ATS exhaust housing upgrade for factory turbo

[Firebird]

Hello everyone,
I recently purchased a 1994 F250 with the factory turbo IDI. After installing a boost gauge I was disappointed to find out I was only making about 5-6psi of boost. After some research I found out about the exhaust housing/outlet flange/3" down pipe that ATS sells so that the turbo can actually breath. I purchased everything from ATS and finally got around to installing it this weekend and hit some snags so I was hoping to get some tips from anyone who has had experience installing this.

I cannot figure out how to get the turbo off the truck. It seems like the snail shaped intake tube that goes from the turbo outlet into the motors intake manifold has to be removed before I can get at any of the bolts that hold the turbo on, how do I get this off? I took out the one center bolt in the middle of it on the top, and can get it to move a bit, but not enough to separate it from the turbo or the intake manifold to remove it.

Next, how do I get at the two pedestal bolts on the bottom of the turbo? It seems like with the intake piece I cannot remove off I should be able to get at them, but it still seems like there is very little clearance there to loosen them. I am a little stumped here.

Thank you in advance, any tips on how to get this turbo off the truck so I can get it breathing better are greatly appreciated!

-Matt

 

[FordGuy100]

The piece that goes on the intake I call the intake hat. To get that off you basically have to move the turbo...either take the turbo off or "re-clock" the compressor housing (there are bolts on the turbo towards the middle that you loosen up and it allows you to twist the housing so the hat can come off). As for those nuts on the bottom of the turbo/pedistal, you just have to find some way of getting them off. If you have a torch, you might wanna go buy up some cheap wrenches in the size and bend them to fit. Yes...you will be cussing alot, I did thats for sure.

 

[hesutton]

Matt,

I've never done this install, but many here have. Someone will be along in a short while with more help than I can provide.

In the mean time. Here is a PDF from ATS.
CLICK HERE

Heath

 

[93turbo_animal]

I replaced mine with the turbo on the truck but I had the tranny out. Also aafter I replaced mine I lost about 2psi of boost but you can adjust the wastegate to get it back

 

[4play]

i did the same exact upgrade without a snag. you do need to remove the complete turbo assy. once done it will be a cake walk. believe me. it seems like a pain in the ass. but after it was done the truck is a night/day difference. really. alot of poeple on here are anti-ats. but there are not alot of turbo options for idi's and you cant hate any of them expecially if you already have the factory ats. mine with the upgrades runs great and better than anything that ive seen aftermarket. i can see 15psi. and it builds very quick like too. and it whistles loud enough to make everyone 100yds away turn there heads. sounds like a jet taking off from, when having no muffler

 

[Firebird]

Thanks for all of the tips guys, bending the wrench sounds like a good idea for the pedestal.

i did the same exact upgrade without a snag. you do need to remove the complete turbo assy. once done it will be a cake walk. believe me. it seems like a pain in the ass. but after it was done the truck is a night/day difference. really. alot of poeple on here are anti-ats. but there are not alot of turbo options for idi's and you cant hate any of them expecially if you already have the factory ats. mine with the upgrades runs great and better than anything that ive seen aftermarket. i can see 15psi. and it builds very quick like too. and it whistles loud enough to make everyone 100yds away turn there heads. sounds like a jet taking off from, when having no muffler

How did you go about getting the two nuts off on the bottom of the pedestal, did you bend a wrench to fit under there? Also how did you unbolt the exhaust side from the crossover pipe? I cant seem to see the bolts, are they accessible from under the truck?

Any other tips for the removal/installation are appreciated. Thanks again guys.

 

[4play]

i pulled the turbo has a whole unit. up pipe came out with turbo so i didnt need t mess with the hard to get to nuts.