Need some advice on Turbo/Converter for a 100% Street driven car

[WE4Turbo87]

Hello, Ive been doing some research on what Turbo/converter to go with for my 87 WE4. I don't have any interest nor the money to be breaking things at a track. I just want to make the car a little more fun to drive on the street. Here is what I'm working with so far:

Currently on the car:

Transmission cooler
Finned aluminum transmission pan
Aluminum radiator
Walbro 340 pump
Hot wire kit
Hooker ceramic coated exhaust
160 degree thermostat
Front stabilizer bar
Rear stabilizer brace
Hotchkiss rear lower control arms

Just purchased these to install over Winter:

60lb injectors
3" downpipe w/ test pipe and electric dump
3.5" LS1 MAF w/ translator
Scanmaster Gauge w/ powerlogger
Alky kit (single nozzle)
Innovate LC2 wideband
Racetronix fuel pressure regulator
Double roller timing chain
Billet pulley kit
TurboTweak chip

I am going to likely be buying the Turbo from Work and a converter. I keep going back and forth between TA5857, TA49, & TA60. I was leaning towards the TA60 cause they have a sale on them right now and either getting the stock converter restalled to 2800 or just buying a new 2800 lock up, but am I better off spending the extra money for a TA5857 or even more money for a TA49?

Interested in your thoughts...Thanks in advance

 

[mblum]

I assume your on the stock turbo now? If so how hard have you pushed it? If your ar stock boost on the stock turbo I would just install the new parts you have and with the Alky max out that stock turbo and see how you like it.

It might surprise you.

 

[mblum]

If your transmission is bone stock your going to be limited on how much power you can make with it before it gives up.

If you have the stock valve springs in there, those need upgraded too.

20+ psi on a stock motor, stock turbo and stock converter is a whole different animal to drive than a bone stock car. Learn how to use that power logger with the wide band and tune the car as you increase the boost.

Lots of fun

 

[Mr.Spool]

Hello, Ive been doing some research on what Turbo/converter to go with for my 87 WE4. I don't have any interest nor the money to be breaking things at a track. I just want to make the car a little more fun to drive on the street. Here is what I'm working with so far:

Currently on the car:

Transmission cooler
Finned aluminum transmission pan
Aluminum radiator
Walbro 340 pump
Hot wire kit
Hooker ceramic coated exhaust
160 degree thermostat
Front stabilizer bar
Rear stabilizer brace
Hotchkiss rear lower control arms

Just purchased these to install over Winter:

60lb injectors
3" downpipe w/ test pipe and electric dump
3.5" LS1 MAF w/ translator
Scanmaster Gauge w/ powerlogger
Alky kit (single nozzle)
Innovate LC2 wideband
Racetronix fuel pressure regulator
Double roller timing chain
Billet pulley kit
TurboTweak chip

I am going to likely be buying the Turbo from Work and a converter. I keep going back and forth between TA5857, TA49, & TA60. I was leaning towards the TA60 cause they have a sale on them right now and either getting the stock converter restalled to 2800 or just buying a new 2800 lock up, but am I better off spending the extra money for a TA5857 or even more money for a TA49?

Interested in your thoughts...Thanks in advance

Is this a stock transmission car?

 

[WE4Turbo87]

I assume your on the stock turbo now? If so how hard have you pushed it? If your ar stock boost on the stock turbo I would just install the new parts you have and with the Alky max out that stock turbo and see how you like it.

It might surprise you.

I forgot to mention, yes I am doing the valve springs as well. My daily driver is a 2024 Explorer ST, and its kind of lame that my SUV is faster than my car. I just wanted to do everything over the winter so the car is ready for next year, so I figured I would just do everything at once while I have it apart. Doesn't the stock turbo run out of gas around 20psi?

 

[mblum]

You can push that stock turbo above 20 psi, it will make a ton of torque and with a manual boost controller and an adjustable wastegate it will be very responsive.

The stock turbo will make more than enough steam to take out a stock transmission. If a tranny rebuild isn't in the budget nor should a turbo upgrade. From my experience I'd max out that stock turbo and go from there. You already have it and its on the car.

 

[WE4Turbo87]

You can push that stock turbo above 20 psi, it will make a ton of torque and with a manual boost controller and an adjustable wastegate it will be very responsive.

The stock turbo will make more than enough steam to take out a stock transmission. If a tranny rebuild isn't in the budget nor should a turbo upgrade. From my experience I'd max out that stock turbo and go from there. You already have it and its on the car.

Any recommendations for a manual boost controller for an internal wastegate?

 

['87 Turbo "T"]

I’ve got one for sale……

Post in thread 'Manual boost controller'

Nov 30, 2025

TTT

• '87 Turbo "T"

Don’t forget to get the chip reburned if ya make any changes to turbo, converter, etc.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

Grab the double ball bearing 5857 or 5858 turbo with 4” S Ported Shroud & a David Husek (Turbo Buick Performance ) 3021 Lock up Torque Converter & you’ll be all set . Add a Lorenz adjustable manual boost controller & you’re good to go!
Hang on and get ready for low 11’s or better , but excellent manners for driving on the street

TurboBuickPerformance.com

 

[WE4Turbo87]

Is this a stock transmission car?

Yes. 12k original miles

 

[THensley]

Its best to drive a cool unbroken slow turbo Buick than a fast Ford Explorer

 

[THensley]

O one more thing don't forget install your electric dump on your ford Exploder, It will sound much better there

 

[Mr.Spool]

Yes. 12k original miles

Im going to highly advise you to not buy anything for the car until your ready to do the transmission.
A shift kit will help it live a little longer but I can go at anytime.
The stock turbo will make depending air quality
30psi of boost.
It will make 500lbft of torque. At very low rpm as well.
The stock intercooler turbo on alky we have put the car into the 11s and its a run footbrake combo that can do 1.5 60fts with nothing but a tire on it.
But....
It needs a trans done.
Or your on borrowed time.

 

[Mr.Spool]

am going to likely be buying the [COLOR=revert-layer] Turbo[/COLOR] from Work and a converter. I keep going back and forth between TA5857, TA49, & TA60. I was leaning towards the TA60 cause they have a sale on them right now and either getting the stock converter restalled to 2800 or just buying a new 2800 lock up, but am I better off spending the extra money for a TA5857 or even more money for a TA49?

You are wasting your time and money until you your over 25+psi on the stock turbo
In fact,you will slow down with these turbos as they will not spool as fast unless the the converter is real loose.
A d5 stock converter was just a fast on the stock turbo/intercooler/motor as upgraded converters with stalls below 3000rpm in the high 11 sec range.

 

[Mr.Spool]

Doesn't the stock turbo run out of gas around 20psi?

No

 

[Mr.Spool]

Ive been doing some research on what Turbo/converter to go with for my 87 WE4.

Your research should not of lead you to old cast wheel journal bearing turbos.
There are billet wheel turbos in bb even triple bb without hubs these days.
Also converter teck has come so far.
2800 rpm is not the right stall for the turbos you have chosen above.

 

[GNVYUS 1]

OP, if you're only at 12k original miles, you might wanna just enjoy as is and not mod as more miles will lose money in resale value later.

Your car of course, but these have exploded in price and low miles 10 years from now will bring an even bigger insane price as Gen Xers have more money to buy these.