DOHC or SOHC doesn't matter. And being a T3/T4 doesn't matter. What matters is the volume of air and exhaust pulses from the head and the turbo's exhaust turbine and exhaust housing.Originally Posted by 1NonlyAccord
Asking if a T3/T4 turbo will work on a SOHC engine is like asking if a Goodyear tire will fit on a Lexus. Maybe? It depends on what kind of Lexus you have and what the tire's width and sidewall is. The question is really too vague to give any meaningful or useful answer.
But it's very possible to match a smaller SOHC engine (since you are probably talking about a Honda) to the propper T3/T4 to make it both responsive on lower RPMs as well as produce good top-end. Things like head work, the engine's compression, and different cam specs will change what specific turbo or variation of a turbo will best suit the engine and your needs from the car.
You can now buy ball-bearing T3/T4 turbos instead of journal bearing which will shift the turbo's efficiency range to be more effective with low-end power. On the flip side they not only cost a lot more, but if the center section is damaged you'll probably be replacing the turbo or spending a lot of money getting it repaired. Journal bearing turbos are much cheaper/easier to rebuild. It's a trade-off. If you have the extra money then by all means go with a ball-bearing. I would also look into the Garrett ball-bearing GT-series turbos.