Oil Leak Behind Turbo?

[84' TurboRegal]

Hi, Im new to the world of turbos. I just bought my dads 1984 Grand National... It is leaking oil from somewhere, i did the valve cover seals, and that did not help. I'm pretty sure its not the rear main seal because the car only leaks when you hammer on the gas and the turbo spools up. I suspect the culprit may be the turbo oil return line? or a rear intake manifold gasket. I'm not very familiar with the turbocharged 3.8, however my 85' Limited had the 3.8, and i would assume the engine is very similar to the carbureted version.

 

[RegalT-type85]

Congrats on good Car choice. Welcome


Take off the heater hose heat sheild, look down there see if it's coming from return line itself or the hose gourment(sits in the intake,hose goes into it) .Feel around with yout index see if you can feel oil at the drain hose to turbo contact area. If it's right at the connection (draintube to turbo) then you might need to get a new gasket for it. Should cost no more then a 1$ for the gasket.

Is there any white smoke when you hammer it? if so could be your turbo seal going out.

Have you done any upgrades to it yet?

 

[84' TurboRegal]

2.5" up pipe from jays gn, and a cold air intake, no white smoke when you hammer on it

 

[RegalT-type85]

Did you find the leak?

 

[84' TurboRegal]

It looks like the return line is pinched in spots, I think its the grommet on the intake manifold, If so is this job easier to do when you remove the turbo?

 

[RegalT-type85]

I put a new gourment in last month. Took the turbo off all that stuff. I couldn't get the gourment in. Limited space, new hard tough rubber gourment not good to work with. The only way I could get the gourment in was to make two slits with a razor (not all the way) Just the part that goes into the intake, up to the lip but didn't cut the lip part.

I can't find the site who sells the new gourments, another memeber ask for it. You might have luck at NAPA tho. Ask in the wanted section.

You might want to ditch the metal hose at this time, Get this instead. Makes putting the turbo back easier and better IMO. I didn't buy this kit, at the time i wasn't turbo knowing myself at the time. I have the same setup tho. Rather you go this route or not i would replace the gasket on the drain hose anyway.

 

[RegalT-type85]

meant to paste a link in there haha, gbodyparts.com's 50$ drain hose kit

 

[84' TurboRegal]

Is there anything special i need to do to remove the turbo? And re-installing it?

 

[84' TurboRegal]

What all has to be done to upgrade to the TA-49 turbo? Do I have to change injectors, maf, coil pack etc? Or will it run on a stock 84' engine

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

What all has to be done to upgrade to the TA-49 turbo? Do I have to change injectors, maf, coil pack etc? Or will it run on a stock 84' engine

Alot- Easier to install a TA33C. Just swap out. Brad

 

[84' TurboRegal]

Where do you find the TA-33C?

 

[RegalT-type85]

You can buy one or get yours made into it.

I believe postons buick ( I miss them) posted it yelds 40hp gains turbo alone. Not sure if they are coming back but limited,blasstperformance will make you that turbo.

Yes, if you add that turbo or anything better then the stock turbo, you will need injectors,chip, fuel pump to go with it.

Althought some have used 30lb(maybe stock 28lb even) injectors with the TA33 with little knock if i can remember right. The stock computer can be used with 30lb injecotors no chip upgrade needed. This is if you wanted a bit more fuel but not wanting to go all out just yet

 

[84' TurboRegal]

The car does have a chip in it, not sure what kind though. If i upgraded the injectors/pres reg./fuel pump, would i have to change the coil pack or ECM?

 

[RegalT-type85]

No, you don't have to swap out coils. I think this is done just for better choice/coil part. I'm going stage 2 coil setup myself, i rather change one bad coil then have to change the whole damn thing. (stage 2 has 3 small coils)


What color is the chip? any part # on it or anything?


You can use the same ECM and get a chip for whatever size injecots above 30lbs but most of us get the 86 ECM fromt the junkyard and get a TT chip(turbotweak.com) much better ECM.

 

[84' TurboRegal]

Im gonna assume this is a GM replacement chip, and also assume its older then I am, Part# 424014
Serial# 306734
Hypertech???

 

[RegalT-type85]

hypertech isn't a bad chip. The TT Chip is your best bet tho. You can get one made for your Hotair ECM or better route would be to get the 86 ECM. Easy find at the junk and cost(me/,most) 15-30$

 

[84' TurboRegal]

Would you have to change over the wireing harness to go the 86' ECM route? I'm not looking for the fastest car on the road, but my 81' lincoln will take it right now.

 

[RegalT-type85]

What kind of lincoln? haha No, the 86 ECM is plug and play swaps right out. I can't say much but I have raced a few cars and only lost to a SC cobra by a car or two (which is not bad) haha this was stock everything believe it or not, althought i did later(unknowing) find I had a 93 reds chip.

 

[RegalT-type85]

Got lost in translator but as for the turbo, 3 bolts you need to undew and it should come right off. By now you should have the up pipe, downpipe off and throttle cables, Put the throttle cable clips in a good safe place. Don't have to take of the cables, could wait until you put the turbo out a bit, makes getting to the clips easier.

With everything off, the turbo should pop right out.
Few ways of doing so,
1.. crowbar pop method, between intake(top) turbo's compressor pop it up.
2..wiggle it method,
3. My favorite, rip it off with your bare hands but don't strain yourself.
HA owners gain this strength with time alone with a HA. haha

 

[84' TurboRegal]

It's a Mark 6 with a built 302, bored .030 over, mild cam, roller rocker setup, heads polished ported and milled, puts out close to 400 horse. N/A engine no turbo yet.