97 12V Cummins Owner Needs Turbo Repair/Replace Advice

[MAtkinson]

Bought a used 97 2500 12V 3 years ago with 135K miles. Good truck, Daily driver, All Stock now has 180K. Turbo bearings shot and compressor wheel drags the housing. Minor wear/galling to housing. What direction should I go? Rebuild kit plus compressor wheel and housing? What about balance (new to old parts)? Replace with new turbo?? I see a PDR HX35 Hybrid for $730 and I see a bunch of (wheel cartridge sets $150 up but I'd need a housing too). The PDR Hybrid would make a good minor upgrade and I'd like to push up the power and economy a bit with some moderate changes & items later. I'm lost in the "options forest" with pricing from $150 to $1300.My objective is to get back on the road economically but take advantage of moderate improvements if not too costly. I could really use some advice. Thanks Mike

 

[Big E]

I went with the PDR Hybrid on my '96 when my turbo went out the exact same way. At the time it was the least expensive option. I also replaced my exhaust manifold at the same time with a 3 piece one since the stocker was shrunk pretty good.

Truck ran much better after the swap and I was quite satisfied until I sold the truck a few years later.

 

[GAmes]

I've had good reliability with my PDR hybrids. I'm on the second one, I think without checking my records that this one is around 400k miles. They sure have gone up in price since I last looked.

 

[MAtkinson]

Thanks for replies. I ordered an HX35 Hybrid and should get it installed this coming weekend. We'll see...

 

[MAtkinson]

Thanks for the replies, I bought an HX35 Hybrid $730 from PDR (No Freight & No Sales Tax) and will try to get it installed this coming weekend. We'll see...

 

[BigPapa]

Turbo failure at 180K is very unusual. May I ask what kind of air filter you're running?

 

[MAtkinson]

Wix filter in the standard factory box. It was replaced some time back and quite clean. The filtered side of the box and tube is very clean.(The orginal I took out looked fine.) I do not know what engine oil the previous owner used. I'm using Shell Rotella 15W40 with a Fleetguard Stratapore filter. The oil consumption is about 1 qt/2500-3000 miles. (Some of that is leaking around the valve covers.)