Hi everyone, Im new to the forum and i come to you guys with a question. I found a turbo at a junkyard today and it seems to be a Garrett TBO3 that sits in a mid 80s volvo tho i was not able to locate the actual number in fact i havent even pulled it off yet due to the fact that i didnt have the right tools. Anyways my question is, if it really is a mid 80s TBO3 is it worth picking up? I drive a 98 Honda Civic EX and i was thinking about putting that turbo in my civic. Im just looking for some opinions about this particular turbo, Im concerned with the age of it since it is about 20 years old. Is it worth getting it out or should i just look for a different turbo? im looking forward to your responses and thanks to everyone that shares their opinions and helps me out.

 

im unsure if that is the correct turbo to use. but if it has been sitting for 20 years, it probably needs to be rebuilt...seriously rebuilt

 

It's a very very small t3... should have a .48 a/r turbine housing or something like that and a .42a/r compressor housing. I think its like a 40 or 42 trim t3 which means it is very very small. you might get good low end and a bit of midrange out of it but don't expect over 200hp (more like 175-180 max)

I know most turbos at pull-a-parts are cheap, so if it seems to be in good shape and at least spins and doesn't have a ton of shaft play I would buy it, clean it up, and toss it on eBay with the stipulation that it is a used turbo of unknown mileage and should have a rebuild done before being used.... Might be able to make a couple hundred bucks off of it on eBau

 

Thanks for the reply guys, i did check the turbo at the junkyard and it seems to be spinning freely, they charge $65 for turbos so its a decent price, at least in my opinion
Now as far as shaft play, how can i check for that? and if a rebuild what am i looking at, how can i tell that it needs to rebuilt and what are the components involved in a rebuild?

as to the power, since this is my daily driver and it will be for a long time if the turbo ends up being in a decent shape i think that power range would actually satisfy me, im not looking to get huge HP gains due to two facts, like i said its my daily driver, and im just afraid to push the engine it does have about 140k on it and nothing has been done to it internally so at least for now i think the power gain would satisfy me

Thanks,

 

On the older TB03s, you don't rebuild them. They're almost throw away, as there haven't been parts to fit that thing since about 1998.

You'll make what you paid for it, on eBay. Perhaps even less.

But, good luck and godspeed.

 

lol..godspeed..like the turbo

 

thanks for an honest opinion TheShodan, im going back to the junkyard tomorrow to see what turbo it really is cause i just assumed it was a TBO3 based on the car,

 

OP just stop dude. the turbo is super small, super old not worth the 65 bucks your going to pay for it and the time to take it of the car with all the seized rusted bolts. There is no such things as a GOOD cheap turbo period

 

Make a jet engine out of it