adjustable fuel pressure regulator, and a front mount intercooler, as well as a giacg chip pc-16 file if your 97-99.5, or giac's j31 chip file if you are 00..?. These both increase boost and advance timing, although the pc-16 only increases boost to 19psi, while the j31 increases boost to 27psi. This raises power outputs to around 250 crank hp and over 300ft/lbs tq although some people have squeezed out a little more power. With these chip files, 1/4 times in the high 13's is possible for a good driver.

Another plus to this turbo is that is appears completly stock so the dealer will not know unless they drive it, also after first install you become immediatly addicted to the beautiful sound of the turbo spooling as its much louder than the k03

GT28RS*
This turbo requires many parts to work properly. These parts included
Turbo
Manifold
vr6 MAF
440cc injectors
walbro or equivalent fuel pump
adjstable fuel pressure regulator
downpipe
test pipe
custom intake piping
programming
gaskets and misc nuts/bolts
oil/coolant lines
fmic
clutch
vag-com


This kit is not for the unknowledgable as it is not a bolt on kit and requires alot of fiddling, tuning, and tlc to get running properly. Even if you buy atp's kit, you will still need a lot of other parts bringing the total cost up to b/w $4-6k depending on what you get. After 2 months of messing around with maf sizes and fuel problems I finally got this running, and was actually scared.

The turbo spools much smooth than the k04 and even a chipped k03. It doesn't have the torque spike of the smaller turbos making it much more drivable. However the first time i took it out was on a wet road with winter tires, I went wot in first spun all tires in first, then into second, and spun all tires the second half of second getting sideways. I was amazed...and that was at 18psi. I also took down my friends heavily modded wrx only 14psi, after getting beat several months earlier with my pc-16 set-up. This turbo will get you into a lot more trouble on the highway as it pulls well into the redline in any gear, and its not as fun as a k04 just driving around town, but its a great turbo for the 1.8t.

Currently for n-dbw the only programming out is atp's beta file although the final release should be out soon, also upsolute is an option. For dbw the only option is Upsolute. In the coming months more programming will be coming out I'm sure. This turbo can make from 270awhp to 340awhp, all depending on tuning and boost levels..both numbers on pump gas. It will also make around 300 ft/lbs to the wheels. Times range from 12.4 to low 13's depending on driving ability

Atp's kit comes with the "quick spool" which is the .64 a/r exhaust housing, while you can buy the .86 a/r exhaust housing which spools slightly slower but make more hp.

GT2871*
This turbo will bolt onto the gt28rs kit with no mods and is capable of about another 50whp with the smaller .64 a/r exhaust housing. This turbo produces about the maximum power for the stock longblock, and in my opinion is the ideal turbo. I have no experience with this turbo but I will be switching from the gt28rs .86 to the gt2871 .64. Although the gt2871 makes more hp and is bigger it doesnt small much slower than the gt28rs .86 dues to it having a less agressive hot side. Atp has stated that this turbo

GT3071r*
I have no personal experience with this turbo but it is easily possible to make 400awhp with this turbo. However this turbo will most likly destroy a stock long block. A built motor is required for the this turbo. This turbo will also bolt up the gt28rs hardware except for the intake system. The gt28rs and gt2871 both have a 3" comp inlet, while the gt3071r has a 4"comp inlet.


*These turbo's are all ball bearing turbo's which spool much smoother and quiter than journal bearing turbos such as gt30, gt35 turbos as well as t3/t4's