I'm pretty sure an anti-lag system isn't allowed in Street Touring, and maybe not in Street Modified.

Actually, IMO, the 6.5 TME turbo may not be the absolute fastest spooling, factory sourced, Evo VIII turbo. I am willing to bet that the JDM VIII RS turbo is probably faster spooling than the TME 6.5 turbocharger.

Why so, you might ask? The reason is that the TME turbo was configured with the looser 10.5cm turbine housing. whereas, by contrast, the JDM RS VIII turbo is configured with the tighter 9.8 cm housing. Both turbos are built with TiAl turbine wheels and identical compressor sides.

So, at least in my opinion, the JDM VIII RS/9.8 turbo should, all else remaining equal, prove to be faster spooling, and exhibit superior transient response, when compared to the 6.5 TME/10.5 turbo.

I thought the JDM RS had the magnesium compressor that likes to blow up?

I was starting to think ALL the lightweight rotating assemblies liked to break.

_Some_ Evo IX GT and RS turbos have the magnesium compressor wheel, but it was exclusive to the IX compressor housing. Sparky is referring to the JDM VIII RS which has both the titanium turbine as well as a 9.8cm^2 housing.

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EDIT: Sparky: Some folks here have even sourced the smaller 9.0cm housing in search of ultimate spool. That project didn't live very long as it resulted in very restricted top-end power.

It's not really surprising is it? The engineers design to a load requirement and make the part as light (and as cheap) as possible to support that load...

Yes, I think Forced Performance had the 9.0cm housing for a while. They made it sound like it hardly sacrificed any top end, but of course said nothing about its' life expectancy.

I'm sure it would last longer if you stick to stock boost, but outside of Stock or Street Touring autocross, nobody does that, right?

So, the standard material (inconel) rotating assembly sounds like a good idea for people like me who have to try a car for 5 or 10 years to decide if they like it or not. :-)

Found my answer...
One place, anyway.

http://www.owendevelopments.co.uk/pr...bId=-1&imgId=b

They're in the UK, and according to someone on the SoCalEvo forum they retrofit a turbocharger with ball bearings for about $900.

But, they will only do it on a brand-new turbo, which they sell for about $1800 (USD). So, that's about $2700 for a stock-size turbo with a BB center.

I was thinking stock turbo + BB couldn't be very expensive, but having done the math on this setup, I now think the HKS 7460R is a much better deal.