DIY Turbo rebuild

corglass

Hi,
I'm currently in the process of retrofitting a Turbo to an landcruiser. I'm planning on using a Garrett gt2052 turbo as they've a proven success with the 3b engine .

That turbo is common enough, found in the 01 2.5 audi A6 and some diesel volvos.

Anyway, most of the secondhand turbos are high miles and will require a rebuild. I plan to buy a rebuild kit online and follow a YouTube tutorial on it's rebuild. I've found an Audi a6 turbo that the seller says has stiff turbine blades and the car was smokey before he started to break it. Are all turbos rebuildable or is this one gone too far?

How can you tell if a turbo is beyond repair?

Thanks

CJhaughey

corglass wrote: »

Hi,
I'm currently in the process of retrofitting a Turbo to an landcruiser. I'm planning on using a Garrett gt2052 turbo as they've a proven success with the 3b engine .

That turbo is common enough, found in the 01 2.5 audi A6 and some diesel volvos.

Anyway, most of the secondhand turbos are high miles and will require a rebuild. I plan to buy a rebuild kit online and follow a YouTube tutorial on it's rebuild. I've found an Audi a6 turbo that the seller says has stiff turbine blades and the car was smokey before he started to break it. Are all turbos rebuildable or is this one gone too far?

How can you tell if a turbo is beyond repair?

Thanks

I would rebuild a lot of things but a turbo spinning at 150,000k rpm wouldn't be top of my list of things to rebuild.
Tolerances are very fine inside them and a turbo self destructing will cause a lot of damage in an engine with the vanes being ingested.
How are you going to rebalance it?
Personally, I'd be more inclined to buy a proper recon unit and start from a known good quantity.

visual

Better buying a working turbo from a 2nd hand vehicle and then reconditioned it for peace of mind.
Most of the rebuild kits are seals and bearings. They don't include shaft, turbines or housings parts. So not suitable for rebuilding damaged turbos.

A working turbo with oil leak or slight play would be a good candidate. A stiff turo indicates bearings are damaged and possible shaft turbine damage.

By time you add up the cost it can be close to a professional rebuilt turbo you can just fit.

Row

Maybe there is a turbo core available for the gt2052...that way it would be just a matter of assembling it as it would be already be balanced with new seals/bushings...:)

Are the gt2052 a vvt unit or is standard with a wastegate...?

If you do go down the core route just be careful as (i hear) there are as alot of these coming in from china with bushings made of butter...:eek:

corglass

Row wrote: »

Maybe there is a turbo core available for the gt2052...that way it would be just a matter of assembling it as it would be already be balanced with new seals/bushings...:)

Are the gt2052 a vvt unit or is standard with a wastegate...?

If you do go down the core route just be careful as (i hear) there are as alot of these coming in from china with bushings made of butter...:eek:

Yes trying to avoid Chinese crap is tough going in the turbo world by all accounts.

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I'll go with a slightly worn secondhand one and rebuild it myself.

I'll mark the alignment with a permanent market incase the core is balanced as a unit. The gt2052 has a dedicated external what FYI.

I'll let you know how it goes, just need to find the Turbo now..

dgt

My tuppence worth:

Lateral movement is a nono. Compressor blades may have touched the housing. She's scrap if that happens

A bit of rotational movement is acceptable, but not too much.

Would you not go for a bigger turbo? Assuming the LC is a 3.0D....