Turbo Rebuild Options - Any thoughts??

Ok, so thanks to Mike at Infamous Performance & Tuning (great guy , if you ever have a chance to visit him), I found out I have oil leaking from the band clamp holding the CHRA to the turbine housing. He thinks I've got a leaky oil seal from too much heat, and I'd tend to agree with him.

He pulled the banjo bolt and it was pretty clogged up. It had actually busted through the screen on one side! (see pic below) Maybe that busted screen saved my turbo, maybe not. It sounds fine (no dentist drill, no marbles in a blender), but we didn't pull the DP to check for play in the shaft.

I'm trying to keep my cost low, so I'd like to go for a rebuild. Searching around the forums, some people don't seem to think there's much use to rebuilding the VF40, but I'd like to do it. Sure, a BNR 16G is only $725, but then I have to do the oil system upgrades and a tune, which adds to the bill from there.

So, to make a long story longer, I've found a few rebuilders online, and most of them SEEM to have their sh*t together, but I wanted to see if anybody had any experience or opinions on these guys:

#1 http://pretuning.com/services/>This place looks promising, and pretty cheap too. They seem to know what they're talking about and have a 1 year warranty. The only big problem I see is in the warranty section I found this under Warranty Voiding Modifications:

"-Any turbocharger found to be overheated due to lack, or total absence, or water cooling of the bearing housing. This only applies to water cooled AND oil lubricated turbochargers. Any turbocharger means to be use with water cooling should be used as such. If such methods is not available please revise your turbocharger choice."

The VF40 is oil cooled... WTF?

#2 http://6starspeed.com/reihivftusul.html>These guys are more expensive ($500), but they replace the entire CHRA and have a 2 year warranty.

#3 http://www.xsboostturbochargers.com/...ding-services/
Something I just ran across. I can't tell how long the warranty lasts, but they also seem to know what they're doing. Also, just an interesting point, they sell a complete CHRA for $375 on this page: http://www.xsboostturbochargers.com/...ihi-vf40-chra/>

#4 http://www.pureturbos.com/store/rema...uring-fix.html
These guys make me a little nervous because their site says they're the "only shop in the USA who can properly rebuild and VSR cartridge balance ball bearing turbos". As far as I can tell, that's just a lie...

I was just wondering if you guys had any opinions on any of these places, or any other guidance you can give me.

I look forward to hearing from everybody!

You really can't go wrong with BNR and their warranty. Although you have to buy the oil line kit and a tune is highly suggested, it will truly be worth it in the end with your car being a bit peppier and having a great turbo for daily driving. Can't BNR just rebuild a VF40 to OEM spec? VF40's are water cooled last I knew.

Otherwise, i'd go with 6starspeed.

or just look for a lightly used V40/V46, reinstall and call a day. Or a V52 and a tune...

Originally Posted by blongo804

Can't BNR just rebuild a VF40 to OEM spec? VF40's are water cooled last I knew.

Unfortunately, BNR doesn't do rebuilds of the VF40 any more. Mike called Bryan when I was there. And you're right, the VF40 is water cooled, I'm not sure what I was thinking of...

Originally Posted by LGT For ME

or just look for a lightly used V40/V46, reinstall and call a day. Or a V52 and a tune...

That's definitely an option... That's what I did with my first turbo, which went out at about 80,000 miles and has lasted me until 136,000. Last time I paid $365, which is about how much it would cost for a rebuild (without a new CHRA), and a rebuild with a warranty seems to be a better value than a used turbo with an unknown history.

At least that's what I'm thinking...

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthrea...bo-203209.html

/thread

Thanks for the heads up, fahr_side!

Wait... What happened to the link? It worked the first few times I clicked it, but now there's nothing... WTF?

Does that mean the thread got closed?

I don't know. PM bigjweb and see if he still has the turbo?

I'm in the same situation. You are fine with stock clutch and fueling on the bnr 16g. If youd still rather not go that route I hear good things about 6 star. They're all my local shop uses.

Originally Posted by fahr_side

I don't know. PM bigjweb and see if he still has the turbo?

I did, on Monday, but he just got back to me this morning. Looks like I missed it...

Originally Posted by lingling1337

I'm in the same situation. You are fine with stock clutch and fueling on the bnr 16g. If youd still rather not go that route I hear good things about 6 star. They're all my local shop uses.

Of course it has to be the most expensive one... $225 more and I could get a 16g...

Nobody has any experience with PRE Tuning?

You should be dealing with "m sprank" he's local to you and well respected on the forum.

Who do you think found the oil leak! Mike (m sprank) was a huge help when I went to him, I can see why he's so well regarded...

He has only used BNR for rebuilds, but they don't provide that service any more. He also said "Pure Turbos is a waste. I have seen a few turbos come out of that place and they tend to last maybe a week." So I'm not going with them...

He couldn't offer opinions on the others, so that's why I came here!

Well FWIW, I'm very happy with my vf52.

Got it from Mike at AZPinstalls.com, I had it the next day.