Also depends how dirty and nasty it is and how much you decide to clean it up before putting it back in. Then you have to worry about how many parts you have to wait for because they have to be ordered, stuff like the fire rings and the o-rings because believe me you really do want to replace them even if you think you don't. Possibly the copper/aluminum washers on the turbo oil supply line and elsewhere, and if they're easily available for the whole 5 bucks it costs for new crush washers, just do it.

If I had all the parts on-hand and didn't break bolts and it wasn't a grimy nasty mess, didn't drain coolant and oil etc first I think I could probably swap the turbo in 6-8 hours depending on how much I goof around and how often I drop the damn wrenches etc. That's doing it at home without air tools and a lift and probably less fun tools like sockets with built in u-joints to make my life easier.

Edit: Probably won't need all the fire rings and o-rings if you're swapping in a Vitesse upgrade so my comments apply to just pulling and reinstalling the stock turbo.

Oh and also add some time if you're properly torquing fasteners like you should be.

 

How hard is it to replace a turbo for a beginner?

Imagine the 3rd stage kit.

 

Don't forget the WG! My Swiss sells all the little o-rings that you need for turbo install, plus the hose change under the intake manfold.

You will also need the crush-rings for exhaust. down pipe-cross-over pipe.

My Swiss had a stage-1 kit from John-dynoed 337 at 17 psi on pump gas 94-octane.

 

Well most likely when I use the kit I'm going to get a 46mm wg, and so on.

 

what i was hoping to get was a link to information and sales for the vitesse kits. of course, i tried google, but there seems to be a lot of french references to vitesse and turbo, so...

 

http://www.vitesseracing.com

 

Nope, close:

www.vitesseracing.com

 

thanks!