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      01-11-2021, 08:06 PM   #1
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Vargas GC Turbos Reliability

Genuinely curious about the reliability of the "game changer" (GC) turbos from VTT. With the price point they're advertised at and the power levels that can be achieved through them, it begs the question of how reliable are they?

If you're running VTT GC Turbos, how many miles have you put on them and how much are you pushing them? I'm curious as it seems hard to find any information on these turbos. Can't really find the same amount of videos as you would with Pure turbos on youtube.

I can't lie, the price is really good but at the same time, I don't want anything to blow up lol
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      01-12-2021, 07:13 AM   #2
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1k so far. Lots and lots of logging. So far no leak or smoke, just traction problems.
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      01-12-2021, 07:20 AM   #3
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1k so far. Lots and lots of logging. So far no leak or smoke, just traction problems.
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      01-12-2021, 07:20 AM   #4
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Vargas Turbo kits have been reliable for us
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      01-12-2021, 10:35 AM   #5
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You can break anything if you push it hard enough, but we have tons of sets in the field -very few issues. S55 GC's have had excellent reliability.
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      01-12-2021, 01:42 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris@VargasTurboTech View Post
You can break anything if you push it hard enough, but we have tons of sets in the field -very few issues. S55 GC's have had excellent reliability.
At moderate to slightly high boost they worked great (28/29 psi).
I pushed mine (GC+) further and at altitude and they broke.
The encouraging part for me was that CHRA's are available at reasonable pricing!
On this basis, I would not hesitate to purchase again from VTT.
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      01-12-2021, 04:44 PM   #7
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At moderate to slightly high boost they worked great (28/29 psi).
I pushed mine (GC+) further and at altitude and they broke.
The encouraging part for me was that CHRA's are available at reasonable pricing!
On this basis, I would not hesitate to purchase again from VTT.
Care to share any specific details about your issue with the GC turbos? E.g. how many miles, what boost, fuel and what specifically broke? Also, what type of assessment was made as to why they broke. I’ve spoken directly to many GC owners including several of the 9 second guys and none of them had any issues with the GC turbos.
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      01-12-2021, 07:07 PM   #8
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Ah, yes, altitude is not the friend of compressor maps -more shaft speed, less power. At least you guys get less wind resistance for 1/2 mile events, all in all I'd rather have sea level air density though!
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      01-12-2021, 08:12 PM   #9
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      01-12-2021, 08:36 PM   #10
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27-29psi over 600hp on pump 93 . Loving it just over 1k mileage
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      01-12-2021, 09:23 PM   #11
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Gents, I have a question in regards to GC turbos. If you upgrade, can you run OEM tune with these turbos as CA has started to detect tunes? Of course no craziness, just to get inspection done.
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      01-12-2021, 09:30 PM   #12
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Gents, I have a question in regards to GC turbos. If you upgrade, can you run OEM tune with these turbos as CA has started to detect tunes? Of course no craziness, just to get inspection done.
You can see these aren't oem , intakes inlets , manifolds , are different . The untrained eye can't tell but anyone that knows the s55 could. It would be a shame to run a Vargas gc with an oem tune .
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      01-12-2021, 11:48 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanted_M View Post
Gents, I have a question in regards to GC turbos. If you upgrade, can you run OEM tune with these turbos as CA has started to detect tunes? Of course no craziness, just to get inspection done.
Detect tunes?! More info please!
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      01-13-2021, 03:33 AM   #14
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanted_M View Post
Gents, I have a question in regards to GC turbos. If you upgrade, can you run OEM tune with these turbos as CA has started to detect tunes? Of course no craziness, just to get inspection done.
Detect tunes?! More info please!
Second that
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      01-13-2021, 04:15 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M4XS55 View Post
Care to share any specific details about your issue with the GC turbos? E.g. how many miles, what boost, fuel and what specifically broke? Also, what type of assessment was made as to why they broke. I’ve spoken directly to many GC owners including several of the 9 second guys and none of them had any issues with the GC turbos.
+2000 miles
E85 fuel with additional fuel demand being met with methanol injection
One of the turbo's broke on the dyno @ 32 psi - The logs at the time of the incident showed a sharp throttle closure...
From an examination of the affected turbo, you could see the compressor wheel had broken off the shaft. No further assessment was carried out.
If I was closer to sea level, there would be no need for me to push the turbos hard - Holding 28 psi and at 6500 ft, I was able to comfortably run a 10.5 sec quarter mile (full weight and road legal tyres).
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      01-13-2021, 04:18 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanted_M View Post
Gents, I have a question in regards to GC turbos. If you upgrade, can you run OEM tune with these turbos as CA has started to detect tunes? Of course no craziness, just to get inspection done.
No issues with running OEM tunes and the hybrids...
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      01-13-2021, 06:33 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by Wanted_M View Post
Gents, I have a question in regards to GC turbos. If you upgrade, can you run OEM tune with these turbos as CA has started to detect tunes? Of course no craziness, just to get inspection done.
Hey bro, did you also installed the VTT crack hub fix?
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      01-13-2021, 01:05 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpy1980 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanted_M View Post
Gents, I have a question in regards to GC turbos. If you upgrade, can you run OEM tune with these turbos as CA has started to detect tunes? Of course no craziness, just to get inspection done.
Detect tunes?! More info please!
It's actually completely true. Starting summer 2020 what happens now is when they plug your car in the computer checks the CAL ID and CVN and cross references it to make sure it's the same as the stock figures. When you have a tune on your car it changes those figures. From my understanding you won't fail the smog test YET if you come in with a tune BUT you get immediately flagged and your next smog test you will have to go to the state ref. I believe there was a thread on this forum about someone going through this experience. There's good info on the GTR forums about this because they're getting absolutely fucked right now since those cars are targeted by the state.

Basically if someone can figure out how to change the CAL ID and CVN numbers to show stock figures while tuned they'll make a shit ton of money
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      01-13-2021, 01:26 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HyeM3 View Post
It's actually completely true. Starting summer 2020 what happens now is when they plug your car in the computer checks the CAL ID and CVN and cross references it to make sure it's the same as the stock figures. When you have a tune on your car it changes those figures. From my understanding you won't fail the smog test YET if you come in with a tune BUT you get immediately flagged and your next smog test you will have to go to the state ref. I believe there was a thread on this forum about someone going through this experience. There's good info on the GTR forums about this because they're getting absolutely fucked right now since those cars are targeted by the state.

Basically if someone can figure out how to change the CAL ID and CVN numbers to show stock figures while tuned they'll make a shit ton of money
Shoot! If you flash back to stock, will the CAL ID and CVN numbers show stock figures? Im only on a BM3 CS tune, but I'd rather not risk it.

Also, you think if I just edit my stock tune, those numbers will show stock figures? I just mainly want GTS roar and cold start delete.
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      01-13-2021, 01:58 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HyeM3 View Post
It's actually completely true. Starting summer 2020 what happens now is when they plug your car in the computer checks the CAL ID and CVN and cross references it to make sure it's the same as the stock figures. When you have a tune on your car it changes those figures. From my understanding you won't fail the smog test YET if you come in with a tune BUT you get immediately flagged and your next smog test you will have to go to the state ref. I believe there was a thread on this forum about someone going through this experience. There's good info on the GTR forums about this because they're getting absolutely fucked right now since those cars are targeted by the state.

Basically if someone can figure out how to change the CAL ID and CVN numbers to show stock figures while tuned they'll make a shit ton of money
Cali gonna Cali...
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      01-13-2021, 04:18 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpy1980 View Post
Shoot! If you flash back to stock, will the CAL ID and CVN numbers show stock figures? Im only on a BM3 CS tune, but I'd rather not risk it.

Also, you think if I just edit my stock tune, those numbers will show stock figures? I just mainly want GTS roar and cold start delete.
As to your first question, normally it should show stock figures if you flash back to stock. But there was a person on here that flashed back to stock and was still showing modified figures so he had BPM sport remote into his car and set the figures back to stock.

As to your second question, I actually have the same question and am not sure. Someone told me that it would probably show modified figures since you're using BM3 to modify the stock tune but I haven't seen anybody actually test this theory yet
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      01-13-2021, 05:02 PM   #22
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Got mine installed in November.
It’s January now and I have Pure 2+ on the car.
What’s that tell you...
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