617 Turbo Rebuild
 

Anyone legit offering this as a service?

I should specify, turbocharger rebuild. Just the turbo, not the whole engine.

Performance Techniques in San Bernardino, CA are very familiar with the Mercedes 617 Garrett/KKK T3 and can create a performance version if wanted.

Performance Techniques - Turbo, Turbos, and Turbochargers - For all your turbo needs!

Contact them to get a quote.

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Identify if you have a KKK or Garrett (Air Research Turbo). Most of them are Garrett (Air Research Turbo).

The Garrett (Air Research Turbo; a world wide company) same or similar model turbo is well known to rebuilders. Any Turbo rebuild shop should have no issues rebuilding it.

Turbo Overhaul
 

It's not that difficult but A1 Turbo in So. Cal. (used to be Gardena, now in Long Beach I *think*) does them affordably .

I think I saved about 50 % on the parts kit from....'Go Pop Shop' (?) .

I always buy a new shaft too .

Don't forget to hand lap the pop off valve, I did last time, my bad, now it takes longer to reach 13" of boost .

Tim's Turbos in Falls Church, VA is excellent. I know they're not real close for you but hey - you're probably going to ship it anyway.


Tim has done all of my turbos (I'm on #3 now as my performance goals increase) and all have been excellent.


Dan

The OP Location: Oregon

If you take it to a rebuilder you don't automatically need a new Turbine shaft because they are going to evaluate the wear in the ring groove and on the bearing journals and in fact the bearing bore inside of the bearing housing.

When people have replaced the bearings and seals themselves The generally don't have a way to measure stuff nor the specs.

One of the items that frequently needs to be replaced is the Thrust plate. That is the large aluminum disc behind the Compressor Housing that attaches to the bearing housing. It has a sleeve that the seal rides in that can wear and a thrust face.

I think it is better to deal with someone locally. If you have a warranty issue they are right their to deal with it more quickly and you don't have to pay shipping.

Is there any reason you couldn't upgrade to a better turbo? To me, there is very little point spending a lot of money to rebuild a first generation turbo unless it was to be kept stock (which I suspect isn't a concern with your swap?)

Thanks for the info, folks. I've reached out to a local turbo diesel place for a quote.

I'm definitely open to an upgraded turbo if it's cost effective. Is there any benefit to that with the stock IP?

Goals and resources have shifted in the years since building this project. It still serves it's purpose, but now if it takes too much time or $$ to keep up I'll just be buying another truck.

Probably not. Unless they build it in mind for faster spooling, then it would be better with a stock pump. But it might suffer in the higher RPM range.

G - Pop Shop does mine ...

Ive rebuilt 2 garret turbos from my 300d s over the years there is nothing to it. I buy the kit from mercedes source with directions. id recommend doing it yourself chances are if you bring it to a shop they have never done it either so you have nothing to loose.

Yes well. I don't know of anything that would bolt right in its place, but something like a HE200 would give faster spool still with a good top end for stock fuel output AFAIK. Just a suggestion as turbo tech has come a long way since the mid-late 70s

Ordered the M Source kit.

More power would be fun and useful, but any significant gains would require hugely more than just bolting on a different turbo. Well beyond the amount of time/effort/money I'm willing to devote to this project.

Hopefully I can get the turbo rebuilt in a couple days after work.

Thus far not happy with their service or lack of responsiveness.