whats the main difference between K16/K04s and plain janes? Is it just the size of the compression wheel? Can a stock 2.7T engine handle K16/K04s without upgrading rods, cams?

 

Yes its the K04 housing with different internals, just like all hybrids. Sometimes the inside of the housing needs to be machined to fit a larger wheel. It seems people like the RS6/Ko4 hybrids more than the others, but i dont think any would require you to upgrade your rods or cams.

They would bolt up with normal k04 inlets but you would need more than an OTS k04 fueling kit (injectors, fuel pump, maybe MAF, custom tune). I wouldnt use piggy pipes, only good aftermarket downpipes and may as well spend a couple hundred more for electric exhaust cutouts. And definitly not stock intercoolers either, ER, AWE, FMIC

thats my .02, also with the way KKK/ BW is these days if you rebuild/hybridize some blown k04's theyle probably be more reylable than NEW k04's

 

interesting. What companies like awe, asp, vast sell K16/K04s? Would you have order them directly from borg warner?

 

Hybrids are something you need to have made for you specifically. I think ASP MIGHT do it, but dont quote me on that. Blouch will make hybrids of all different kinds, http://www.blouchturbo.com/ IF you can get in contact with them. Blouch said on their website that they will only modify NEW k04's so finding some cheap blown ones and having them spiffed up is out of the question from them. K04 prices are allready climbing, to me modifying them might not be worth it.

Things to think about, there are lots of different k04 hybrids. I think k16 comes from the porsche 993/996 turbos, and the K24 is larger im not sure what car it comes from. Then the Rs6 wheel is obv from the rs6 turbo. Depending on what one you get these turbos may start to push the limits of your stock connecting rods if you run them to capacity. Most people find that that line is around 500 HP. You have to decide if theres room in your budget and if you plan on going that far, beating the car hard and often, or using racegas. Hybrids are really on the cusp.

So if you spend $2500 on new K04's then $1000+ modifying them you COULD just get some JHM modified RS6 turbos which have a larger housing than the k04's and will make more power. JHM/Vast has modified them to run on the same k04 inlet pipes, you just need to take your aftermarket downpipes, have the flange cut off, and a JHM supplied one welded on. And all thats $3333, could be cheaper and more powerfull than the hybrids. The same fueling BS and good intercoolers and youve got a nice set up. And again this is another one of those setups where alot of people will tell you that you dont need connecting rods, but others will. Its on the line.

 

thats what Im most concerned about. If I get RS6 turbos I would for sure get rods, cams and forged pistons before hand. I have blown a motor before and it is not fun. I dont want to take a chance at all after all that **** I went thru with my B6 A4.