Some of you may remember my pictures a week or 2 ago of me doing the injector O-rings and glow plugs in my 96 F250 with a 7.3 Powerstroke in it. While I was doing that, I found that I had a hole in the intake boot into the turbo, on the bottom side where it couldn't be seen. It had obviously aspirated something and chewed up the compressor wheel badly. The bearings were still nice and tight in the turbo after 300,000 miles, and I didn't want to spend a whole lot on this after it's obviously been sucking dirt as well. I just decided to put an aftermarket compressor wheel on the turbo called a 'Wicked Wheel'. Bought a new intake boot, made of silicone instead of the factory rubber type intake boot. Cost of the boot was $10 off eBay, and the Wicked Wheel was $35 from Wal-Mart.com. I had time to change it out tonight so here it is. Easier to take the compressor housing off than removing the whole turbo, even though that bottom bolt on the compressor housing is a real bear to get out! Took me about 3 hours to change the compressor wheel, change the intake boot, clean up all the pieces, and install a new glow plug relay. The old farm truck really runs good again now, looks like she's gonna live to see another day. Makes me sick to know that it's life was shortened by some immeasurable time by that hole in the intake, but what's done is done. I was hoping to make 500,000 with it, but we'll see. Currently at 300,000 with all original parts.
Ross
Ross