dead turbo?

[deletrius]

So I was running some errands today, cruising around with the windows down and a heavy foot. I gave it some gas, but it just didnt pull as hard as it should have. I noticed on my boost gauge I was boosting properly (it usually spools to 13psi then down to 10), but I also noticed a weird sound. Hm. I drove to work and it still didnt want to pull, same on the way home. Anytime I would give it gas to speed up, the turbo would spool...extremely loudly and very slowly. My boost gauge would read up to a max of 11 psi at first, and it would take until around redline to get there, by the time I got home it wouldnt boost past 8 psi. Now the sound that my turbo makes is horrid, its similar to putting coins in a tin can and rattling it about, not the sexy high pitched rush of air it used to make. So, it's my guess that my turbo has died. I havent had the oppertunity to open up the hood and check for any other possible causes, too dark.
Now, my question is this, is it the turbo causing this? if so, should I proceed to go big and buy a nice new turbo, or just get a replacement t25 for now? If I do go big, what do you all reccomend, e3 16g gt, 50 trim, or (what i want) a big ol 60 trim? My goals are 400 at the wheels on a daily driver. Car would see mainly highway pulls with the occasional street/strip action. Currently it is stock, but I do have the money to buy any supporting mods I would need to go big par, if to just install it and run stock boost. I had been planning on buying a new turbo after I got my 3" thermal exhaust installed, which I ordered over two weeks ago but my shop still hasnt gotten it in, taking it to another shop to get one next week. Also I am in the process of fabricating my own custom UICP and running a 1g bov on it. As for turbos I was looking at the AGP rs60t, and right now that is my top pick, that or their rs49t. also i would like to externally gate it, and i was wondering what all would be involved in getting the wg attached to the o2 since it supposedly works better than if it is on the #4 runner, i could do either i suppose. decisions, decisions...

 

[99gst_racer]

OK.....

Does the turbo make any kind of whining/whistling noise??
Pull of the intake pipe to see if there is any oil in the compressor housing.
Then pull the LICP off to see if it is filled with oil.
Are you getting a smoke screen out of your exhaust?
Check for shaft play (up and down -and- in and out)
Make sure the compressor wheel blades aren't hitting the compressor housing. That could be the funny noise you are hearing.

It sounds busted, but check these things first. ^^^^^

If it's broke, and your future goals are 400 whp, then you have some options. If it were me, I would opt for a T04e 50-tirm and then run low boost (ei 10-12 psi) until I had all the supporting mods to crank up the boost. It's a good street strip turbo for a 400 WHP goal and it's very efficient.

As far as the external wastegate goes; I'd recommend it on the manifold. Off the #1 runner or off the collector (not #4 runner). This way, if you ever switch out turbos in the future, your wastegate will remain in the same place and will require no modification to work with the new turbo. Plus it just looks bad-ass hanging off the manifold.

 

[deletrius]

awesome, thanks for the reply. I wont be able to check anything until the morning, another 9 hours or so when i wake up. and i also noticed when driving it earlier that no, the turbo did not make the high pitched whistling that it should have and that whenever i clutched in after it was spooled that i could not hear the BOV venting. i have quite a bit i have to do tomorrow too, how bad is it to drive with it in this condtion?
I was contemplating a t04e but that setup is kinda expensive but very nice. It's just with the AGP turbos you can bolt them to the existing manifold. With a t04e setup i would have to get either an adapter plate or a new manifold entirely, and the rs60t can make over 500whp, so... also, if i go external WG, i know a guy that will weld anything i need for free, so i can just get him to weld some tube and a flange to my existing manifold, instead of me having to buy a new manifold for either external wg or t04e.

 

[99gst_racer]

how bad is it to drive with it in this condtion?

Well, it depends. I wouldnt drive it at all if the compressor blades are grinding away at the compressor housing. If they are not, and you must drive it, just try not to build any boost while driving and you should be OK. Disconnect the wastegate arm from the flapper and your car will pretty much be a NA for the time being.

I was contemplating a t04e but that setup is kinda expensive but very nice. It's just with the AGP turbos you can bolt them to the existing manifold. With a t04e setup i would have to get either an adapter plate or a new manifold entirely

Not nessacerily. Bullseye Power sells T04e 50 trims that are a direct bolt on and for only $700. these are all direct bolt-on

also, if i go external WG, i know a guy that will weld anything i need for free, so i can just get him to weld some tube and a flange to my existing manifold, instead of me having to buy a new manifold for either external wg or t04e.

Make sure he has experience with welding stainless onto cast. It's not the easiest thing for most welders to do. The process is more complex. Here's pics of mine HERE

 

[deletrius]

just checked the compressor and the shaft play is crazy, i can move it up and down an enormous amount, enough so it hits against the housing. most likely time for a new turbo me thinks. but, i dont think there was any oil in it, could be wrong, i just checked for shaft play. now that you showed me the bolt on t04e, i think i will go that route, but they dont offer the t04e in a 50 trim, only 57 trim and up. but they do have the 2 for 1 deal, where they give you a 50 trim t04b and a 60 trim t04e for a good price. should i get this or go with the t04b 50 trim? my goal is 400 whp but that doesnt mean i wont take more

 

[deletrius]

i was reading up on how to remove the WG actuator arm in order to run n/a mode so i can get around a bit and go do stuff but it seems i cannot find the pin that i need to remove. anyone have any pics of it?
edit: found out that the pin had rusted off/fallen off so i just popped the arm off and now it is in slow mode and is shooting LOTS of blue smoke out the back. not pretty

 

[deletrius]

alright my decision has come down to either the rs49t or the rs60t, which one should i get that would best fill my goals?

 

[99gst_racer]

I think the rs49t would meet your needs just fine and it will be a better street turbo. Better/quicker spool and more efficient.