In the process of swapping my CA '85 300SD to federal intake/exhaust manifold. The way it is I'll have to use the turbo from the donor car. I took a look inside the intake manifold and it is a mess!!! I used a parts cleaner and it is a little better. I am not sure about the turbo from the parts car. It looks like if I remove part of the housing from the donor turbo I can put it on mine to make it work. Anyone ever done this? I can provide pics if you want to see it.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Many turbos are modular in design to allow changes in compressor and turbine housings as well as turbine and compressor wheels. The center section, or cartrige is the only part better left to the pros. Changing the housings is usually pretty straightforward. Chances are you can handle it. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Here is the pic of one of the turbos. I plan on separating at the yellow circles and adapting the outlet (into the intake man) of the old (federal) turbo to my good turbo. How do I seal this thing back up? Does anyone know if there are gaskets in there, or what?
Thanks for all your replies. I'm going to wing it with some help from you guys.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

That should be doable without alot of issues. I'm sure you can make a new gasket (if that is what seals it) using some thin gasket material. It may just be a machined surface that does not run a gasket.

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Jim

Rebuilt many turbos over the years. Easy job. You have no gasket at the circles drawn on your compressor joining surface.
You can loosen the bolts and rotate both exhaust and compressor housings to allow the 85 CA turbo to fit onto the federal exhast and the intake manifold. Steam clean or dip your intake manifold to clean. Without an EGR valve it will stay clean.

Better check to see how your turbo oil return is plumbed. On an 85 CA I did recently, we had no return hole in the oil pan and had to make a tee to return the oil to the pan.

It has the oil return hole to drain back down into the pan. My CA car is lacking the smaller hole for the oil separator drain. Which leads me to my next question..............

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R