[urq] Bad turbo not so bad - head gasket/timing

[Buchholz, Steven]

... well, if you've gotta pull the head the die is cast no matter what ...
but one thing you can easily do is to pull the compressor and turbine scroll
covers to see what's underneath.  There are 6 bolts that attach the housings
and there is very little risk of damage ... just make sure to mark the
relative positions of the covers to the center section so that it goes back
together the same as it came apart.  On my car I found that something had
been ingested by the turbo as the impeller wheel had been ground down on the
outer periphery.  

Please don't take this the wrong way ... but if you are not familiar with
the timing references and procedures for an engine I might recommend that
you get some help, especially when you bolt the head back on the engine.
The I-5 is a bit odd in that each cylinder is offset by 72 degrees from its
neighbors, which makes it difficult to set things up in a way that
guarantees valves and pistons don't touch on reassembly ... be sure to read
and understand the procedures in the service manual ...

Steve B
San Jose, Kaleefohnia (USA)
> 
> While initially pulling my 81 apart I couldn't spin the turbo 
> while getting 
> at it from hole pointing towards the IC.   I have removed the bumper, 
> alternator, oil lines to the turbo, CIS system, injector 
> cooling system, and much of 
> the wiring.   Last night while I was gazing at the intricate 
> German technology I 
> reached up and was able to turn the turbo as easily as it was 
> brand new with 
> very little end shaft play???   Is it possible that something 
> obstructed the 
> turbo from spinning, and is now free?   If the bolts holding 
> on the oil lines 
> were too long would they cause the turbo not to spin?    Am I 
> going crazy?   I 
> still have to pull the head and fix the head gasket, whats