Here's some pics of the blown TN-BB.

When the seal went the turbine wheel turned into an oil pump. Lost 7 quarts in 45 miles, doing 35 MPH. 7 quarts is what I added today to bring it up to the full mark. During those 45 miles I continuosly monitored LPOP, HPOP and an after-market coolant temp gauge. They all remained normal and truck ran OK except for the huge plume of white smoke. I doubt I would have made it another five miles before she shut down.



Pic with exhaust outlet removed. Had to put the exhaust outlet on the new 38R.




The next 2 pics show how much play was in the compressor wheel. The bearings are shot.

Wheel lifted up.



Wheel pushed down.



With compressor housing removed.



Compressor housing from the inside. Notice machined groove. Explains the weird wear pattern on the compressor wheel.



Now I wonder if the bearings went and then the seal, or if the seal went and then the bearings. Which came first? The chicken or the egg. I'm thinking the bearings went first. What do you think happened first?

 

Ouch. Could that turbo still be salvagable Robin?? Great pics of the carnage by the way..

 

Robin,I would say the bearings went first.Even with the seals blown,the bearings are still getting oil from the engine.Just my .02$

Was this a stock turbo,or 38R?

 

Mke,

Parts for this Turbonetics are hard to come by since it has been discontinued, especially the bearings, so I wouldn't even think of trying to salvage it. I'd like to do a post mortem but it will have to wait until I get the proper 12 point socket for the turbine wheel.

The polished compressor housing and the ceramic coated turbine housing are probably still useable.

Brad,

It was a Turbonetics Ball Bearing. Part #TN-11117-BB.

I agree with your 2 cents. The bearings went and the wobble took out the seal.

 

WOW, Robin. I hope I don't see mine like that soon. You really never know what you get when you buy something like a turbo used. How much HP did the truck have that it came from?

Thanks for the pics.

 

I don't know if I would want to re-use that housing.
Aluminum is a lot softer than that intake wheel and I wouldn't be surprised if the wheel carved away some of the material.
That would increase clearance between the wheel fins and the housing which would lower turbo efficiency, IMO.

 

Didn't that one come from Kris' truck?? You know, the one making like 750hp now.....

 

. That would explain it.

 

Robin, if you can see the numbers on the bearings, send them over to me and I will see if I can cross them, for that matter, find out how much damage there is to the housing.. I might just be able to plasma spray and turn it back to size..

 

I hope you don't either. Izzy is right about where I got it, but it isn't his fault. I think big sticks had a lot to do with it.

Happy Belated Birthday by the way.

It is scored. See Pat's comment.

Yep. With the wastegate acuator rod as tight as it would go.
Don't know how many HP it was subjected to.

When I get it apart I will do that.

 

That sure is a pretty polished compressor housing, you don't see those anymore, at least I don't. "IF" it could be redone professionally and right it could fetch a nice dollar just because of the look. Don't mind me, I just like the look of that housing..

 

Which hybrids are you running, Robin?

 

Robin, Glad you made it home from RRW before this happened! I do have a stock turbo I can loan you, but you probably would not like the performance!

 

With Pat's help re-habbing the TN may be a future project.

200/80

Very nice offer Jock but I have already installed a new 38R.