1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Morgan,
Hope all's well!
Cracks are almost always present on the T3 GARRETT turbocharger turbine housings. Most hairline cracks start at the wastegate portal of the turbine housing and continue through the casting to the turbine outlet.
Most small hairline cracks around the wastegate portal will not pose a threat but any cracks at the turbine outlet will require a replacement turbine housing. Welding is not typically realistic as the turbine housings are cast and difficult to properly repair(cracks tend to reappear).
We have been working with a high nickel content casting which is less prone to thermal expansion and cracking and these are standard on our upgrade T3/T4 turbochargers.
Turbocharger parts can be found new or used and balancing won't be required if you can purchase a new shaft nut.
GARRETT both independently balances and, in some cases, dynamically balances turbocharger rotating assemblies at the factory.
Most GARRETT T3 SAAB turbochargers are dynamically balanced which is a process of a "detailed" balancing which involves assembling the entire turbine shaft, comressor wheel, as well as shaft nut and balancing the rotating assemblies as an assembly. In the case of dynamic balancing, small amounts of material will be removed from the compressor wheel's shaft nut (looks like a "flat" area behind the splined nut end). In most cases during the DIY rebuild, the compressor wheel, nut and turbine shaft will be marked (we cover this in our DIY turbocharger rebuild instructions)so that everything will align back during reassembly to keep the dynamic balacing.
Since all of the compressor wheels and turbine assemblies are also balanced independently, they can be mixed and matched as long as you replace the shaft nut (that does not have material removed/has not been balanced).
Best of luck and regards,
GaryK at SWEDISH DYNAMICS,INC.
http://swedishdynamics.saabnet.com
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