Power injection....was it to be and just never made it?

["Turbo-T"]

I stumbled across this little tidbit of info today. Not sure how true it really is, but if you've ever wondered what that power injection light on your GN/T-type was for....

Ever wonder why Turbo Regals have the "Power Injection" light on the dash and "Power Injection" location in the fuse box? GM had plans to put water injection on Turbo Regals for power enhancement by reducing detonation and increasing boost levels. Unfortunately it did not go into production. The light would illuminate when the water injection was pumping.

It also mentions a few known names in the turbo Buick community.

Source: Alcohol Information

 

[Mike Licht]

If you look at the drivers fenderwell you can see where a second washer tank can be mounted turned around. The EPA considered this a "fuel" wanted the tank and lines to be metal plus car crash tested, again, this was not an option so it was killed. One story I was told.
Mike

 

[GinoRin]

I thought it would be cool to wire in the alky to this spot in the dash. I think I am gonna call Spina and have him make me a harness to wire in the Alky kit I bought from Mike so the power injection light comes on when the Alky hits :biggrin:

 

[turbo nasty]

Already done.... The alky control kit from Julio/Razor incorporates this PI light feature

 

[boostedturbotom]

If you look at the drivers fenderwell you can see where a second washer tank can be mounted turned around. The EPA considered this a "fuel" wanted the tank and lines to be metal plus car crash tested, again, this was not an option so it was killed. One story I was told.
Mike

I thought it was for a diesel motor model they had intended to produce ?

 

[GinoRin]

Already done.... The alky control kit from Julio/Razor incorporates this PI light feature

Guess I should read my instructions before I post, eh? :biggrin: Sh*t, guess I've been out of the loop for awhile. hahaha. Thanks for making my day, one less thing to do :biggrin:

 

[TurboDave]

I thought it was for a diesel motor model they had intended to produce ?

No, it was intended to be an indicator for the "planned, but never implemented" water injection system

 

[GNBRETT]

No, it was intended to be an indicator for the "planned, but never implemented" water injection system

That is true.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Already done.... The alky control kit from Julio/Razor incorporates this PI light feature

This is the part number 123GNPACKIT kit from Full Throttle Speed correct? Sells new for $454.99 or $529 thru Alkycontrol? FULL THROTTLE SPEED - Item Description Page

 

[Gothmog]

I thought it was supposed to be a 7th injector setup, thats what Fred V. told me

 

[turbofish38]

If you look at the drivers fenderwell you can see where a second washer tank can be mounted turned around.

Since I had a spare jug laying around I tried it. No go. Not even close. And I tried the other one from a Chevy and it wasn't even close either. Than I got to thinking because I never heard that those mounts were from the power injection project. So off to my stash of parts and I drug out all of the left side wheelhouses I had for a Regal. Hmmm? Every single one had those mountings. And 3 of them are pre 1984 SFI so what the heck is going on? Mine weren't drilled so they served no other purpose on either the carb-turbo or NA cars. And they all had the mounts for the SFI cruise bracket and remote PS reservoir along with the battery mount. Well those are easy to explain as the diesel cars used them and Buick just used what was on hand when it came time to design the SFI cars. And no mention of them in the FSM for anything else on a diesel. Now on one of the NA wheelhouses I found a mold cast date of 1980 I think. I dont think those mounts were for a tank but on the other I can't refute it either unless GM was planning on power injection back when the new for 81 sheet metal was still on the drawing boards. I never heard the power injection story until the SFI cars came out so I'm thinking this part will be more of a myth associated with the story instead of actual fact. Now it would be great if somebody has some pics or better yet, some prototype parts that were used.Here are some pics showing the parts and the different casting numbers.IIRC there are something like 5 different casting numbers that I've seen. I keep track because I think the very early 81 doesn't have the mounts for the remote PS reservoir. I haven't found it yet. :smile:

Pic 1- 82 carb turbo
Pic 2- 82&83 carb turbo
Pic 3- 82 NA
Pic 4- 82 carb turbo
Pic 5- 80 casting date

 

[turbofish38]

More pics.

Pic 1-83 carb turbo
Pic 2-86 GN

 

[RatFink]

Interesting, I've heard this story before. Didn't GM have a water injected car back int eh early 60's. Came with something called "rocket fuel" which was a alky/water mixture? Another story I've heard.

 

[TurboDave]

I thought it was supposed to be a 7th injector setup, thats what Fred V. told me

I think you might have misunderstood Fred. What he was probably refering to was, way back when a lot of folks were running the 7th injector setup (if was purely and aftermarket device), they used that bulb socket to put a bulb in hooked up to their 7th inj. setup to tell them when it was active.

 

[tjthorson]

Interesting, I've heard this story before. Didn't GM have a water injected car back int eh early 60's. Came with something called "rocket fuel" which was a alky/water mixture? Another story I've heard.

Oldsmobile had "turbo rocket fluid" in the jet-fire cars....

1964 Oldsmobile Jetfire Turbo Rocket V-8 - Truveo Video Search

 

[RatFink]

Oldsmobile had "turbo rocket fluid" in the jet-fire cars....

1964 Oldsmobile Jetfire Turbo Rocket V-8 - Truveo Video Search

Cool, exactly what I was trying to remember. thanks

 

[Gothmog]

I think you might have misunderstood Fred. What he was probably refering to was, way back when a lot of folks were running the 7th injector setup (if was purely and aftermarket device), they used that bulb socket to put a bulb in hooked up to their 7th inj. setup to tell them when it was active.

Myabe he was pulling my leg, but that's what he said.