I finally got around to doing something with my occasional oil leak out of the turbine housing on my 38R. I checked around and found out that Garrett did not offer an exchange CHRA for my turbo and a new one was around the same price as a complete turbo. I opted to go route #2 and ordered a complete new 38R from Clay @ Riffraff Diesel and keep the old one as a spare. Clay and I were talking about billet wheels and he said he had one for the 38R. Long story short, I now have a new 38R and Riffraff billet compressor wheel waiting to be installed. I have already swapped the wheels and will be swapping the ceramic coated 1.15 A/R turbine housing and hi-flow outlet from my old turbo after its removal. I will try to get some before and after datalogging done, too.
Here are a few pics to show the differences in the two wheels:





Ain't it purdy!!!

 

Can't waite to see how it goes Roland. I believe you are the first with the 38R. It should be awsome.

Chet

 

Hey Roland, Looks pretty sweet, wounder if it will quite the 38r down some.

 

x-2 what Rich said. Roland, very interested in the sound difference if any. Wow, look what we care about. must be getting old.

 

Yea... us old farts may enjoy a thistle wine, but not a whiny whistle.

 

Right now, the turbo spool up isn't too terribly bad considering I have the 1.15 housing, but is noticable. I didn't want give up any benefits of its lower backpressure and egts. Good things have been said about the billet wheels and I feel it will help to regain some of the boost I lost due to the lower drive pressure. I look at it this way. Changing to this billet wheel is similar to going from a Wicked Wheel to a stock wheel with a ported compressor housing. The porting of the 38R housing relieves the surge and the more aggressive vane design will push more air volume, regaining boost. We all know that the noise level increases with the Wicked Wheel. So, going back to the longer vane design versus the staggered one, should decrease the noise level, as well. I can't say yet, but the sound should be different. My current lower drive pressure doesn't give me alot of bottom end boost, so I don't have too much of the annoying screech that some experience at cruising speeds, and while towing.
I also fit into the "old fart" category, and like my peace & quiet on my terms.

 

I like that so much that I'll be driving all the way to your place to see it in person.
See this week Roland.

 

I feel honored. It will be great to see you again, Brother.

 

Roland, that looks like a sweet setup. Anxious to hear how it runs.

 

Congrats Roland...
You have just totally instigated a PMS flare up... lol

That looks purdy Brother!

 

Hey Franko! see ya headed for the Lone Star State. I see in yer prev posts you were thinkin of movin down there. Did ya find a place to drop anchor ?

Smokie

 

Roland, that was my thought also. If its shaped differently, it stands to reason it will sound different. I looked on Clays site and don't see it for the 38r. Please post up about the sound when you get it done. If its better I'm in!

 

Nice, my friend put a 38R on his 7.3, runs great and not very loud at all

When i had my 2003 6.0L with stock turbo and exhaust cut off 4' past the downpipe for a few days though...

 

Sure did Smokie, I landed a job for the City of Winter Park near Orlando.
I cant say no to a city job.

I'm heading out to Texas Sunday morning for my last hu-rah with my artificial reef job. I'll be out there just over a week.

 

It looks to be "thicker" in the vanes. How is the weight difference between the 2 wheels?