Ball Bearing Turbos

[MMcCallie]

Twins won't fit so I need to upgrade to a better turbo. I've never been impressed with my HTT HTB2 62/12. Very slow spoolup as I drive around town rarely seeing any boost. Turbo doesn't light until about 10 psi and then doesn't climb super fast like I'd expected. Surging is horrible from roughly 10-27 psi. Surging is worse when towing and often a downshift does not completely eliminate. EGTs are high at all times, climbs to 1,400 in a second and has exceeded 2,200 degrees.

I'm looking for a turbo that will spool and light instantly, won't surge or maybe just very little, will be able to manage EGTs to a safe level, and have durability that I won't have to worry about.

I've read that ball bearing turbos have had major reliability issues in the past several year and that even recently many pickup owners have disliked them. I've read that turbos with dual ball bearing cartridges are the most durable. Also that they often show boost at idle, spool as if driving a gas engine with a supercharger, don't surge, can be shut down hot because they keep spinning after shut down, have a water cooled center section, but that they also tend to run higher EGTs.

I've looked into Turbonetics and Garrett. Does anyone have experience with these turbos? Any recommendations for who I should contact for further guidance? Ball Bearing turbos are extremely expensive but since I'll be swapping into my third turbo, I'd like whatever turbo is next to be my last. Industrial Injection is recommending their SPS 62/12 or Silver 64/14 and not any ball bearing turbo.