Ball Bearing turbo rebuild?

[B4passatglx]

I got a Turbonetics t3/t4E60 from eBay in September, it had a good amount of shaft play and I decided to rebuild. I have it completely apart when I realized that its a ball bearing turbo, I am glad I didn't order a re-build kit because the owner advertised it as a journal bearing turbo.

This is what I found:
The center section on the exhaust side is COVERED in coke.... it must have blown an oil seal, the ball bearing is fine though, it looks just like a bearing for a skateboard. Whats funny is the exhaust wheel had no oil residue on it at all, no bent fins, and there is no place evident that fins actually toughed any housing. I haven't called Turbonetics yet, but I hear they don't sell BB turbo rebuild kits. But the bearing seems fine and seats snugly in the center section.

Can I convert this to journal bearing if I can't get a BB rebuild kit? Its going on a VR6 so spool will be fast without a Ball bearings. My first option is to keep it BB, but If I can't get a rebuild I will go journal bearing.

I found a brand new Turbonetics t3/t4 center section on ebay for $75 shipped, its oil and water cooled and has no bearings, if I feel my center secion is bad I think I may jump on this and let this be a journal bearing setup.

What do you guys feel the condition of this turbo is?

heres a shot of the parts.. Notice the coke on the center section
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/jressman/002.jpg

A close up of the center section. Picture quality isn't that great
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/jressman/003.jpg

[meatwad!!]

ha nice, have fun with that.

[B4passatglx]

This turbo is a single ball bearing unit, it has a journal bearing on the turbine side and a BB on the compressor side. The journal bearing is toast, and so is the thrust bearing, the ball bearing is just fine though so I will re-use this if Turbonetics doesn't want to sell one in their rebuild kit.
There was soot all over the center section, and the turbine shaft at the wheel, which is now soaking overnight in parts cleaner. There was a little scoring on the turbine shaft where it ran on the journal bearing. The center section is cleaned and shiny and so is compressor wheel and housing.

[USOPHUNKE]

if you cant get the rebuild kit I can for ya... at least the bearings, would need to take them over to get them sized though...

[B4passatglx]

Ya that would be great, thank you. I am calling Turbonetics tomorrow morning, I hear they don't give out ball bearings with their rebuild kits, and if you want a rebuilt BB turbo then you must send it to them.

I am going to go and pull the turbine wheel from the parts cleaner to see if some of the soot comes easier.

[USOPHUNKE]

my ex works at motion industries... she can get you them..... you could try calling there and asking or just stop in with bearings ask for heidi or mike tell them I sent you.

east taft road next to terrys transmissions.....