Sometimes working for a parts department really has it's perks :7 When we got the throw away list for warranty parts there were a bunch of turbos on them. I snagged 6 of them. 3 look to be in great condition and I believe they were just replaced as a precaution when an engine was replaced. the other 3 I'm gonna tear apart and see if they can be "repurposed" as art or something like that.

I can get rebuild kits for ~$75 per turbo, but I've never tried to rebuild something like this before. What kind of difficulty is involved and are there any precautions I should be aware of?

Oh, and before anyone asks, the turbos are from Subaru Legacy Spec.B's I might be able to clock them to work for my 2gnt, but the flanges are all weird.

That's awesome! I haven't done a rebuild yet on the s16g, but I've heard that it's relatively easy. IIRC, a special tool was needed for the little 'c' fastener so you don't bend it

I don't see a C fastener on these, just a funny nut on the ends of the shaft, kinda looks like a funny 12pt nut. I'm going to practice on tearing apart the destroyed ones that I got first.

It would make me really happy if I could pay for my turbo system with basically "found" items :7

Its not hard to take them apart and put them back together again. But the big thing is getting them balanced so they dont eat themselves alive.
A turbine spins in excess of 100,000rpms. If you dont have it balanced you can see how it wont last very long.

If you want to pull it apart and do the "rebuild" part yourself and have a local semi place balance it for you.

Originally posted by Hult250R
Its not hard to take them apart and put them back together again. But the big thing is getting them balanced so they dont eat themselves alive. A turbine spins in excess of 100,000rpms. If you dont have it balanced you can see how it wont last very long. If you want to pull it apart and do the "rebuild" part yourself and have a local semi place balance it for you.

exactly

I've heard about the balancing, most of the resources I've found talk about making sure to matchmark the compressor wheel to the shaft so that you don't undo the factory balancing.

Another friend of mine that's a fabricator says that he's had issues with breaking the shafts, but I can't find any evidence to support that problem, just to be careful not to put an odd load on the shaft that could bend it.

You can match the wheel to the shaft but its real easy to have the wheel off just enough that your eye cant see it.

If it were a turbo I was going to run, then i would go for it but if you ever plan to sell the turbo and make it someone else's problem then have it properly balenced.

Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon
You can match the wheel to the shaft but its real easy to have the wheel off just enough that your eye cant see it. If it were a turbo I was going to run, then i would go for it but if you ever plan to sell the turbo and make it someone else's problem then have it properly balenced.

Bingo. Unless you have it professionally balanced, it *will* fail. Don't be a dick and halfass it only to pass it off later to some choad that won't know what to do with it; Imagine how you would have felt had it been you buying a bitch turbo.

If you're gonna keep it, fine. If you wanna sell it, harsh.

I found out some interesting stuff from one of the local dyno gurus. He gave me the link to the place that he sends all the turbos that he sends off to be rebuilt http://www.gpopshop.com/balancing.html

They had this to say about the need for balancing.

We are frequently asked by customers who purchase our rebuild kits if the turbo will need to be rebalanced after they complete the rebuild. You will not need to have your turbo rebalanced if the following applies:

Neither of the wheels (compressor and/or turbine) have touched or rubbed the housings

There are no worn, chipped, or bent fins on either of the wheels

You were careful to mark the position of the wheels in relationship to each other prior to disassembly and rebuilding, and then realigned these marks upon reassembly

Thats what we just told you. However the wheels need to go back into the same spot they came off. Can you honestly tell me your eyes can see 1* or 2* off and then go as far as to tell me it wont make a difference?

When balencing wheels, if the weight I put on is 1-2* off the balencer knows it and the wheel is only spinning at 500rpm.

Personal experience, I would rebuild a 14b or smaller. I've seen/done rebuild/centers on those and they seemed to last OK. 16g or bigger and I would send them out to be balanced. I haven't seen a legit "backyard" rebuild last on a bigger turbo (for whatever reason I don't really know. I guess the smaller wheeled turbos aren't as sensitive to slight variances?).

Just a little FWIW.