The Scion FRS, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GT86 are all badge-engineered versions of the same car. They’re only subtly different when it comes to exterior, interior, and brand appeal.
Modifications such as forced induction, exhaust systems, aftermarket wheels, tires, and suspension are all interchangeable among them. In this article, we’ll focus on turbo kits for the Toyota GT86.
Even though the naturally-aspirated 2.0L FA20 boxer engine isn’t as sprightly as most of us would like, it has enough oomph to keep you from getting bored.
That said, some enthusiasts find the GT86’s 200-odd horsepower a bit lacking. If you are of that opinion, then this guide is for you.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best GT86 turbo kits. We’ll also provide information on how forced induction will affect the FA20 engine and what you can do to keep it reliable.
FA20 Tunability and Reliability
If you know your Subaru flat-fours, they don’t have the best reputation when it comes to reliability. This is definitely a cause for concern when you’re considering aftermarket turbo kits.
The reliability of your boosted FA20 engine entirely depends on how careful you are with maintenance, what supporting modifications you choose for reliability, and how much boost you run.
Once you add additional stress to the engine, the potential for things to go wrong increases exponentially. In order to ensure trouble-free operation, the best thing you can do is to avoid testing the limits of your build.
So the most we’d recommend on an FA20 is about 300 hp (265 whp). However, if you’re into pushing the flat-four beyond this limit, consider installing a few supporting upgrades.
GT86 Supporting Upgrades for Reliability
We recommend addressing the engine’s existing drawbacks. Upgrading the oil cooler, coil packs, and throw-out bearings is advised if you’re wanting to push the flat-four.
Consider upgrading the clutch and transmission as well, because the stock ones aren’t designed to handle any more than factory horsepower.
Other upgrades range from performance fuel injectors to a revised cam profile, depending on how far you’re pushing the engine. Bigger fuel injectors don’t necessarily increase horsepower, but they’re necessary for boosted cars.
Additionally, make sure to install forged pistons and con-rods. Not only are they good at handling the increased temperatures, but they’re also capable of withstanding the additional stresses. Ergo, better reliability.
We also recommend installing coilovers, a less restrictive exhaust system for better scavenging and backpressure; and quality tires so the car is better equipped to handle the additional power.
Best Toyota 86 Turbo Kits
Below we’ve compiled a list of the best turbo kits for your Toyota GT86. While most of these turbo kits are available for purchase, some have been discontinued. If you want those, you’ll have to scour the used market.
Although most of these are similar in the way they make power, they are different when it comes to pricing and fitment.
MAPerformance T3
Manufacturer: MAPerformance
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: Precision Ball Bearing and Journal Bearing Range
Warranty: None
In addition to being future-proof, the MAPerformance turbo kit saves you the trouble of sourcing a hundred different items by including every part necessary to complete your T3 turbo build. This includes:
- 3″ cold air intake
- Your choice of turbochargers
- 304 stainless steel 16 gauge UEL FA20 turbo manifold
- Turbosmart Compgate40 wastegate
- 304 stainless steel 2.5″ downpipe with heat wrap + integrated wideband O2 bung
- 7.8″ x 22″ x 3.5 intercooler, 750 CFM flow rate, less than 2psi pressure drop at max flow
- 2.5″ 304 stainless steel short route charge piping with a 3″ MAF pipe
- Your choice of blow-off valves
- Spal 12″ slimline fans
- Your choice of plug and play fuel injectors
- Deatschwerks DW65c fuel pump
- 304 stainless steel dual oil catch cans
- 304 stainless steel coolant overflow tank
- Modified radiator support
- Oil pan modification for turbo oil return
- All the required hardware, hoses, clamps, and gaskets
With whp ratings ranging from 280 to 500-plus horses, the T3 turbo kit provides a much better midrange than most of the other turbo kits on this list.
Additionally, you can choose between ball bearing and journal bearing center sections, with the former performing better under load, requiring less oil, and running cooler than its journal counterpart.
JDL
Manufacturer: JDL
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: Garrett GT + GTX Range
Warranty: Lifetime (hot parts only)
Recommended by many GT86 owners, the JDL single-scroll turbo offers the perfect balance between affordability and build quality.
It’s not uncommon to see JDL turbocharged GT86s running 20 psi of boost and making 377 whp. However, we recommend 7 psi for a more reliable and trouble-free motoring experience.
Much like MAPerformance, the JDL kit offers you the choice of:
- Turbochargers
- UEL or unequal length manifolds
- Open vs recirculated dump tubes
- 2.5” vs 3.0” downpipe outlet flange
- Thermal coating for hot parts
- Intercooler
- Heat coating and pipe color for intercooler
- Pre-welded oil pan
- Omni 3 bar map sensor
- Fan shrouds
- Fuel injectors, and
- Fuel pumps
The kit also comes with a Turbosmart blow-off valve and wastegate. However, it’s perhaps not as comprehensive as the MAPerformance kit, and you will have to source parts like the boost controller and exhaust gaskets.
PTuning Competition V2
Manufacturer: PTuning
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: Garrett Dual-Ball Bearing GT Range
Warranty: 1 Year
If you’re aiming for a high-quality OEM-plus turbo setup, then PTuning’s Competition V2 is worth a closer look. PTuning is known for making high-quality and affordable turbo kits for the Toyota 86.
It includes an intercooler core, aluminum intercooler piping, a mechanical turbo oil scavenging pump, and even a 21 mm sway bar.
You also get a 4” rotational-molded cobra-shaped air intake, letting you retain the GT86’s factory strut bar.
Though it’s priced on the higher side, the Competition V2 benefits from faster spooling Garret GT and GTX 28 turbos as opposed to the older model.
The PTuning Competition V2 turbo kit is an improved and redesigned version of its first iteration.
The Competition V2, courtesy of its boxer-friendly design, features a low, mid-mounted turbocharger setup offering better cooling at the expense of a 75-pound weight penalty.
P&L
Manufacturer: P&L Motorsports
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: P&L Spec Billet Wheel Precision Turbo
Warranty: 3 Years
Featuring a custom, in-house designed billet wheel turbine, P&L’s single turbo unit is among the very few off-the-shelf Precision kits that can withstand high levels of boost.
It’s not uncommon for P&L turbo setups to run between 15 psi and 18 psi, pumping out twice the GT86’s factory output.
If you’re looking for a fairly reliable build capped at roughly 280 whp, you may want to skip this one. The P&L kit is ideal for those looking north of 400 whp.
It spools relatively quickly and provides a steady and linear power delivery throughout the rev range. The engineering that went into this kit is quite extraordinary, which explains its high price tag.
AVO Stage 2
Manufacturer: AVO Turboworld
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: AVO18/49
Warranty: 1 Year
Mounted underneath the car in a rather unconventional fashion, the AVO Stage 2 system is for those who wish the GT86 offered turbocharging from the factory.
Designed exclusively for the BRZ/86 platform, the AVO Stage 2 kit comes with the company’s very own AVO18/49 turbocharger that mounts under the front section of the engine via a ceramic-coated, stainless steel unequal-length exhaust manifold.
But why adopt such a design? Subaru itself chose this layout for the turbocharged Forester, WRX, and Legacy. The turbo’s proximity to the exhaust allows for better spool-up, effortless cooling, and a lower center of gravity.
The AVO Stage 2 kit includes:
- AVO 7 psi actuator
- 3-bar MAP sensor
- AVO street breather tank system with turbo PCV valve upgrade
- Ceramic coated cross-over pipe
- Stainless steel front pipe with 5″ metal catalytic converter
- EcuTEK stage 2 base map
Additionally, you get an aluminum front mount intercooler, a mechanical oil scavenging pump, an oil reservoir tank, and all necessary fittings, water and oil hoses, necessary for the build.
Full Race EFR
Manufacturer: Full Race
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: BorgWarner EFR Series
Warranty: 1 Year
Renowned for designing turbo kits based on optimized exhaust management, Full Race has garnered quite the popularity in the world of forced induction. Their fame is not limited to making kits for the BRZ/86 platform, but for other platforms as well.
One of the key highlights of a Full Race system is that the engineering and foundation are centered around utilizing the brand’s signature manifold design.
Turbocharged engines work best when optimized for maximum performance and efficiency on the exhaust side.
That’s why the core ethos across all of Full Race’s turbo lineup prioritizes effective exhaust management via unique manifold or header designs.
The manifold in question features a hand-fabricated collector and TIG-welded runners, with low-angle merge collectors for quicker spooling and minimal power loss. Ideal for the FA20’s inherently flat mid-range characteristics.
WORKS Stage 2
Manufacturer: Works
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: Garrett GT28
Warranty: 1 Year
Equipped with a quick-spooling Garrett GT28 ball-bearing turbine, the WORKS Stage 2 kit provides efficient, reliable power, all while retaining your stock air intake, exhaust manifold, and catalytic converter.
You are offered a tuner version or a pre-calibrated CARB-compliant version of this kit. The latter, however, only provides a 35% improvement in power on the stock block.
The WORKS Stage 2 kit is a significant improvement over the previous Stage 1 kit, and happens to be the least-intrusive and easy-to-install turbo solution for your GT86.
HKS GTIII-RS
Manufacturer: HKS
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: GTIII-RS
Warranty: 1 Year
Buy on: Enjuku Racing
Designed with low-capacity engines like the FA20, the HKS GTIII-RS does a fantastic job of providing a decent power bump without spoiling the drivability of the ZN6/ZC6 chassis.
HKS has managed to reduce internal flow losses through an all-new compressor diffuser design, enabling smoother power delivery, faster spool-up, and little to no surge.
It’s worth noting that the GTIII-RS turbo kit does not come with engine management or upgraded fuel injectors, and will have to be purchased separately.
GReddy V3 GTX-R
Manufacturer: GReddy
Configuration: Single turbo
Turbine: GTX2867R
Warranty: 1 Year
The Greddy V3 GTX-R Tuner turbo kit—although discontinued in the USA—is a great kit with several highlights.
These include flex pipes that reduce stress and prevent cracking, along with appropriately-sized intercoolers and just the right amount of piping.
Despite the advantages, sourcing the kit can be difficult. For those who want to buy GReddy’s V3 GTX-R in the USA, your best bet is to scour the used market.
Full Blown Stage 1 Base
Manufacturer: Full Blown Motorsports
Configuration: Single Turbo
Turbine: Garrett / PTE / T3
Warranty: Lifetime
The benefit of Full Blown Motorsports or FBM turbo kits are that they’re affordable and are rated for power figures in the ballpark of 440 whp.
The kit is quite comprehensive despite being an affordable item. Here’s what’s included with the stage 1 base kit:
- FBM base EL turbo manifold.
- Choice of turbo 50 trim, 57trim, or GTX28 (please see option).
- FBM aluminum wrinkled black intercooler piping with couplers.
- FBM 3″ downpipe.
- FBM 550hp Intercooler with cast tanks.
- FBM intake pipe.
- FBM dump tube.
- Precision turbo 39mm wastegate.
- Tial 50mm Q BOV.
- FBM 550cc injectors.
- FBM 270LPH pump.
- FBM dual slim fans.
- All hardware/oil lines and gaskets.
- FBM 7psi basemap
If your budget is around the $5-6k mark, sourcing an FBM kit won’t be that difficult. The setup makes a respectable 276 whp from a 7 psi boost.
Of course, you can spice things up with an 11 psi boost producing roughly 360 whp, assuming the car’s running on E85.
Our Top Choice
We consider AVO Stage 2 to be the best overall turbo kit for the Toyota GT86. It has everything you need for your turbo build.
However, in terms of value for money, we’d say the HKS GTIII-RS turbo kit offers you a lot for what it’s asking.
But if there are no budget constraints, then the WORKS Stage 2 kit is the best when it comes to long-term reliability.
Which GT86 turbo kit interests you the most? Let us know by leaving a comment!
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