The stock Ford 7.3L turbo can be upgraded without the cost of a complete new assembly. Our Quick-Turbo reworks the factory unit with a new compressor impeller, a new turbine housing, and a Big Head actuator. That combination increases airflow and improves turbo efficiency, taking the stock setup from about 20 psi to 32 psi while keeping stock-like reliability. The Big Head actuator keeps the wastegate closed longer, so peak boost comes on sooner and throttle response is stronger. The result is a sharper, harder-working 7.3L without replacing the entire turbocharger.
The recap begins with the practical challenge of removing the factory turbocharger: the hardest part is simply reaching it. Access is tight, so the installer needs to work directly into the engine bay rather than trying to remove it from a distance. Once the inlet and outlet tubes are disconnected and the wiring harness is unplugged, the remaining task is straightforward. The turbo is unbolted from the engine and lifted out.
Banks keeps the upgrade cost down by reusing the customer's stock turbocharger rather than replacing it with a completely new unit. Instead of supplying an entire new turbo, the kit provides the components needed to upgrade the original assembly. This approach reduces expense while retaining the base reliability of the factory hardware.
With the turbo removed, it is secured in a vise for disassembly. The turbine housing is removed first. Care is required throughout the process to avoid damaging the blades. After that, the turbo is repositioned in the vise so the compressor housing can be removed. The compressor impeller is then taken off in preparation for the upgraded replacement part.
The original compressor impeller is replaced with the new Banks-supplied impeller. Once the new impeller is installed, the compressor housing is reinstalled. This part of the upgrade is intended to improve the compressor side's airflow and efficiency without requiring a completely different turbocharger assembly.
After the compressor side is reassembled, the turbo is repositioned again in the vise for installation of the new turbine housing. The replacement housing slides into the same location as the original part. As before, care must be taken not to contact or damage the impeller blades during assembly. The housing is then bolted into place.
The final hardware change is the installation of the Banks Big Head actuator. Once this actuator is fitted, the turbo upgrade itself is complete. The actuator's function is to control the wastegate, and Banks explains that it holds the wastegate closed longer. That allows the engine to build peak boost sooner, which improves throttle response.
According to the explanation in the video, the combination of the new housing and upgraded compressor impeller increases both airflow and turbo efficiency. The stock configuration is described as flowing about 20 PSI, while the upgraded version is said to flow 32 PSI. Despite that increase in boost capability, the upgraded unit is presented as being just as reliable as the stock turbo.
Once the upgraded turbo is assembled, installation is essentially the reverse of removal. The finished unit is bolted back into place on the engine, making the final step comparatively simple after the access and disassembly work. The overall message is that the performance gain comes from upgrading the original turbo with revised internal and housing components rather than replacing the entire assembly.