# Cleaning up old turbochargers **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 9:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464 "2009-04-01T09:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/1 "2009-04-01T09:32:37Z")
What is a good way to clean up the compressor blade of an old TC? (old means ~20 years) Its got what looks like paint on it, but is most probably grime. I tried a little Brake leaner with zero success. I can’t imagine taking a wire brush or anything to it. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/2 "2009-04-01T09:35:19Z")
> [@drvnkd"](#): > > What is a good way to clean up the compressor blade of an old TC? > (old means ~20 years) > > Its got what looks like paint on it, but is most probably grime. > I tried a little Brake leaner with zero success. > > I can’t imagine taking a wire brush or anything to it. Eek, I am a complete turbo n00b but I know that they hold some pretty tight tolerances… you are prolly better off having it rebuilt?..yes? Is it in good shape besides the gunk? IE: shaft play, etc… ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/3 "2009-04-01T09:39:49Z")
There is some radial shaft play. A tolerance I found online somewhere was .02" max. It’s probably close. I have yet to measure it accuratly. If I were to pay to get it rebuild, I might as well spend a little more and get a new one. I could also get a rebuild kit for this one for $75 or so and DIY it. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/4 "2009-04-01T09:40:46Z")
rebuilding it requires you to get the turbo balanced. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/5 "2009-04-01T09:42:44Z")
What are you looking to do with a 20 year old turbo with some gunk and shaft play? ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/6 "2009-04-01T09:44:25Z")
Clean it. I should be rebalanced after a rebuild, but it’s not 100% absolutely required. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/7 "2009-04-01T09:45:52Z")
I meant application. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/8 "2009-04-01T09:56:12Z")
If it cleans up nice, I might try and use it as a noisemaker/muffler if you know what I mean. Kind of like this idiot, but with a slightly better turn out. > **[drvnkd 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Specs, Photos, Modification Info at CarDomain](http://www.cardomain.com/ride/548353/2001-chevrolet-cavalier/)** > > Check out drvnkd 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier in cheektowaga,NY for ride specification, modification info and photos and follow drvnkd's 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier for updates at CarDomain. If it works for a few months, it would be worth getting a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/9 "2009-04-01T10:00:20Z")
the compressor is aluminum. clean it as you would an aluminum part. ---
**Author:** ![Firehawk853](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/firehawk853/32/7607_2.png) [@Firehawk853](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Firehawk853)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/10 "2009-04-01T10:04:23Z")
[quote=“drvnkd,post:6,topic:65464"”] Clean it. I should be rebalanced after a rebuild, but it’s not 100% absolutely required. [/quote] :picard: nah you are 100% fine with not balancing something that spins close to or over 100,000 rpms ---
**Author:** ![Saxon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/11 "2009-04-01T10:12:15Z")
> [@Firehawk853](#): > > :picard: nah you are 100% fine with not balancing something that spins close to or over 100,000 rpms well as long as you match it up to exactly how it was before you don’t, i know plenty of people who mark the turbo, take it apart and put it back together w/o any problems, the thing most people do not realize is you put stress on the shaft by taking off the compressor with the wrong tool ---
**Author:** ![99Ls1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/99ls1/32/5344_2.png) [@99Ls1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/99Ls1)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/12 "2009-04-01T10:13:33Z")
[quote=“drvnkd,post:8,topic:65464"”] If it cleans up nice, I might try and use it as a noisemaker/muffler if you know what I mean. Kind of like this idiot, but with a slightly better turn out. [http://www.cardomain.com/ride/548353](http://www.cardomain.com/ride/548353) If it works for a few months, it would be worth getting a new one. [/quote] can you explain this please? i dont understand. i looked at the link and it made no sense. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/13 "2009-04-01T10:14:35Z")
:picard: x2 for using a 20y/o turbo spinning at 100k rpm ---
**Author:** ![MrSmith](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mrsmith/32/5254_2.png) [@MrSmith](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MrSmith)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/14 "2009-04-01T10:50:13Z")
Buy a new turbo you cheap SOB. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/15 "2009-04-01T11:51:46Z")
lol I would if I had a few hundred dollars laying around. If I can buy, fix, sell that jetta then maybe I’ll make enough money to buy something better. Maybe I can build my old turbocharger bits into a Lafngas DIY style coffee table and sell it as Art for a lot of money… Radial play is ~.017" from side to side. Would that get better or worse as it gets hot? ---
**Author:** ![Harvey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/harvey/32/5069_2.png) [@Harvey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Harvey)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/16 "2009-04-01T12:55:46Z")
> [@Firehawk853](#): > > :picard: nah you are 100% fine with not balancing something that spins close to or over 100,000 rpms Truth. Just be sure to wear safety glasses. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/17 "2009-04-15T11:48:56Z")
After closer inspection, two of the blades on the compressor wheel are a little bent. Anyone have a 60 trim comp. wheel laying around? I may just get a new one and rebuild it then send it out for a balancing… ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/18 "2009-04-15T11:55:04Z")
So you’re looking at putting ~$200 into this unit? Buy another turbo. HX35 would be a nice next step. T3 footprint… and can be had for slightly more then youre spending on this 40 yr old T3. ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/19 "2009-04-15T12:05:13Z")
lol Wheel, rebuild, balance and shipping would run $300. But, $300 gets a freshly rebuild and balance T3. Do they have a for 5-bolt flange? Where to buy? ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 12:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464/20 "2009-04-15T12:22:28Z")
$300? :lol: 5 bolt flange. you’ll need FAR bigger injectors. 52#s/min @ 80% eff. 😉 I have NO idea of what is generally done with your application though, so take my recommendation with a few grains of salt. Talk to Choko - he’ll straighten your cav out. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cleaning-up-old-turbochargers/65464.md?page=2)