Ten generations of the Lancer Evolution, ten turbo specifications, one bench. Boost Lab, Inc. rebuilds the whole lineage: the forward-rotation TD05H-16G on the Evo I through III (49178-01450 through 49178-01470), the reverse-rotation TD05HR-16G6 twins-scroll units on Evo IV through IX (49178-01570 through 49378-01580 with GSR Inconel and RS titanium-aluminide turbine options), and the TD05H-152G6 on the Evo X (49378-01610 through 49378-01642) with its return to forward rotation. We also rebuild every upgrade turbo the Evo community runs. Nationwide ship-in service.
The turbo changed with every generation. The tag, not the badge, identifies what you have.
The first Evolution, JDM only, ran the TD05H with a Big 16G compressor (46.48mm inducer, 60mm exducer) in a 6cm2 housing. Forward rotation, same TD05H frame as the DSM and Galant VR-4. Rare cores in 2026; we treat them accordingly.
The Evo II stepped up to the true Big 16G compressor wheel (48mm inducer, 68mm exducer) in the 6cm2 housing. Still forward rotation, still the same TD05H architecture.
The Evo III 16G is the most famous MHI compressor upgrade ever made: 48.3mm inducer, 68mm exducer, 7cm2 high-nickel-steel housing with curved inlet flange and 34mm wastegate flapper. Forward rotation. The Evo III 16G became the gold-standard 1G DSM upgrade because it bolts right on, and genuine MHI units are now on their final production run.
The Evo IV reversed the turbo rotation and moved to the 16G6 compressor (48.3mm inducer, 68mm exducer) in a twin-scroll housing. This is the reverse-rotation era, meaning Evo IV through IX turbos do not bolt onto Evo I through III or DSM manifolds without a swap to the corresponding exhaust system. The same wheel on a different trajectory.
The refined reverse-rotation era: TD05HR on GSR models with Inconel turbine shafts, TD05HRA on RS models with titanium-aluminide turbine shafts for faster spool. Evo VII GSR is 49178-01570, RS is 49178-01580, Evo VIII GSR is 49378-01520, Evo 8.5 is 49378-01560, Evo IX GSR is 49378-01570, IX RS is 49378-01571 (Mitsubishi 1515A054). Twin-scroll housings, single-flapper on IX versus twin-flapper on VII and VIII. CHRA 49178-08970, repair kit 49178-81100.
The Evo X returned to forward rotation with the 4B11T engine replacing the 4G63. The turbo is the TD05H-152G6-12T (GSR, Inconel) or TD05HA-152G6-12T (rare TiAl variant), under 49378-01610 and 49378-01642 (Mitsubishi 1515A198). Larger 152G6 compressor (52.5mm inducer, 68mm exducer), 12cm2 single-flapper housing. CHRA 49378-08011.
The single most important identification fact on an Evo turbo is rotation direction. Evo I through III and the Evo X spin forward (clockwise viewed from the compressor end). Evo IV through IX spin reverse (counterclockwise). A forward-rotation turbo does not bolt to a reverse-rotation manifold and vice versa. If you are building a hybrid or cross-generation swap, rotation governs everything. The tag number tells us which you have, but if the turbo has been apart before, measure the wheel orientation before shipping and note it in your submission.
The complete verified MHI Evo turbo family, generation by generation. This is the definitive list. Search by any number.
| Turbo PN | Model | OEM PN | Application | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49178-01450 | TD05H-16G (forward) | Verify by tag | 1992-1993 Evo I (JDM) | Small Big 16G; 46.5/60mm; 6cm2 housing |
| 49178-01460 | TD05H-16G (forward) | Verify by tag | 1994 Evo II (JDM) | True Big 16G; 48/68mm; 6cm2 housing |
| 49178-01470 | TD05H-16G (forward) | Mitsubishi MR239345 | 1995-1996 Evo III (JDM) | 48.3/68mm; 7cm2 Ni-steel housing, 34mm flapper |
| 49178-01570 | TD05HR-16G6-9.8T (reverse) | Verify by tag | 2001-2003 Evo VII GSR | Twin-scroll, twin-flapper; Inconel turbine |
| 49178-01580 | TD05HRA-16G6-9.8T (reverse) | Verify by tag | 2001-2003 Evo VII RS | Twin-scroll, twin-flapper; TiAl turbine |
| 49378-01520 | TD05HR-16G6-9.8T (reverse) | Verify by tag | 2003-2005 Evo VIII GSR / USDM | Twin-scroll, twin-flapper; Inconel |
| 49378-01540 | TD05HR-16G6 (reverse) | Verify by tag | 2003-2005 Evo VIII ADM (single flapper) | ADM-market single-flapper variant |
| 49378-01560 | TD05HR-16G6-10.5T (reverse) | Verify by tag | 2004-2005 USDM Evo 8 MR (8.5) | 10.5cm2 housing; Inconel or TiAl by variant |
| 49378-01570 | TD05HR-16G6-10.5T (reverse) | Mitsubishi 1515A054 | 2005-2007 Evo IX GSR | Single-flapper; Inconel turbine |
| 49378-01571 | TD05HRA-16G6mC-10.5T (reverse) | Mitsubishi 1515A059 | 2005-2007 Evo IX RS | Magnesium compressor wheel; TiAl turbine |
| 49178-08970 / 49178-08981 | TD05HR CHRA | n/a | Evo VII-IX center cartridge | Repair kit 49178-81100 |
| 49378-01610 | TD05H-152G6-12T (forward) | Verify by tag | 2008-2015 Evo X GSR early | 4B11T engine; forward rotation returns |
| 49378-01642 | TD05H-152G6-12T (forward) | Mitsubishi 1515A198 | 2008-2015 Evo X GSR | 52.5/68mm; 12cm2 single-flapper; CHRA 49378-08011 |
| 49378-19120 | Evo X wastegate actuator | n/a | Evo X actuator service | Evaluated on every Evo X rebuild |
| 49378-08011 | Evo X CHRA | n/a | Evo X center cartridge | TD05H-152G6 cartridge |
| Tag-specific | FP Red / Green / Black, ETS, Blouch, AMS | n/a (aftermarket) | Community upgrade turbos on TD05H frame | Rebuilt and balanced; send tag and wheel photos |
Rally-bred hardware in street-car hands: the patterns by generation.
Same 4G63 oiling system, same failure. The feed line clogs, the turbo starves, the bearings wipe. Replace the feed line with every turbo job. The Evo X's 4B11T improved the oiling path but is not immune.
The Evo community runs 30+ psi on stock frames routinely. Stock thrust bearings are not designed for it, and the compressor wheel walking into the housing is the result. Upgraded thrust parts are standard on our performance Evo rebuilds.
The RS titanium-aluminide turbine wheel is lighter and spools faster but is more fragile than the GSR's Inconel. Mishandling during removal, shipping without capping the openings, and foreign object damage all crack TiAl blades. Handle RS turbos with care and ship them capped.
The twin-scroll turbine housing cracks between the scroll dividers with age and heat cycling. Light checking is normal; through-cracks need housing work, and genuine MHI twin-scroll housings are getting scarce. Preserve the one you have.
We regularly open Evo turbos carrying parts from the wrong generation: reverse-rotation wheels in forward-rotation housings, IX cartridges in VII setups, and Evo X CHRAs in IX builds. The tag governs; we put them right.
Evo I through VI turbos are 20-to-30-year-old JDM-only parts with no Mitsubishi support. Surviving cores are precious, and a careful rebuild returns them to service for another generation of competition use.
Not directly. Evo IV through IX are reverse rotation; the DSM and Evo I through III are forward rotation. The turbo, manifold, and exhaust system are all rotation-specific. Our DSM reference page covers the forward-rotation family in depth.
The GSR (TD05HR) runs an Inconel steel turbine shaft. The RS (TD05HRA) runs a titanium-aluminide turbine that is lighter and spools approximately 500 RPM sooner. The TiAl wheel demands more careful handling and is more fragile. Both are fully rebuildable.
The last production run of MHI 49178-01470 units is exhausted or nearly so. Rebuilding the core you have is the path forward, and the rebuild parts remain fully supported through the TD05H ecosystem.
No. The Evo X runs a different engine (4B11T instead of 4G63), returns to forward rotation, uses the larger 152G6 compressor (52.5mm inducer), and carries a 12cm2 single-flapper housing. Nothing crosses with Evo IV-IX hardware.
Yes. Most aftermarket Evo turbo upgrades build on the TD05H frame, and we rebuild them all, balanced, with upgraded thrust parts for boosted applications. Send tag and wheel photos through the repair form.
Start at repair.theboostlab.com, photograph the tag, note the generation and GSR vs RS, drain oil, cap the openings (especially important on TiAl RS units), and double-box. Ship to Boost Lab, Inc., 37833 Pineapple Ave, Unit A, Dade City, FL 33523.