hey,

well i installed the TST PM3 just a couple hours ago and decided to take it for a test drive then go get some tubing to install the boost elbow and remove the NPT plug to make the WG functional again.

well i took it for a run on 9 (highest setting) and holy smokes did it haul compared to stock. i was waiting for the shift into 4th and before it did that i had a quick surge in power, puff of black smoke, along with a whoosh/hiss/popping noise (blend of all three, not all separate). i quickly looked at my gauges and saw the pyro was pegged at or beyond 1500* and boost fell extremely fast. (rookie mistake here, watching my speedo instead of the boost/pyro gauge ). i coasted to a stop and let the pyro cool for a bit then had a look under the hood - didn't see anything out of the ordinary upon quick inspection.

so i drove home to have a better look at what may have gone wrong. during the drive i noticed i could still build almost 30 psi of boost but it was very slow to do so, also when i let off, the boost gauge falls flat on it's face right to zero. the turbo is also making a strange noise now (just doesn' sound as tight as it used too . . .)

had a look at my headgasket (no mess), had a look at the intercooler boots (can't see or feel a split anywhere), so this leads me to believe i may have pooched my turbo. i really hope that is not the case . . .

what are you diagnosis' from the limited info i have for you???

 

yup sounds like turbo, or hole in the piston,, any white smoke? How is the power?

 

hole in the piston??? what piston?

no white smoke that i noticed, power is still there, but not nearly as responsive. i didn't push it though, didn't want to wreck anything else . . .

i'm gonna go check for oil in the turbo and shaft play . . .

 

Sounds like a boost leak maybe a head gasket. Check the oil and coolant make sure there good. Then look harder for a boost leak.

 

just checked the turbo - quite a bit of shaft play side-to-side, up/down, and all around . . . none or minimal front-to-back. no obvious amounts of oil either.

also, the fins obviously touched the surrounding surface as the surface was etched and fins slightly bent at the edges . . .

so now that we determined it is the turbo, how safe is it to drive like this if i take it easy and turn the fuel down? is it now a ticking time bomb or can i drive it as is for a while?

 

Personally, with that much play in it I would not be driving it. Others may chime in. If that turbo lets go and sprays the intercooler with oil and turbo pieces, you're in for allot of work cleaning it up, not to mention there is a chance of the small pieces making it into the motor.

 

Shes ticking faster then a Union time clock. J/K Been there and done that. Stop while you can. If it flies apart it can be a lot more costly. I would suggest starting surgery now and get the turbo off and replaced.

 

I concur with the above. I have had a turbo come apart and it isnt pretty

 

you need a replacement turbo in a hurry, even if it is a used in good shape stocker, get it on there before you have to get a tow home, park that truck.

 

PM me if you need loan of a cheezy hy, it works no leaks and I'm sure get you by until you find a replacement

 

i certainly do need help finding a turbo. anyone have some good used ones they want to get rid of at a fair price?

where do i start? what size to go with? what brand? where from?

i know i want to stay with a single right now. in order to go with twins the cost will be far too much for me right now, plus i will need at least 150's as apposed to the brand new 105's i have right now . . .

so i'll drive it as little as possible while i figure this out, but in the meantime - let's hear your suggestions as to what i should go with, where to get it etc . . .

 

Pick your power range then pick your turbo.. For what you have now a 62-12-71 would work IMHO...

 

I've got a stock turbo kicking around at my sisters place. Not sure if its an HX or a WH1C, but either way, its there if you want it.

As for future turbo, like J said, you need to pick your power goal and then pick your turbo. The 64/71 I have is real nice, and it drives better than the 62/71 I had before.

If you want that turbo, let me know. I should be home in the next day (hopefully) or two. I'd like to have a look at your turbo. By the description, the loose shaft isn't the cause of your noise, although it could be a by-product of it. Give it a spin, if its hard then it would be your source of slow spool and fast drop off. A boost leak would do the same, even if you can still make 30 psi.

 

my mods are as follows:

MITUSA lift pump
SMARTY
TS-MVP
TST-PM3
RV275's (Soon to be MACH 2's)

CAI
4" TBE

Built 47RE

Tunnel Ram Plate (soon to be installed) - this is supposed to help spool-up a bit. i want to hold-off installing this until i get the new turbo so i can see what it really does.

HTH you guys in determining the right turbo. i am turbo illiterate, but am learning quickly right now as i am in a bit of a pinch. i also plan on running twins one day so picking a turbo as a single now but with plans to use it in twins would work well for me . . .

a bit pricey but what about a Silver 62 from II???
http://www.industrialinjection.com/id44.html
one of the things that sounds good about the S62 is that it is a direct drop in replacement . . .

 

I have been thinking about getting rid of my Super B special 64/71/14. I wont be home till beginning of June though.