1979 Buick Regal 3.8L Turbo - Searching for Waste Gate Actuator

[UMPiloto]

Hi All -

It looks like this forum has a lot of great info!
(looks very similar to turbobuicks (with s) but with more content and users...still trying to figure out that connection)

I have a '79 regal with a broken waste gate actuator (must have a broken diaphragm because it doesn't resist any pressure), but I can't find a replacement anywhere.
I don't quite have the skill level to modify performance / aftermarket actuators, so if possible I'd like to find a stock actuator to just swap right out.

Any tips on where to look? GM parts as well as all the retail auto parts companies haven't been a good source so far.

Thanks!!

 

[charlief1]

Try looking here.:biggrin:

Waste Gate Actuator | eBay

 

[SHADOWII]

Welcome pilgrim!

Glad to have you aboard. Yep this is the best buick forum on the web. The turbobuickS site usedto be a sister site that many of us used to/or still do belong to. Not much traffic there any more since it's fallen under new management.
You should be able to find answers to your questions as well as learn a great deal from those that frequent this site. A lot of knowledge here.
BTW, I may have a w/g like that one seting on the bench in the garage. Have to look. I'll PM you if I do.
Again Welcome.

 

[UMPiloto]

Thanks ShadowII for the welcome and charlief1 for the info.

I see on ebay and some of the aftermarket parts sites some actuators that look darn close to what I have, but I haven't seen the exact one. I wish mine had a part # on it, but there's none to be found. Is modifying a newer unit so that it fits in my '79 a fairly straightforward task?

Thanks!

 

[charlief1]

A little metal fabrication may be needed but it's pretty much straight foward.

 

[UMPiloto]

The Plot Thickens: the reason I decided to check the waste gate actuator

Excellent, thanks for the info.

I should probably back up a bit and explain why I started looking at my waste gate actuator in the first place (if I should put this part in a different forum category, just let me know). A few years ago while driving, my regal started releasing just a ridiculous amount of smoke from the exhaust, all of the sudden. Most people I told this to said that my engine was done for, so I did nothing with the car for a few years.

Recently, though, a friend told me that problems with the turbo can allow oil to enter the fuel-air mixture, and that my engine might not actually have a catastrophic failure, especially since it still runs smoothly. The waste gate actuator, being the most accessible part, was the first thing I checked, and it was quite broken.

This morning I started the car up without the actuator in place, and the usual amount of smoke came from the exhaust. This time, though, some smoke even came from the engine itself, and when I removed the tube from the oil fill pipe, smoke was even coming out of that - see video I took this morning:

[doh...i'm not allowed to include links yet]

What do y'all think?

Thanks
Nick

 

[UMPiloto]

https://picasaweb.google.com/nlooper/RegalWork#5635122263718733474

 

[charlief1]

It's not done for but it looks like you've got a blowby issue. Most likely needs to have the engine rebuilt. On the smoke out of the exhaust the turbo probibly needs seals put in it.