Which turbo is preferred?

I have an unusual conundrum to solve: I have three turbos to choose from to install on my 4x4 build. but know little about the different makes. I have an ATS on the truck right now, A Banks on a donor 88 and a "roto-master" on a 1985 truck that I bought thinking it would be my new truck until mine was recovered from a theft. All are in unknown condition. The roto-master was on an engine that showed mostly <200psi per cylinder when checked. Someone used that truck for some tough play dates.

I know ATS was the Ford installed unit and have been around Banks stuff since I was in school. Not sure I like the guy, but the equipment seems to be well received. Roto master I have actually heard of, but cannot remember where or why.

So now the question: which one would you put (or leave) on the 87 f350 4x4 that is destined for lots of desert and highway travel? It has 4.10 gears, but will sport a ZF5 trans for highway travel at speed (23% overdrive in 5th makes it nearly like using 3.55s!). Thanks in advance for your input!

What ATS do you have

Are either of these turbos wastegated? If so, choose the wastegated one - it'll be smaller, better suited for mid-range boost, at the expense of top-end(generally not an issue unless you go with larger-than-stock IP).

When it comes to the Banks Sidewinder wastegated model vs the Ford Factory(ATS 093-ford version), I like the banks a little better. It boosts quicker, slightly smaller. Being smaller, though, it chokes off sooner - you absolutely are not going to get more than 250 RWHP out of one, no matter what you do. (Note that you aren't usually getting more than 200RWHP from a cranked stock IP).

Laine D said:

What ATS do you have

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No idea. Is there a visual way of checking? Maybe I should post photos?

Knuckledragger said:

No idea. Is there a visual way of checking? Maybe I should post photos?

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Yeah man some photos would be good.

From my own personal observations on completely stock turbo set ups, spoken of as an overall group, the second Gen Sidewinders seemed to make a little bit more boost than the 093/Factory Turbos. They would usually average 1-2 PSI more. They would be at 11-12 psi vs. 10-11 psi for the 093/Factory Turbo. The highest boost that I saw was 14PSI from a 093 running empty, in 4th gear (ZF5), 3000 RPM, 4.10 gears. The easiest ones to install and remove were the 093/Factory Turbos. They seemed like they were actually designed by Ford to go in these trucks, not like they were an afterthought. These were all the exact same way when they left as when they got to us unless the turbo needed to be rebuilt. Then it was stock, unmodified rebuild. What would have happened with turbo mods, I can't say, but it also would not have been a fair comparison. Now if you want to talk about upgrades, then the 093/Factory Turbos are the best way to go. There's a lot m,ore upgrade options for them which was why I was almost ecstatic when I looked under the hood of my Ex Wife and saw a 093 on top.

I have upgrades for all those turbos, I like the wastegated for stick trucks, faster spool between gear changes is one reason.
Non gated turbos are generally a bigger turbine and better flow loaded.
PM me for more info if you like

Rotomaster

ATS

Banks

I was under the assumptions a go-to was off the pass side manifold

Assumptions, gets me every time.

Now that the photos are posted, what am I looking for to determine if any have a waste gate? I know a blow off valve on a supercharger, but these seem to have no such device.

I can't see a wastegate in any of your pictures. I'm pretty sure that none of those are wastegated. Here's a picture of my ATS 093 which is wastegated. You can see the pod on the turbo which has a "vacuum" hose (probably a boost hose) attached to it and a rod extending from the other side. This the wastegate actuator (maybe wrong terminology). Your last set of pictures appear to be a first gen Banks. Your ATS is either a 085 or a 088. All of those are non wastegated turbos. The first set of pictures with the Roto Master turbo may be a first gen Banks Sidewinder. The second gen Sidewinders were wastegated.

You’ve got two non gated turbos there, an 088 and a banks first gen, arguably very similar turbos with the parts being better built IMO because of the antiquated carbon style seals the early banks turbos came with, but all that can be updated to a factory turbo style cartridge and step gap rings for better sealing on the turbine wheel. Both of these turbos in stock form will perform very similarly, so take a hard look at the rest of the kit and see what’s in better condition and decide from there, or sell both of them and buy a factory turbo kit, no matter what you’re better off with any turbo than non at all, but the factory turbo kits will outperform any others.