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Ferrari F40 Turbocharger Rebuild

Ferrari F40 Turbo Rebuild

Matched-pair rebuild service for the Ferrari F40's twin IHI RHB53LW turbochargers. VU12B and VU13B water-cooled units, rebuilt together, balanced to matching specification, documented photographically at every step. In-house VSR balancing since 2008.

Twin IHIRHB53LW478 HPTipo F120A V8MatchedPair Rebuilds
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Left TurboIHI VU12B
Right TurboIHI VU13B
ModelRHB53LW Water-Cooled
EngineTipo F120A 2.9L V8
Production1987-1992, 1,311 Cars
In Shop Since2008, 17+ years
The Units

Twin IHI RHB53LW: Mirror-Image Pair

The F40's Tipo F120A V8 breathes through two IHI RHB53LW water-cooled turbochargers, one per cylinder bank, running roughly 16 psi to produce the car's official 478 horsepower. The units are mirror images: VU12B on the left bank, VU13B on the right. They are not interchangeable side to side, and every rebuild here treats them as the matched set they are.

IHI's water-cooled center housing was advanced equipment in 1987 and it is the reason so many F40 turbos have survived: the water jacket carries heat out of the bearing housing after shutdown, moderating the oil coking that kills air-cooled-only units of the same era. Even so, these turbos are now more than three decades old. Bearing wear, seal aging, and coolant passage scaling are the standard findings, and all of it is serviceable.

Every F40 pair rebuilt here is photographed at every stage, rebuilt with correct components, VSR balanced in-house to matching specification, and returned with complete documentation. These cars deserve nothing less and neither do their owners.

VU12B (Left)VU13B (Right)RHB53LW
Common Failure Modes

Why F40 Turbos Come In

101

Age-Related Bearing Wear

Every F40 turbo is over three decades old. Even pampered, low-mileage cars have accumulated bearing wear from heat cycles and the long storage intervals typical of collector ownership. Oil drains from the center housing during storage, and the next cold start runs the bearings dry for a moment. Rebuild on condition, not mileage.

202

Seal Aging and Oil Weep

Piston rings and seal components harden with age regardless of use. Oil weep into the compressor housings or smoke on startup after sitting are the classic signs. On a car where originality matters, catching this early keeps the rebuild standard instead of extensive.

303

Coolant Passage Scaling

The water-cooled center housings that protect these turbos also accumulate scale and sediment over 35+ years of coolant changes of varying quality. Restricted water passages reduce the post-shutdown cooling the design depends on. Passages are inspected and cleaned as part of every rebuild.

404

Storage Varnish and Corrosion

Cars that sit develop varnished oil passages and, in humid climates, corrosion on turbine-side components. Both show up at teardown on garage-kept cars that have covered few miles in decades. Documented photographically, addressed completely.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What turbos does the F40 use?
Twin IHI RHB53LW water-cooled units on the Tipo F120A 2.9L V8. The IHI model codes are VU12B for the left turbo and VU13B for the right. They are mirror-image units, not interchangeable side to side. Both are journal bearing water-cooled turbos that were state of the art in 1987 and remain fully rebuildable today.
Should both F40 turbos be rebuilt together?
Yes, always. Both units have identical hours and identical conditions. If one has worn to the point of needing a rebuild, the other is right behind it, and the labor of accessing the turbos on an F40 is significant enough that doing one and returning for the second makes no sense. We rebuild F40 pairs as a matched set, balanced to matching specification.
Are parts still available for these turbos?
Yes. The RHB53LW uses IHI journal bearing architecture whose service components remain available. Bearings, thrust hardware, piston rings, and seal components are all serviceable. Wheels and housings are the items that require assessment: we inspect and confirm condition at teardown, and damaged wheels are handled case by case. We tell you exactly what your units need before any work proceeds.
How should F40 turbos be shipped?
Submit the rebuild form at repair.theboostlab.com first. Ship both units together, each individually wrapped, double-boxed with generous foam. Photograph everything before packing. Ship via UPS or FedEx with full insurance to 37833 Pineapple Ave Unit A, Dade City, FL 33523. We send a receiving confirmation with photos when they arrive.
What is the turnaround time?
F40 pairs are assessed individually. Standard rebuild work runs 7 to 14 business days from arrival; anything requiring wheel work or sourcing extends that with your approval first. Every step is photographed and documented, and you will always know exactly where your turbos are in the process.
Related service pages: IHI Ferrari 488 GTB Porsche McLaren Lotus

Ready to Rebuild?

Start your rebuild request in our repair system. F40 pairs are rebuilt as matched sets with complete photographic documentation from intake through return shipment.

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37833 Pineapple Ave Unit A • Dade City, FL 33523 • sales@theboostlab.com