Turbo Replacement

[coolguywalt]

How long, and how entailed, is pulling out the turbo on our hot airs? I waws quoted at 350.00, and that is just labor! I am sure it can be done for less. Also, where is one to get a new turbo oil line? GM dosen't make it.

 

[jacksorroche]

350 does sound pretty steep, however, judging on how much a pain in the Ass the job is, you might not find anybody willing to do it at a lower price. It is not a job that nobody looks forward to. My love for these cars is the only thing that makes me look forward to the job.
As far as the oil return line, take your oil line to a shop that makes hydraulic hoses. They should be able to make you one that is comprable to the original. You will find them in the Yellow Pages under Hoses and Couplings or something like that.

Hope this helped.

 

[racemybuick]

1. $350 should be a negotiable price...If a decent mechanic charges 70 dollars an hour, this job should only take 2.5 hours. You just need one socket, a two foot or three foot extension, and a socket wrench. You take the TB off with the turbo, then separate when you are done. The hardest part is knowing where all the hoses go. If you can, lable all the hoses and pipes prior to bringing it to the shop, then have it disassembled to save the mechanic from wasting time.

I took my turbo off two weeks ago and it took me less than one hour. Granted, I've done this process at least 5 times, but I guarantee you, I am no professional at this at all and one hour seemed too long to do it.

If you were to put a new turbo on at the same time as the removal of the old one, then a 3 hour job is the maximum time I would give any mechanic, being that all he has to do is swap the TB, maybe the exhaust elbo, grease the parts, seal it up, and put it back on. $350 is ok, but I think you are being overcharged.

If you know your mechanic well, and have time to spend at the shop, I am sure he will give you a break on that price if you hang out with him while he works on the car.

2. As for the Oil line, POSTON has a nice braided line for the cars, but I am not too sure of the length or application. On their website, it is just listed as oil feed line. Check it out or contact them and see if it is what you need. Good luck. Hope all goes well with the car!!

John

 

[boostmaster]

Labor

350.00 is a fare price if it includes replacing the turbo oil feed line. R & R- ing the turbo is no big deal I can do it in 45 min's, but replacing the oil feed is a different story and a major pain in the arse. to do this the altenator, ac and associated brackets must be removed. and everyone who has done this before knows what a pain it is. So with that said 350 bucks is more than fare.
But only for a professionally done job. These cars are a royal pain in the arse and not many people will work on them anyway, wich is one reason many would choose to have an intercooled car instead.

 

[coolguywalt]

This is the only place in Denver that I know of that will work on the turbo buicks. If anyone else knows of one out here that would be swell, otherwise......

 

[racemybuick]

what exactly do you need done? Do you have a replacement turbo, and just need the swap? If so, let me know...My brother lives just outside of Denver, in Lakewood, he may be able to help you out. He works for Kawasaki or sumthin to that effect, but he is a Denver Auto grad, and he knows a ton about our cars. Let me know what needs to be done, and I will see what he can do for ya!

Good luck!

John

 

[coolguywalt]

Thanks for the offer, I just might take you up on that...but as far as what needs to be done, the turbo is leaking oil into the compressor housing and into the intercooler. I have the breather on it, so the oil is not coming from the fill tube on the drivers side housing. The pcv valve is good and in the right place, so I am led to believe that the seals are bad in the turbo I plan on sending my turbo, that's if I can get it off without messing everything up, to John at Limited Engineering in AZ for a TA-33 setup in the stock housing and replacing it myself, once again, if I don't manage to mess it up.