is there anyone who actually has a kit to rebuild the hitachi turbos on our cars? Bryan at BNR can piece me together a kit but i'm wondering if there is anyone that actually stocks kits for these turbos anymore. i plan on rebuilding mine but wouldn't hurt to have a backup set in case i want to have it upgraded or if a spike kills the rebuild.

i also contacted turbonetics but they put it bluntly and said "no" which is probably just their way of saying 'screw off'... Bryan quoted $300 for a rebuild on a stock rebuild and a local turbo shop quoted me $695 for a stock rebuild with new compressor wheel which seemed a bit high but for another $100 would put in a .50 AR trim wheel and mill the housing.

only reason i ask is because i use the car as may daily driver and i would like to be able to rebuild the turbo in a weekend when i have the time, i have alternate transportation but i hate having the car down for extended periods since we all know how much we love our cars.

 

I ran across this kit for the stock turbo in the S4:

http://www.turbocity.com/product_inf...roducts_id=169

It's turbo repair kit #300 500 (I haven't used the kit, just saw that it was available).

 

that link is dead.

 

Probably just better off buying a used one in the buy/sell forum thats in decent shape..

 

when pushing 10+ PSI and a ported turbo i would much rather rebuild it than keep rotating turbos and having to modify them to my liking.

 

I was curious as well about the rebuild kits, and how hard it would be to rebuild an S4 turbo. Took mine apart today, and my housing was cracked all in the inside. Does this mean I should just get a new exhaust housing, and where would I find one.

Speaking of housings, how hard was it to port the wastegate?

 

hey Ben i think it is going to be like 4-5 weeks cause i sent that turbo out and they said it will take about a week and then 2-3 to build it then probably a week back
so i guess i will be waiting to get it back
when i get it i will be sure to bring it by or maybe you can swing by here and then maybe give me a few pointers on the quickest or best way of putting this car back together

 

cracks are normal, if you find a housing that has no cracks i'll mail you a cookie with teh whipped cream!

porting the wastegate isn't hard at all if you have it apart in hand but depending on your needs you will likely have to cut the wastegate flapper off and weld on a new washer to accomodate the size of a ported wastegate since the stock size is quite inadequate for anything other than a stock setup exhaust and engine. there is a decent writeup on FC3Spro.com, may as well port the turbo runners while you are there too.



that is a while Nick, too bad it is going to take so long but with the upgrade i;m sure you will be happy with it, i wouldn't mind going with a .60AR trim wheel and comp housing too but i need to find out if it is a direct bolt on and whether the compressor shaft needs any types of modifications. we need a writeup on hybrids...

 

well they said the compressor shaft IS modified but i dont know about the housing
but when i get it back i should be very happy "zoom zoom" ok stop with the corny lines lol

 

is there i site that i can go to to learn turbo lingo, i'm an N/A person . . . i get the hybrid concept but i dont understand t04 or T-66 etc.

 

If it still uses the stock type carbon seal, then any Garrett T3/T04 rebuild kit will work.
These kits are typically about $150.
Make sure you insist on the carbon seal kit, as the dynamic seal kit is useless to you.


-Ted

 

Try it again--it always works for me. I copied the info below in case you're interested, but I'm sure it would be better to follow Ted's advice, and find the kit he recommends:

Turbo Repair Kit #300-500 $111.22
300-500

Fits the following Make, Model, and Year

Buick Regal, LeSabre '78 3.8L
Buick Regal LeSabre '79 3.8L
Buick Riviera '79 3.8L
Buick Regal, LeSabre '80 3.8L
Buick Riviera '80 3.8L
Buick Regal LeSabre '81 3.8L
Buick Riviera '81 3.8L
Buick Regal, LeSabre '82-'83 3.8L (RED)
Buick Riviera '82-'83 3.8L
Ford/Mercury Capri, Mustang '79-'80 2.3L
Mazda RX7 '87-'88
Nissan 280ZX '81-'83 Non/W/C
Nissan 300 ZX '84-'85 Oil-Cooled
Pontiac Trans Am '80-'81 4.9L

 

Buy "Maximum Boost", by Corky Bell. That book helps alot. Im an n/a guy also, but after reading that book, I feel that I have a much better understanding about turbos.
-a

 

Like was stated above go with Turbo City, I have rebuilt many turbos using their kits and have yet to have any problems.

 

what everything will come in that kit???

 

the link works now from work but didn't yesterday from home, i will give them a call when i have a chance.

 

Or you can find a new turbo on Ebay like me!

I don't know why no one bid on it back then.
I got it for $300 shipped!
Watch for it, I am sure more will pop up again.

 

wow thats a clean turbo.....

 

What about the S5 turbos ?

Would the carbon seal kit from a T04 fit ?

I called a place (hardly the only one) that rebuild turbos in my area
and the guys specifically insisted on the fact that the journal bearings
in the garret kit are a bit different size (a couple of thou of a inch (.00x"))
and that I would have to modify them to make it fit my HT18.

They quoted it a 140 can$and have it in stock,
and the rebuild kit for the HT18 was 295 can$ (ouch, 2x the price)

Working in a machine shop and having access to the required equipment,
this is really not a problem for me, but I'd like to know exactly what is the
dimensions difference they are talking about from other people who have
first hand experience in rebuilding SERIES 5 turbos.

Also, what is the required clearance between the shaft and the inner bore
of the journal bearing ? I've been told it is .0030"/.0035" on the radius, is it right ?

Tks for any advice.

Remy

 

The CHRA's are identical.
The only difference between the S4 and S5 turbo is the turbine housing.
The internals are all the same.


This is something new to me.
Although I haven't bothered to check clearances on the bearings, all the stock turbos I've rebuilt all ran fine afterwards.

As for hIGGI's question...
The T3/T04 Garrett rebuild kits are supposed to be complete.
They come with:
Compressor soft seal o-ring - backing plate to center
Compressor carbon seal (remember, not the "dynamic seal")
Oil bearings x2
C-clips x4 (2 per oil bearing)
Turbine piston compression ring
That's the basic kit - there may be miscellaneous parts like nuts and bolts included.


-Ted

 

Thanks Reted, this is exacly the kind of answer I hoped for !
I had already ordered the kit but I was just worried a bit.

Remy

 

i just need the one seal that goes on the back plate of the cold side thats sprung and has a casing on it. anyone know where i can get one. i have no shaft play, i upgraded to a t04 htrim and i cracked mine while installing. thanx

 

am i not gonna know this untill i tear it apart?? how will i know the difference?

AND BTW!! BACK form the DEAD!..LOL
its a aireasearch stage 2 S4 turbo

 

I remember my turbo rebuilder using T04 parts for mine. So far I've gone 53k on it wih no shaft play and running 10psi daily.

Rebuild vs buying a used one FTW

 

It's most likely a carbon seal...
Yeah, but you're right - you need to tear it down to confirm.


-Ted