VNT rebuild questions

[Blocksmith]

Hey guys, so I recently purchased a super cheap VNT on ebay that was advertised as 'needing new bearings', which I figured would be no big deal to rebuild. Only, it needed them a few thousand miles ago, as the play in the bearings caused the compressor wheel to contact the housing, resulting in: 



and some bending of the turbine as well, it would seem:



So, at this point I have several options. Either I can pony up the big money ($400 or so) for a new, genuine Garrett CHRA, get a chinese knockoff for about half that, go about replacing all the guts of my existing center housing, or, as the most cheap-$%# solution, simply replacing the compressor wheel and bearings and trust that the bending of the turbine fins is even enough and not bad enough to cause serious problems shortly. OR, potentially run into a turbo of the same model that went to a different manufacturer and simply swap housings. So, my questions from this point are several. First, in researching the necessary parts for a rebuild, I ran into all sorts of confusion regarding what is simply known here (and on my turbo) as a VNT-15. Seems that designation went out of style very quickly and the same turbo was rebranded to fit into a new naming scheme that Garrett was implementing at the time; correct me if I'm wrong, but is the VNT-15 now known by its updated designation of GT1749v? From the searching I've done, it seems that Garrett was very successful in selling these to quite a number of automotive manufacturers; but, the guts should all be identical, right? I ran the numbers on my compressor housing:



on this site (http://garrettbyhoneywell.com/product-search/?view=garrett-results&garrett-num=454232 ), and it said that my turbo wasn't a VNT-15, but rather Garrett knew it as a GT1749vm. I am now seriously confused, as 'VNT15' is stamped clear as day on my housing...... 
Does anyone know what parts from other turbos are compatible with this?

[R.O.R-2.0]

thats the same turbo as my GT1749V

[Blocksmith]

So, you're pretty sure that a VNT15 and a GT1749v are one and the same? Would there be any possibility of a design change with the newest iteration of TDI applications (still designated as a GT1749v) which might make a direct housing swap impossible? Different variants, maybe? Anyone have any more info on this?

[R.O.R-2.0]

So, you're pretty sure that a VNT15 and a GT1749v are one and the same? Would there be any possibility of a design change with the newest iteration of TDI applications (still designated as a GT1749v) which might make a direct housing swap impossible? Different variants, maybe? Anyone have any more info on this?

im saying that my GT1749VNT is the same unit as your VNT15..

people been telling me that since i got my turbo..

[rallydiesel]

That turbo is pretty messed up. I would not run that turbine/shaft.

[R.O.R-2.0]

That turbo is pretty messed up. I would not run that turbine/shaft.

i believe the OP is looking to replace his center section..

thats what i would do atleast.. that center section is WASTED. theres nothing useable of it..

[Alcaid]

GT1749V = vnt15
GT1749VA = vnt17 (PD130/140)
GT1749VB = vnt17 (PD150)

[R.O.R-2.0]

GT1749V = vnt15
GT1749VA = vnt17 (PD130/140)
GT1749VB = vnt17 (PD150)

just as i thought..

[Blocksmith]

That turbo is pretty messed up. I would not run that turbine/shaft.

i believe the OP is looking to replace his center section..

thats what i would do atleast.. that center section is WASTED. theres nothing useable of it..

Yeah, that's the idea. I'm just trying to keep the cost down as much as possible; although, after some more research into what people are charging to rebuild these things, it's looking like the $400 garrett center section is going to be the best deal without going chinese...

[camboscams]

Yea that's what i ended up paying for mine from Gpop shop.