Considering an RX1 Turbo: Looking for info and feedback

[burg226]

New to the turbo scene. I've got a lead on a really good deal on a 2003 RX1 with a BIG Bender Turbo.

I've never had any experience with turbos but i'm pretty handy and have been wrenching as a hobby for about 10 years. I'm also looking for a new project and for this deal, I am almost sold.

This would be my secondary sled. My main ride is a 2006 Nytro ER, stock.

The guy selling the sled seems fairly knowledgeable. His buddy is the expert who built the motor and tuned the sled. I spoke to him last night. This is what i got out our brief conversation and a few emails back and forth...

Emails-Turbo has 6 tanks of gas on it. I bought the new one because the other turbo was only 220 hp the motor was built for the big turbo low compression and titanium valve train.I also just put low off and new clutch. its running at 20 psi I think it's built for 25psi it has the trail switch relieves it to 12. It's been stored for two seasons I was to busy. Building new shop and house, no time lots of fun had it to 141mph on lk gps. It needs track and jack shaft bearing

Phone Call (he was just getting on a plane so it was only a 2 min call)- $20K into it, Good shape, under 10,000km on chassis
motor built for 375HP , Ran mix of ½ race fuel, ½ high test, Ran it at 14-20 PSI. Could run it on only high test set at low PSI with no issues. Sled is an animal compared to his stock Apex.

What does he mean by "low off"?

Do any warning bells ring from any of this? I haven't gone to see it cause he's 6hrs away from me, but if i do is their anything in specific to the turbo system that i should look/test for? He's selling it for cheap to "clean out his garage" and buy a plane. He also has a huge Baja boat for sale so i know he's got $ and hasnt cheaped out on this machine.

Sounds like a great end of season steal. What do you guys think?

Sorry for the lengthy post but figured the more info the better!!!

Thanks!

burG

 

[givemeaboost]

Tell him you want to see a compression and leakdown test done to the motor while you are there to verify it. If he's run 50/50 race fuel at up to 20# I wouldn't trust it especially down at sea level.


Ken....

 

[mbarryracing]

low off was suppose to be "blow off" for BOV.

 

[burg226]

Thanks for the replies so far. Anyone else wanna chime in on this topic? I'm looking for as much feedback as possible as this would be my first turbo anything.

Does this seem like a "trail" sled? Or would this be more of a "drag" ONLY kinda sled.

I ride mostly trails and lakes and like to do 300km days. Would this be a ride that could fit that bill? I'd want it to run on 91 octane only.

Since it was built for a big turbo with low compression and titanium valves, etc, could i not run it at low boost on 91 octane reliably all day for 300km days?

Thanks everyone, keep the replies coming!!!

burG

 

[kinger]

This sled will be a tinkerer, definitly not turn key and riding 300km days I would wager it wont happen. The benders were fairly finiky to tune and a lot of guys that are fairly talented couldn't get them to work right. Some guys got them working though.

For what you want I would look for a apex with a MCX turbo or MPI supercharger. That can be set up to run long days and turn key each season with all the maint taking place in the off season like my Apex SC has done for 4 years now.

Its up to you but I would walk away no matter what the deal , on top of that Bender's on RX1's are worth didily squat if you had trouble and wanted out you will take a bath.

 

[tjc]

my dad has a bender vestor that he bought used. He spent a few weekends messing with it but it working well now. This is more of a back up sled though no long trips yet.

 

[mulot30th]

rx1 + bender + big turbo.


if you trail ride this, you will definately learn what the word 'lag' means...

 

[Dano]

I'm guessing this sled is up around my area? (Huntsville)

Dan