bought a used 18G today, opinions please?

[blueninteytwo]

ok, so i picked up an 18G turbo that I was told blew smoke and had excessive shaft play, and i got an EVOIII manifold in the deal too, for $140.

took it apart and found this.

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and

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and

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so question 1: wheel's no good, huh? maybe a 20G then, will it fit without machining?
so question 2: what can I do about the compressor cover? the damage isn't bad, but something needs to get done about it to get it back to smooth, i was thinkin maybe like really fine grit sandpaper? then polish it up...

so question 3: obviously there was some kinda shaft play on that turbo, but what constitutes unrebuildable? as long as the center section itself is still good (which mine is), it appears every other part should come in a quality rebuild kit. (not those $60 ebay ones)
am I missing something here?

the shaft itself is fine, a little discolored but i can run my fingernail up and down it and can't find any faults....

opinions would be fantastic....

 

[blueninteytwo]

wow, can't believe no replies....

 

[Mr Peepers]

It's very hard to tell the extent of the damage from those pictures.

Getting the turbo balanced is a MUST, and you can't do that with simply a rebuild kit. Even if you marked the orientation of the wheels and shaft, it may still be off balance from the material that was worn off.

I suggest giving someone like Forced Performance a call to find out some prices on a rebuild to see if it's worth it. I'm in the same boat...

 

[97 4G63]

Yeah i think your better of buying a new turbo it looks bad pluss like Mr Peepers sayd you need to balance it out

 

[turbolover10]

Unless you could find a reputable place that can balance it. Could be more of a hassle then its worth but totally up to you..

 

[Mr Peepers]

Having it rebuilt at a reputable shop can arguably be better than a new one. If having it rebuilt(including the initial price) adds up to less than a new one, and you want to keep it, I say go for it. If I were to get mine rebuilt, FP would be the ones doing it.

 

[blueninteytwo]

all the guys that say "get rid of it, and buy another" please include why. otherwise why would I listen?


yah, i live like 20 min from pruven performance over here, so it's def. getting balanced. i've done my homework. I think i'm gonna have pruven machine the housing to accept a 20g wheel, hoping it will take off the nicks in the housing you can see....

Forced Performance: FP Turbo Rebuild Kits

looks like what i'm gonna go with....unless someone knows why i can't use the center section, that kit has literally every other part... all i need is the 2 wheels and the center section

[img=http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7154/s4300017yk1.th.jpg]

here's another good pic of the blade damage, but i'm sure the wheel's no good.

anybody know if the housing needs to be machined to accept a 20G wheel? i might as well upgrade if I can.... i'm reading it's called a "sleeper 20G"

plus they'll probably machine off the nicks in the compressor housing.....