what to look for

newestone · Post by **newestone** » Fri Oct 19, 2001 4:36 pm

went to the local yard today to check availability of turbos saw tons. my question is what should I look for when buying a turbo from a junkyard checked a couple out and there was slight play on all of them, is there supposed to be any at all on the impellers?

Thanks

Lo Cash John · Post by **Lo Cash John** » Sat Oct 20, 2001 10:56 pm

A slight, slight bit of side to side play is fine. Also there should be slight "drag" on the rotating assembly caused by the shaft seals. If the wheels will just spin and spin very easily the seals and bearings are probably shot. Another thing is to avoid any thrust wear. This means you should NOT be able to push or pull the shaft/wheels assembly in or out of the turbo any measureable amount. As far as cars to look for...Certain years of Dodge 2.2s, Saab 900 turbo (like we used)or most any 4 or small 6 cylinder turbo car. Dune-buggy.com has some good junkyard turbo info on it. Good luck!

Dentdude · Post by **Dentdude** » Sat Oct 20, 2001 11:53 pm

This goes along as a question in what to look for.I went to the local Cophers U-Pull-It junk yard. The car that I saw was a AWD-Turbo Subaru.A sedan looking kind of a car.Some of the engine was already striped away.But what caught my eye was turbine fins in the turbo unit.They were visable with what had been taken from the engine already. This was before I even knew that it was a turbo model car.I started to pull the turbo off.But as I was working at it.I could see I wasnt going to be able to get it with the tools that I had.Do I need to get all the exhaust and intake manafolds leading to the turbo as well?Or can they be fabricated? I know it would be easyier is I could get all that stuff.But I doubt they would let any customers in carrying in a cutting torch to cut the exhaust pipe and such.The Subaru already has a pancake 4 motor.I'm thinking that it would work pretty good for a stock 1600 type 1 sedan.The turbo didnt have any play in it.It turned fairly well.Is this something worth grabbing? Are Subaru turbo's even worth messing with?

Lo Cash John · Post by **Lo Cash John** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 7:36 pm

As far as putting the entire Subaru motor/turbo/injection in a bug...Yes it can be done, but there WILL be a lot of work and dollars involved. It seems like the further off the "beaten path" you go, the more expensive it gets. Lots more to fabricate and more R&D needed. As for the turbo itself, I'm not sure. The engine size is about right and if it has the proper oil seal then you can use it for a draw-thru or a blow-thru system. Check out the "boneyard special" that Volksnut built. He has some pics posted here somewhere. This thing is pretty much all secondhand stuff and looks top notch! I'm going by his place on Monday afternoon to take a few hot laps around the neighborhood. I can't wait!!