I have been searching these forums for like 3 days straight now and i cant find any info on this so im sorry if this is another repeat but i got a couple questions.
I hear so many people talk about how much faster the 16g from HRC spools so much faster than the t3from star... so when does your guys t3 start to spool? Is it THAT MUCH of a difference? Also, where is the best place to buy a STAR kit from? I checked out overboost.com, but is there a better site for it? Also, where can you get a upgraded DP for the star kit and does the HRC fmic work for the star kit? if not, where can i find one? Becuase i was thinking about going star stage 1, leaving out the DP and getting a 3" and getting a FMIC from somewhere else too... sorry about the long post...im just getting my turbo soon and i want it to be set up right.

Pm me I have a star stageIII kit I will sell. It is a t3/t4 turbo full boost has been between 4 and 4500rpms. It performs very well even on the street. I will sell it way cheaper than you are going to find it at other venders. I do not know how much boost you are planning on running but at 7psi It was right around 175whp, and at 15psi it was 279whp. Damb it has been awhile sence I have dynoed it and I lost all the dyno sheets. The kit is in real good condition, and you are not going to get them #'s with the stage I kit. I am selling it cuz I am making a custom turbo kit that could perform better for me at the 500hp level.. I paid 3 grand for this kit and has given me no trouble.

i have the stage 2 kit and i can tell you the turbo is okay, fmic suck big time go Hahn (fmic 400.00) and make your own ic pipes. dp...i made my own 3", one that comes in the kit requires a flex section but is good to start with. Retun line is a little better with the Hahn kit but still sucks, braided is so muchmore heat resistant. avoid overboost.com, they tend to milk you for everything you got...i am proof with my manifold. Star comes with a lifetime warrenty on the manifold and overboost charged me 500.00 since i didnt know it.

if you go stage 1 your boost is set at 5psi and max boost is 2900-3000rpms, thats what it is on mine, i fail to see anyone else is worse than me, no idea what Hahn's is. Stag 2 has same boost so you will want to get a boost controller, therefore the higher boost the higher the RPM's you will see max boost.

I would be curious to see what your selling with a stage 3 since stage 2 to stage 3 is the addition of rods and pistons and I have never seen Star sold as stage 3.

I like my starkit but thats only becaue i can weld and do all my own work. If i couldnt i would go Hahn.

Just my opinion and recommendation
Terry
96 Eagle Talon ESI....Daily driver

97 Eclipse.........

Well, you say that the turbo is "ok" but is it better than the 16g from hrc?

wel i say its ok because my standards are higher than most. yes its better than 16g which i dont think is worth the money at all if you want to make any power, thats just my feeling on it, others will disagree.

The star turbo is a floating bushing 50 a/r ratio trim "v" garrett. Now if you get the kit with the ball bearing turbo then you have a great turbo my friend and i know you will be pleased with its operation. you can buy the kit and upgrade to the ballbearing so if you go star then look into that.

for reference the star stage 2 with a good fuel system (8injector or Megasquirt), rods and pistons, you can go 10-20psi safely, my thoughts are to look for a different turbo for above 15psi but i play things on the cautious side. above 15psi you can monitor air intake temp to see when the turbo becomes not so efficient since it creates heat.

It all depends what you want out of the kit. if you want to bolt on and go the buy a Hahn kit since they are simpler and upgrading can be easier. If you plan to slowly go all out and keep the car, learn all you can about turboing your 420a then star may be a good canidate for you. Star has no customer support so if you are happy with us being you support that is something to think about as well.

Terry

96 Eagle Talon ESI....Daily driver

97 Eclipse.........

Awsome, thanks a lot! Does it really only put 180WHP at 7psi?! thats crazy to me.. i guess all the numbers dsm tuners and the websites that sell the kits are a little off? diamondstarspecialties.com says that 4psi puts out 175whp... what are you runnin with your star kit?

i was at 7psi but dropped to 5 because my rising rate sfmu failed and no longer rises,5psi is beginignto melt shit so i dont even drive it. after i rebuilt the turbo the car has seen 5 good days on the road....not a daily driver and i work too much overtime. car has been down for the 3" dp build, ic pipes were rewelded and repositioned, manifold+dp+turbo were ceramic coated that was 2 months in itself. i cant tell you where xpsi will be for you. on a stock bottom end its not safe to go over 8psi. unless you plan to run a wideband and egt and datalogging software with a 8 injector setup and precise tuning dont go over 8psi. if do plan to tune the thing perfect then 10psi is ok but the tuning cannot have one error on it otherwise detonation is soooo easy and its over.

my 96 was at 5psi for 2 years

the 97 was bought this spring for a project car and all parts were transferred from the 96 to 97. the 97 is getting ready to be tore down again for 8 injector install, safc removal, and a hell of a list of shit going in! I wont say till its all installed.

the eclipse may get put on the back burner for a year while i wait for a 2.4 possibly and build up my antique mopar (380whp aint enough)

Terry

96 Eagle Talon ESI....Daily driver

97 Eclipse.........

yeah my #'s may be a little different cuz I have a built bottom end with lower compresion. The intercooler is very good for what you would probably would be using it for. I am not really that impressed with the intercoolers hahn has. I am looking for a bigger intercooler and I will not be using one from hahn. I did order the ball bearing option and I do know that I did not get it. I have braided lines all but the oil drain line that is not real hard to do. I would take that turbo for sure over a 16g it is not even a comparison. The turbo would be really sweet if it had a stage III wheel instead of the stage one. The turbo is very efficiant from 12 to 15 psi. I have run 12.8, and the kit has produced over 340hp for me. I have a sfmu and an AFC that I will not be using for I am going to switch over to the portfueler. That is up for grabs as well..

If you're not to savvy working on your own car and tuning, I'd highly suggest you go with something from HRC. AFAIK, you get all the Star parts and you have know what to do with them. Posting in here or searching and bookmarking a few threads in advance will be your best friends with a Star Kit.

As for which turbo is "better," it's up to you. You may desire the most top end. You may want fastest spool up, but until you rebuild the bottm end and know how to tune it properly to keep from nuking the block all FATF style, you're going to be running around 5-7psi with either turbo. I wouldn't worry about maxing out the top end if I were you. If you have cash in hand, then get the best deal you can get for your money, but if you have to save up for a bit longer, I'd go with HRC if you're new to this. There is nothing wrong with their product. As with any product or service, there is always someone who got a glitch, as you can never please everyone all the time, but there's a reason why the first word in 420a turbocharging is Hahn Racecraft.

"By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is easiest;
and third by experience, which is the bitterest." - Confucius