SD33 Rebuild. Is it worth it? Advice for a novice?
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:51 pm
Okay, so I have been driving around my 1980 Scout International for a year now. I love the truck and have vowed to own it forever. It has the SD33T except the previous owner told me that the turbo was most likely not working.
After a year of tinkering with the SD33T, I decided I wanted to go deeper, so I was looking for a SD33T for sale (theory is - so that I could do an entire rebuild, then swap out the one in the Scout for the one I just rebuilt).
It worked out a little bit differently. I just bought a SD33 (without the Turbo of course) because I was able to pick one up 150 miles away for $400.
So, question #1 - Is it flawed logic to think that I can learn the inner workings of a SD33T by working on a SD33?
Question #2 - Would I be able to put an after market Turbo on the SD33? And is that a easy, moderate or advanced project?
Question #3 - I have seen several rebuild kits online, mostly offered in New Zealand and Australia that include Pistons, Rings, Seals, Bearings, etc. The price is somewhere around $900 - $1200. Is this the way to go (have the stuff shipped from over there?) or is there a US resource that would have those parts (I'd like to purchase in the next 6 months, not wait around until someone offers something on Craigslist or Ebay)?
Question #4 - How similar is the SD33 to the SD33T, I know that the T came later, and the SD33 was offered for several years prior, is there a big difference between the earlier SD33 and the SD33T other then the Turbo Charger?
Question #5 - Here is the label on the engine. Can anyone tell me what year this engine is, or do I need to look somewhere else?
Model: CN6-33 ND Model: SD331D
Serial No: 020550
Rated Output 89 MP at 3800 RPM (i think that's what it says)
Thanks for you thoughts/feedback. I love the forum and please remember i am a novice, so if you would be so kind to reply, please keep your answers relatively basic, I am still learning as I go. Cheers.
After a year of tinkering with the SD33T, I decided I wanted to go deeper, so I was looking for a SD33T for sale (theory is - so that I could do an entire rebuild, then swap out the one in the Scout for the one I just rebuilt).
It worked out a little bit differently. I just bought a SD33 (without the Turbo of course) because I was able to pick one up 150 miles away for $400.
So, question #1 - Is it flawed logic to think that I can learn the inner workings of a SD33T by working on a SD33?
Question #2 - Would I be able to put an after market Turbo on the SD33? And is that a easy, moderate or advanced project?
Question #3 - I have seen several rebuild kits online, mostly offered in New Zealand and Australia that include Pistons, Rings, Seals, Bearings, etc. The price is somewhere around $900 - $1200. Is this the way to go (have the stuff shipped from over there?) or is there a US resource that would have those parts (I'd like to purchase in the next 6 months, not wait around until someone offers something on Craigslist or Ebay)?
Question #4 - How similar is the SD33 to the SD33T, I know that the T came later, and the SD33 was offered for several years prior, is there a big difference between the earlier SD33 and the SD33T other then the Turbo Charger?
Question #5 - Here is the label on the engine. Can anyone tell me what year this engine is, or do I need to look somewhere else?
Model: CN6-33 ND Model: SD331D
Serial No: 020550
Rated Output 89 MP at 3800 RPM (i think that's what it says)
Thanks for you thoughts/feedback. I love the forum and please remember i am a novice, so if you would be so kind to reply, please keep your answers relatively basic, I am still learning as I go. Cheers.