Turbine Housing Removal Question
 

I bought an H1C turbo from Fleabay that has an 18.5cm turbine housing and needs a rebuild. I also picked up a holset 14cm WG housing with a Banks Big Head actuator. I've read many posts about separating the turbine housing from the cartridge and have few questions. Most of the posts mention heat and a hammer.
At this point I can't get the bolts holding the turbine housing to the cartridge to budge. I don't really care about the 18.5cm housing or the bolts. If the bolts break it's no big deal. Unfortunately they seem more prone to round off. I don't want to mess up the cartridge.
My plan is to soak (submerge) the turbine housing and cartridge in solvent (mineral spirits, kerosene, PSC1000) for a week or so then take a crack at the bolts again. Then apply heat.
My question is: Where to apply the heat? I have an oxy/acetylene torch and a rosebud head. The rosebud makes some serious heat but not very focused. Like a floodlight. Where should I heat it? I don't want to melt the cartridge. I have welding tips and a cutting torch for more focused heat if needed.

I also need a 3" diameter short outlet back plate for the turbine housing if anyone has one. Looks like Holset p/n 3527758. Shoot me a PM.

Ive rebuilt many H1C's I never "needed" heat although it would't hurt. what I do is use one side of a ball joint fork and tap it between the oil ports and the head of the bolts, alternating sides. till it is free. for the bolts not loosening and wanting to round... I have had the same issues before. What I do is use a sharp punch and hammer and slightly tap the head of the bolt in the counterclockwise direction untill it is free, then you can use a wrench or pliers. you will only be able to loosen the two bolts near the oil ports a few turns before you will have to rotate the turbine housing (loosen the bolts a few turns inorder to use the ball joint fork)
Hope this helps

Sounds like plan. I hadn't thought of the punch method. I hate to use the heat wrench unnecessarily. I really hate to use the rosebud if I don't have to. It's great when you need steel to turn orange quickly or over a large area but it is VERY gas hungry.
This doesn't need to be done immediately so I can let it sit in solvent for awhile...other than my want for instant gratification.

Does anyone know off hand the thread diameter and pitch of the turbine housing bolts?

I know they are Metric 13 mm head not sure on thread pitch.

Yeah I had a 1/2" wrench on them. Pretty tight fit. One started to round when I slipped the 3 foot cheater pipe over the wrench:o
Just wanted to give it a nudge...

Are you using a 6 point wrench?:conf:

He is probably using the open end side, its the only side you can get onto the bolts.

OH crap. I missed that completely[duhhh]

Use metric wrenches!

Well... I let it soak in the aforementioned solvent mix for 4 or 5 days. Pulled it out last night and the bolts came loose with moderate hand pressure on a standard 1/2" crescent wrench. I used Coolguylevi's method with the pickle fork on the bolt head under the oil inlet boss then used moderate wacks with a brass hammer on the circumference of the housing. She came apart in about 5 minutes. I inadvertently bound up the turbine wheel twice but noting seems damaged or bent. Man, it doesn't have to move much before it pushes on the turbine wheel. Came apart pretty easily, comparatively.
I disassembled most of the turbo and will soak it in solvent for a couple days then clean everything up.
I got my rebuild kit from Turbo Lab today. Looks pretty decent and supposedly made in the USA.

I tried 12 and 13mm wrenches but no go. 12mm wouldn't fit and 13mm was sloppy loose.