Puff of smoke, and we're off...

[bakerlaw67]

Actually, it only occasionally puffs when I take off from idle. HOWEVER, when I am cruising at any constant speed, it blows clear then suddenly gives an unhealthy (blue) smokescreen to the person behind me. The motor doesn't bog or chug.

While I'm no mechanic, or even turbo stud, my hypothesis is that the oil blows past the seals in the turbo, burns and accumulates smoke, and then gets pushed out with slight accelerator pressure to maintain speed.

How's that sound? Any suggestions, costs for repair/replacement or comments are welcome.

 

[b4black]

At idle, decelerating and crusing the engine is under it's highest vacuum. I think your right about the seals being bad. This high vacuum sucks the oil past the seals. Draw thru turbos used a "positive displacement" seal to prevent this.

Check on ebay. There's a woman that sells new center sections for $125. Might be cheaper than a rebuild kit.

 

[bakerlaw67]

This is probably a dumb question, but what kind of turbo is on the '83? Also, as long as its off, would it be good to upgrade now? If so, to what? I don't want an 11 sec car, and want to leave it mostly stock, but I wouldn't mind dusting a 'Stang or two at the stoplight, or trip the lights below 14 sec. Oh yeah, I guess it has to beat my brother's mostly stock 289 4v 67 Mustang.

About the eBay center section, what am I actually looking for. I've found turbos, and a rebuild kit, but no centers.

 

[b4black]

The '83 Regal turbocharger is a Garrett AirResearch TBO308. The housing are unique to Buick. Both have special mounts cast into them to bolt to the intake manifold.

Becuase of the housings, there aren't many options - No aftermarket.

• The factory wastegate actuator is not adjustable. It can be made adjustable, or any repacement actuator will already be adjustable.
• The housings can be machined to accept larger impellers. Not cheap, but effective.
• There are two turbine housings, 0.82 and 0.63 A/R. The '83 would have the more preferred 0.63 already.
• Installing a in-line relief valve before the actuator can help with more precise boost control and faster spool up. Re-route the line from the compreesor to the actuator over the turbo to make this possible.

To get to the 14 safely, you need a boost gauge, a knock gauge and a scan tool. I'm think an EGT gauge might be important too.


I can't find the ebay auctions either. She must not have one going right now and the completed auction search isn't working.

 

[Ttype83]

I could not find her either when I thought that I had blown the turbo seals.
I found this shop that will rebuild and hog it out for about $525 I think. He does good work and a 3 day turn around plus shipping time.
Limit Engineering - John C. Craig
885 Kiowa Ave Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
1 (928) 453-7321
1 (928) 453-0789 (fax)

Turbocharger specialists

 

[b4black]

Here they are:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1850791572&r=0&t=0

 

[bakerlaw67]

I just got off the phone with a local (Phoenix) guy who offered to sell me a center cartridge for the low, low "wholesale" price of $333!

Thanks tons for putting up the eBay link. I plan to pick one up ASAP. Even if it turns out to be my valve guides, or something else internally, it seems like a pretty cheap fix, and one that will probably go bad eventually anyway.

I like the idea of getting mine rebuilt, but I think that I'll wait for now.

As far as the actuators go, is it possible to buy an adjustable one by itself? I plan to keep all of the "original" parts should someone have a desire to return the car to NOS, so I'd rather not destroy the old one by making it adjustable. BUT I do want to have an adjustable.

 

[bakerlaw67]

Has anybody ever bought a center off eBay? I just traded e-mails and this is what I got:

>Hi, I think that application if higher than 125. The cost for the
>TBO308 is $295.00. I just sold one like that and it has a
>different wheel than the ones one ebay.
>
>Let me know if you want one at that price.

>Thanks,
>Bev.

Is she milking me or is this true? The ad says it will fit buicks from 78 to 85. Are the centers the same for all of these years?

 

[b4black]

I complied a list of GM part numbers and all 1979/83 (1978 had a different number) V6 turbochargers used the same CHRA (center).

She maybe confusing the carb turbochager with the later SFI turbochargers. (The 86/87 turbo is a TBO348). I haven't bought one from her, but I'm pretty sure others here have for $125. I haven't heard anyone complain that they didn't fit.