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Aftermarket turbocharger for 2011 Cruze LT

11097 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  RoninDusette
I've dug through here but most of the posts are old, so I didn't want to rekindle them. After all this time, is there a good aftermarket bolt-in turbocharger replacement for the Cruze 1.4L? Mine apparently has cracked as I'm getting the dreaded P0299 engine code and smell oil burning occasionally. If I'm going to shell out $550 on a turbocharger, I want to make sure it's the best I can buy for that price. If it has a few more ponies in there without changing anything else, I'm fine with that. It looks like a lot of the past links to aftermarket kits are dead, so I'm guessing they didn't hold up well.

Thanks for any advice you can offer,
Ed
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no.
BNR GTX14, but you'll need a tune too.
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BNR GTX14 1.4T Turbocharger Kit

Using a big ball bearing turbo requires hand built Turbo manifold which is not ideal, and no one is making them atm...
I guess I should have been more clear on my budget. $550 is a stretch so I wanted to find the best I could get for that amount or less. $2,400 isn't anywhere near my ballpark.
Just the stock one then. The exhaust manifold and turbo is cast into one assembly for the Cruze.

You may be able to pick up a low mileage one from a wrecked car from a pick and pull for $2-300.
I'm looking to design a manifold flange for the 1.4T, I was going to make a 3D model of it so anyone who has a machine shop nearby can get one made via CNC.

Going to order the exhaust manifold gasket and use that for dimensions, hoping I can print it out on my 3D printer and do a test fit before I send it out to be CNC'd.

Should be a pretty low cost for anyone wanting to make a manifold, From what I can see, bigger turbo setups (Such as Mark's) use a manifold design where Cyl 1 & 4 go into 90 deg elbows, and Cyl 2 & 3 go directly into the Collector/flange. A very simple design like that could probably be made with a MIG as well, As long as the welds are pretty much perfect.

I made this horrendously crude model in tinkercad to show what I mean: Font Auto part Metal Pipe
Waste container Cylinder
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BNR GTX14 1.4T Turbocharger Kit

Using a big ball bearing turbo requires hand built Turbo manifold which is not ideal, and no one is making them atm...
Howie at HE Performance makes custom manifolds for around $600 usd


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I'm looking to design a manifold flange for the 1.4T, I was going to make a 3D model of it so anyone who has a machine shop nearby can get one made via CNC.

Going to order the exhaust manifold gasket and use that for dimensions, hoping I can print it out on my 3D printer and do a test fit before I send it out to be CNC'd.

Should be a pretty low cost for anyone wanting to make a manifold, From what I can see, bigger turbo setups (Such as Mark's) use a manifold design where Cyl 1 & 4 go into 90 deg elbows, and Cyl 2 & 3 go directly into the Collector/flange. A very simple design like that could probably be made with a MIG as well, As long as the welds are pretty much perfect.

I made this horrendously crude model in tinkercad to show what I mean: View attachment 233842 View attachment 233850
But keep me posted on this because if it's cheaper than 600$ I may go this route and use my srt 4 Turbo I have laying around


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Just as a follow-up, shortly after I posted this, Dorman started making them for $350 (part number 667203.) I see Standard Motor Products is also making it, although higher cost than OEM right now, so why bother? Their part number TBC583. I'm holding off as long as I can to see if the Dorman one has any new-adopter issues. Since they're out of stock everywhere, that also helps me hold off. :)

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Any update on the Dorman turbo?
I am in the process of making a kit (possibly 2) for swapping a t3/t4 turbo. I am in the process of waiting for a couple of things, but in the end the kit will come with the manifold, gaskets, all of the hardware, oil and coolant lines and any associated piping. The other one that I am trying to design will come with everything BUT the manifold, as it's meant to use the stock manifold with NO CUTTING OR WELDING. Yes. I said it. In hypothesis (not theory), it should work, but in practice we will see. I figure I am not going to wait forever for someone to come out with a manifold, and if my design(s) work, then I will start selling them hopefully in the next couple of months after some testing and reworking, but yeah. I have been waiting 2 years for something, and I am just tired of waiting. Most that I have talked to have NO intention of making an aftermarket manifold, because they can likely make more money selling modified or like-stock ones because of the configuration of the manifold and integration of the exhaust housing to the turbo. I will, hopefully, remedy that for the community, or at least those that don't or can't weld and only have basic hand tools.
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