couple of questions....

[DWB47]

Is there supposed to be a gasket between the turbo housing and the elbow?

I'm not sure of the correct terminology, but is there supposed to be an O ring on the conical piece that goes between the turbo and the intake. I have an O ring where it presses into the manifold but where it presses into the turbo someone filled the groove with silicone. That didn't seem right to me.

 

[bot]

turbo adapter has 2 o-rings on it

 

[charlief1]

You should have 2 different o rings. One for the intake side and one of the turbo side. No sillycone. (Yes I know I speeled it wrong.).

 

[TurboRegal84]

Clean out the silicone and seal it properly!

Your local parts store should have the Felpro kit that will include the 2 O-Rings.

Felpro Part #ES72660

Picture:

 

[FlaBoy]

Or if you're like me and accidentally pinched and destroyed one of your new o-rings from the felpro kit while installing it, and didn't feel like buying a WHOLE new kit for one damn o-ring, you can call up fel-pro and ask them for the dimensions of the o-rings used in that part number kit. Then take those numbers to your local o-ring jobber (between St. Augustine, Daytona, J-ville and O-town I'm sure there's one near-ish to you) and ask them for the o-ring you need. The ones used in the fel-pro kit are made from FKM aka Viton, so ask for that. The o-ring will cost you a few cents rather than 20+ bucks and a few day waiting from your local auto parts store. Alternatively, you could bring in the adapter and they'll fit one on, it'll probably end up being pretty damn close, but there are a lot of options out there for diameter and ring thickness, so it may not be exactly what is specified.

I'd give you the dimensions myself, but I can;t find the paper where I wrote them down. Just call Federal Mogul's phone number (they own Fel-Pro) and ask them for technical assistance.

 

[DWB47]

Thanks for the info guys. The more I tear into this car the more shoddy things I find that the PO did. Does anyone know about the turbo elbow gasket? Also is there a trick to reinstalling the turbo? I had a heck of a time getting the turbo to slide down on the inlet adapter all the way.

 

[FlaBoy]

I just did this last week (installing the turbo). It took a few tries to get it in there properly, and in the process I ended up pinching and destroying one of the o-rings (As mentioned above). Between trying to get the drain tube inserted in the intake, the compressor outlet and adapter inserted and the mounting bolts to slip into their slots, its a bit tricky. The one thing that made it a LOT easier is modifying the turbo mounting bracket/heat shield on the passenger side as shown here

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/ho.../177665-best-top-3-modifications-hot-air.html

This lets you see what you're doing and get in a finger or screwdriver to help push the drain tube all the way in.

I tried installing the adapter on the intake first and then mounting the turbo, and also installing the adapter to the turbo first, then mounting it. To be honest I don;t remember which way I ended up getting it to work. Just take your time, dont rush things, and don't get TOO frustrated. Oh and I found it neccesary to use a rubber mallet to LIGHTLY tap the top of the compressor housing to get the turbo/adapter/intake joint to seat fully.

As for the turbine housing to elbow joint using a gasket, I have no idea... never had that apart. Hopefully one of the guys who KNOWS will chime in.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[TurboRegal84]

There is a gasket that fits between the stock elbow and stock downpipe. There is a lip for it to fit inside the elbow and the downpipe goes onto the curved side enabling it to flex/slide on the gasket. Keep in mind the stock downpipe is held on with spring bolts.

Showing it as Felpro Part #60975


As for turbo install:
1) Put turbo to intake adapter in intake
2) With Oil Drain Line bolted onto turbo seated it into the grommet (Use 86/87 Drain line as it is longer)
3) Rested the turbo on its mounts and slide in exhaust donut gasket and spacer between inlet pipe and turbo
4) Slide compressor housing into the intake adapter making sure not to cut O-rings. Also make sure that bolt for compressor housing is slid down all he way into the mount (install vacuum lines for actuator and turbo at this time too)
5) Tighten rest of the turbo mounting bolts
6) Connect oil feed line (use Teflon tape)
7) Bolt up downpipe, inlet pipe, and throttle body

Once you start it up check for vacuum leaks around the turbo to intake adapter with a can of carb cleaner just to be safe.

 

[DWB47]

Turboregal84, thanks for the detailed info. As far as the gasket goes I was asking about where the elbow bolts to the turbine housing. I apologize if I wasn't clear about that. I followed almost the same procedure as you described to replace the turbo. It was extremely difficult to get the turbo to slide down on the adapter far enough for the bolts to seat all the way in the mounts. I literally had to climb into the enging bay and put all my weight on the turbo to get it to seat. Maybe this has something to do with the use of silicone instead of an oring on the upper part of the adapter.

 

[TurboRegal84]

From the factory there is no gasket between the elbow and turbine housing.

 

[DWB47]

Thanks for all the info.

 

[racemybuick]

anybody know the torque specs for the turbo housing bolts?


John:biggrin:

 

[O SO LO]

Turbo torque specs...

Try this for turbo torque specs...

 

[racemybuick]

Mark, that is awesome!!!!!



Thanks!!!!



John