New and worried

[CrusherUsher]

Hey guys and gals,
I originally posted this on Gnttype.org with no response so I figured I'd give you good people a try.
I am the proud owner of a very nice '86 T-type. It was Mike Pompe's from Missouri. I traded a '96 Camaro SS for it. I also have a '02 Camaro SS, and it's quick. I've always wanted one of these cars, and I love it. BUT, I am scared to play with it right now. I am running 93 octane and the boost is set around 14 lbs. I would really like to turn it up to see what this thing will run, but I'm afraid of screwing something up. Alot has been done to it. I have got a t-44e turbo, a front mount precision turbo intercooler that is larger, blue top intejectors, a higher capacity fuel pump, a turbo saver, scanmaster, knock alert (audible/visual), boost & exhaust temp gauges, oil psi & water temp gauges, turbo saver, 3" intake side pipes, and 3" exhaust with a Magnaflow muffler and no cat, new tranny, a B&M quarter stick, and currently in the car a 92 octane chip (thrasher). I am running about 14lbs of boost, I have the knob to vary the boost to what I want, Plug wires, LT1 MAF w/translator, and a 140 amp Impala SS alternator.
It is quick, but I really thought it would be faster. The guy I got it from said it should run easily into the 11's. Also has airbags in the rear. Really nice car, but I can't turn the boost much past 15lbs without it incurring knock. Does it need to be tuned? Also, it seems as though sometimes when I accelerate form a stop it pulls like freakin' mad (really, really hard) but other times it is a DOG and then the turbo comes on. Do I need a conveter or do I need to find the sweet spot?
I hope you guys don't mind questions, because I got a ton of them. I feel the car has it, I just gotta find it. As a correction and an update, it has a Testa 92 (Blue Top), I'm assuming that the blue top means the injectors. I also ran the SS at 12-14lbs of boost and it won't really pull away from it. It is about as fast as the SS probably slightly slower. Is this what I should expect? I figured it for faster. I know I want the dual fan setup and a larger/more efficient radiator for it. What's the deal.
I also noticed that the boost seems to rise as a result of accelerator position versus engine speed, is that true.?
More questions to come I'm sure.
Thanks guys.
Also, is around 15lbs of boost all I'm going to get with Chevron 93 octane?
I can't wait to become a contributing member!!

What do I need to look for?
Alcohol injection? What does it do?

 

[John Larkin]

Simply put, you probably need alky injection. I could never get past 15psi stock with 93 octane. Even 94 octane is a push at 16psi. Be safe and protect your investment. Get alky.

 

[Iceman]

Also you might look into Propane inj.
Do a search on this site for propane inj.
Looks like it might be the way to go!

 

[topfuel]

Sounds like a nice ride
These cars are all about tuning, I assume you read all the info
on Gnttype.org, that site seems to be the bible of Buicks.
Next I would suggest burning a higher octane fuel, mine
runs on no less than 100 octane, and believe me, you'll feel
a difference. Alchohol and propane are excellent systems to
use, but get some tuning experience with racing fuel first.
Always remember, knock is bad tune for zero knock.
Basically, you need to learn how to read the computer data
and interpret what it's telling you, once all the numbers are
where they should be, you'll be smiling
And don't be shy, ask lots of questions, there are tons of
Buick experts on this board that will help get you dialed in.
Hope that helps...

 

[JDSfastGN]

Ok I agree with what everybody else is saying, but even at 14#s of boost that T should leave the SS like it was standing still, someting is not right, I can run 19#s on 93 octane and 17# on 92, I know there are different quality gases out there in different parts of the country but this car should run very well with the mods it has. I believe it should be running a high12 at 106-108 on pump gas and traction. These cars CAN run well on pump gas, on my stock turbo and injectors in my 87 I didn't have much trouble with SS's except from a high mph roll. Alchy will only make tuning harder, your car has a lot more potential than what it is running now. Learn to tune it and maybe you can post some of your scan tools numbers for us so somebody can interpret it. A clogged fuel filter will kill any chance of running high boost. Maybe oil in the intercooler or throttle body? I don't like the idea that alchol injection and propane injection is a cure all, I think its just a band aid for cars not running up to potential. Once the car starts to get a good tune, then add the alky or propane and safely turn the wick up and have lots of fun. Make sure you have the plugs gapped at a tight .035 or even .032, good plug wires, coil pack and module, clean fuel filter, hot wired pump and i know there is more, somebody else will chime in. And anybody running alchy or planning on propane, i meant no offense, i think it is great, i just hate reading about decent combo cars, not running to there potential on pump gas. Good luck.

 

[99Formula]

JDSfastGN:
My GN is setup really similarly to CrusherUsher's, and I can tell you even without the squeeze, my Formula would put a hurt on the GN if both were limited to pump gas, especially out here where we get a whopping 91 octane. I can get about 12psi without knock. If I dumped in a couple gallons of 100 and was able to run 15 or so psi it would be closer, but I'd still put money on the LS1. It's when 116 goes in and 24 psi comes around that things start to get really ugly for the Firebird. The difference between 12 psi and 15 psi is noticeable enough... It's a totally different car at 20+ psi.

Peter

 

[UNGN]

The sweet spot for your combo is 22 psi with a race chip. With traction, 11's should be no big deal. If you want to see what speed is like, mix in a few gallons of race gas into the tank and turn the boost up a couple pounds.

How fast the car spools while driving around depend on the tach. If you are in 3rd gear with the TCC locked up (around 45 mph) and you don't give it enough gas to unlock the TCC, RPM's will rise slowly and boost will too.

If the TCC is unlocked (step on the brake then give it gas) The converter should allow the motor to go to 2400 RPM (enough to spool a TE44) and the car will boost away.

 

[Rick]

but other times it is a DOG and then the turbo comes on

Hmmmmm.............driver side header crack????

TE44 shouldn't have any lag from what I hear from others.

 

[bwallace]

You might try a RJC Powerplate too. A 60 dollar investment, not to bad!

 

[JDSfastGN]

99Formula, 91 octane and 93 make a big difference on these cars, and he is able to run 93, I have a combo on my 87 which is pretty similar, and it pulls stock to mildly modded LS1s very easly even on 16#s or so. The reason I believe something is wrong is because like previously stated, sometimes it feels like a dog and other times it pulls really hard, which to me means there are some tuning issuses. A stock GN with the basic mods, should be able to hang with an LS1 till 80 or so, then the LS1s third gear pull will surpass the GNs great aerodynamics . And even on low boost such as 14#s, I think a turboed and injectored GN should beat an LS1 if it is tuned and set up properly. Thats just my opinion, and I do know that 12#s will be a slug on 91 octane, because mine would be as well. Good luck

 

[OneQuikV6]

Ok guys...as the former owner of the car, lemme chime in here and try and help. In regard to some of the recommendations, the car does have the following in addition to what Bill said:

RJC plate, Walbro 340 with Casper's hotwire kit, new fuel filter, new plugs gapped at .035 (R43TS's I believe) alons with just about everything else "bolt on" that car be done of replaced. I never had the time to fully optimize the car after the 44/FM/T+/etc, so he will need to get in properly dialed in. I had in tuned to the point where it was a very nice car to just drive, however, WOT tuning still needed to be done. I do know that with 112 Sunoco, I could see the far side of 20lbs easily and it made a HUGE difference in the output from the car.

Keep in mind that basically stock other than basic recipe stuff, the car went 13.40 on street radials and a street chip. With good fuel, slicks and the Testa 112 chip I gave Bill with the car, properly tuned, it'll run the numbers.

Bill...listen to these guys and keep askin' the questions!!

Mike
~~~~~
Current owner of CrusherUsher's kick ass 96 SS

 

[bose]

tuning

I know I will get a lot of flames on this but here goes.If you have the room to storeit buy Sunoco 104 unleaded by the drum.I have an SMC alcohol injection kit and I find it a pain to tune.I have been leaving it turned off and running 110 leaded race gas.Bruce

 

[OKTurbo]

CrusherUsher...

If you bought Mike's old car then don't worry.....you got one VERY NICE car at a VERY NICE price.

What you're describing is very normal. Even if some guys won't admit it. These cars have two distinct personalities.......pump gas vs. race gas. You can't run much boost on pump gas, and if the weather is warm they slow down.

BUT....put in some 110 octane race gas and a race chip and HANG ON. There may be a 2 second difference in quarter mile times between street trim and race trim.

I have an alcohol injection set-up on my car. It let's me run 18-19 lbs of boost with pump gas. A lot of fun, but to tell you the truth, the BFG Radial T/A's can't handle the power anyway. It makes for some fun 2nd gear-20 mph burnouts though.

Just drive it and have fun. Don't turn up the boost until you put some good gas in it though.

John