Removing o2 housing without removing turbo

[mini zilo]

I have an evo 3 16g with a stock 02 housing. I have an evo 3 o2 housing I want to put on, but is it possible to remove the old o2 housing and install the new one without removing the turbo? If so, how?

 

[dsm91TalonTSi]

shouldn't you be able to unbolt it from the down pipe, and then unbolt it from the exhaust side of the turbo?? i dont remember where the wastegate actuator is bolted on to, its been a while since i've looked at my old evo3 16g... but that's just held on by like 2 or 3 bolts if it is on the o2 housing

 

[mini zilo]

Yes... but the back bolt of the 4 is hard to get, and the other bottom one is hard to get as well

 

[mattdev]

You shouldn't have to get the turbo off. I swapped my o2 housing a few months back. There's 4 bolts (if i remember correctly) holding it to the turbo, 2 for the dp. The ones off the dp should be cake. But here's a few tips for the upper ones. Used WD-40 (or other penetrator, soak it for a day, it will make life easier), use 6pt sockets/wrenches, and have A FEW universal swivels on hand. I broke 2 of them getting one bolt off. Oh, and stay patient, and enjoy a fun game of bloody knuckles w/ your car!!!

But those swivels are how you get the hardest one off, in the back. I can't explain the angle, but u NEED a long extension, Swivel, and preferably a cheater bar (and a friend would be nice to keep the socket on right, or else...)

 

[kenamond]

My recollection is that you couldn't get at one of the nuts, but I was dropping mine and just staring at the bolt locations thinking, "I don't think I could pull this O2 housing off without dropping the turbo again." If others have done it, that's all you need to know. Below are some pictures of my FPB28 just before I installed it. Looks like you might be able to get at the bolts/nut, but it might be tight, and you may NEED 6-point wrenches and sockets to get 1/6 turn at a time.

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[mini zilo]

Hmm, seems like the thing with the swivels might work, and I have tons of those. Thanks!

 

[guitarhero14]

just removed mine not too long ago. No need to drop the turbo, small hands and some patients goes a long way. i also removed the dipstick to make some more room. The bottom bolts i got at from under the car.

 

[eboy0]

I did this a little while back, and will do it again in a week or so when my o2 dump tube gets here.
If i can remember there's 2 bolts that are hard to get at on the exhaust side. If you don't want to get all pissed off, and would like to do it right, buy yourself a new 6cm gasket and just take it off.
But that's just me, let me know if you need any help.

 

[synthetek]

I just just did it the other day installing an o2 with dump tube, the dip stick is kind of in the way so removing it helps, also like mentioned above have some extensions , swivels, & some wreches handy & you should be able to do it. It took less than an hour form me to swap mine.

 

[HIGHPSI4]

Does the EVO 3 O2 housing have 3 bolts that mount to the down pipe?

 

[thekellbeast]

I've swapped O2 housings twice. The first time, I was installing my SSauto dumped one. When we pulled the stock one, we broke one bolt and left pieces of others in the threads. That made it a total bi*** to install the new one. Like other people have said though, a uni-joint helps a lot. We used a ratchet that has a folding head.

The second time, I said fvck it and pulled the exhaust housing off of the turbo, leaving the turbo in place with all lines still connected. While I had the housing off, I ported the outlet to match the Evo3 O2, chased all the threads (they're perfect now) and removed the old broken bolt. We had to put in a helicoil on that. Then I made sure I bolted the O2 housing to the Exhaust housing before I re-installed everything.

 

[thekellbeast]

Does the EVO 3 O2 housing have 3 bolts that mount to the down pipe?

No. There are two, but they're spaced a bit wider than the stock bolts. If you're going to run a stock DP (or some aftermarket 2.5" DP's) you have to slot the holes on the DP flange. I'm running the MR exhaust so that wasn't a problem for me.

I also wanted to add, that PB Blaster is ####ing awesome when it comes to seized bolts. You'll probably go through a can of that stuff when you're removing the O2. I also recommend using some sort of torch to heat up any exhaust bolts before trying to work on them. Oxy-acetylene or a Mapp gas torch. Propane just won't cut it.

 

[cooldude919]

Taking off the exhaust housing sounds like the best way to me. I think i may see if i can do that first, and if not then i will just try to get the bolts out and remove the o2 by itself.

Any other suggestions?

 

[laserspeeddemon]

I did mine in a funny way. I took off the Exhaust manifold and the downpipe. Then I removed the V-Band Clamp nut and the clamp itself. And carefully removed the Turbine housing/02 housing as one peice.

The turbo center section and compressor housing were being suspended by the oil/coolant lines. A few people advised against it, because the turbo just hanging there. But you have to remember that the heaviest part of the turbo is the cast iron turbine housing and the 4 lines is more then enough to suspend the weight. Plus the only thing I didn't want to do is remove the lines so..... mission completed!

I have an extra turbo lying around, I'll go snap off some shots to display what I am talking about.

 

[jbramble2]

I always found it easier to remove the whole turbine housing with the o2 housing still attached. I had to do this many times to port the EvoIII housing for boost creep. Then I got smart and went external.

^^must have been typing at the same time.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Here is the nut you have to remove for the V-band Clamp. After that remove clamp it self. It may need some convincing to get off. But it will come off.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Clamp removed (hanging on the compressor housing). I forgot to mention you have to remove the wastegate arm from the wastegate flapper.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Turbine housing/02 housing removed as one piece.

Now it may take a few light taps or (ill advised) put a screw driver between the turbine housing and the center section and lightly tap it to break the carbon crust that forces it to stick. However you do it. BE VERY CAREFUL REMOVING THE IRON CAST PIECES. You can EASILY bend the fins on the turbine wheels, just be very careful.

 

[spyderturbo007]

So Joe, how did you make out and which method did you use? I have a ported O2 sensor housing sitting here I'll be installing in the next week or so.

 

[DSMunknown]

is it possible to remove the old o2 housing and install the new one without removing the turbo? If so, how?

Yes. With a little time and a little patience.

Looks like you might be able to get at the bolts/nut, but it might be tight, and you may NEED 6-point wrenches and sockets to get 1/6 turn at a time.

Wrenches are only applicable to the two easily accessible nut and bolt. The other two require a socket.

just removed mine not too long ago. No need to drop the turbo, small hands and some patients goes a long way. i also removed the dipstick to make some more room. The bottom bolts i got at from under the car.

Times two on the small hands. I recently replaced my entire OEM exhaust system from the O2 housing to the exhaust tip. I replaced the old O2 housing with an unported Evo III O2 housing; it mated perfectly with my untouched T-25.

Patience is a big factor, and a three-eighths inch swivel joint and matching ratchet will do the trick (also needed is a very short extension). Unless you have several one-fourth inch ratchets at your disposal that you don't care to break, I wouldn't suggest using them here. Remember that the torque specs for these four nuts/bolts is 43 ft.lbs.; not an easy task for a small one-fourth inch ratchet.

Remember to use some Anti-Seize on the bolt threads when putting everything back together, just in case you decide to take off the housing for whatever reason down the road. When tightening the two bolts closest to the engine block, do what you can to tighten them; there's no possible way you'll fit a torque wrench in such a tight area, so just do your best to screw them on tight.

 

[Bender]

You can take the 02 housing off the turbo without doing anything to the turbo. The trick is removing your oil dipstick tube. I have done it twice.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Hmmm, never thought of that.

 

[DSMunknown]

You can take the 02 housing off the turbo without doing anything to the turbo. The trick is removing your oil dipstick tube. I have done it twice.

I never removed my oil dipstick. I thought about it, but that's about as far as it went.

 

[S_Ranger]

You can take the 02 housing off the turbo without doing anything to the turbo. The trick is removing your oil dipstick tube. I have done it twice.

and den...

 

[JDMHVN]

yeah good idea. that would have helped me last weekend i wanted to see if i could do the same... o well, next time.