turbo buick engine builder Texas

[.38 special]

I lost a turbo and I'm pretty sure its from low oil pressure. Before I put on a new $700 part, I figured I better fix the problem. Besides that it has about 85k miles, so I figure it is about time for a rebuild anyway.

So I was hoping to get you great guys advice. Who is the best engine builder for our blocks in the state of Texas. I live in Houston but will travel for something as important as this.

Sorry for the long absence, but my computer crashed--just got a new one--glad to be back on the board. Any response would be appreciated.

 

[ES1]

Conley and a business called House of boost are the names I have seen recommed in rthe Houston area.

 

[BUICKTR]

T-Machine in Austin, TX. They did a very good job on my short block. They have experience with Turbo Buick engines. The guy's name is Brian. I don't have the phone number in hand but you should be able to get the number from telephone information.

 

[.38 special]

Conley's doesn't build motors in house, and I don't know who they use. I have never heard of House of Boost. I know of a House of Speed and know Kile and J.P. (the owners), but they don't do a whole lot of turbo Buick stuff, although I know Kile has owned a few and they also don't do machine work in house.

I really want to get some input on you guys' experience with good engine builders in Texas. I live in Houston like I stated, but will travel as far as Dallas or San Antonio.

 

[BUICKTR]

No one in San Antonio can build a turbo Buick. I looked around and research but no such luck. I've seen several disasters with guys that have taken them to different machine shops in town. There are very few turbo Buicks in town. I have friends in Austin with some pretty fast Buicks that told me about T-Machine. They have build some pretty good engines and very reasonable. My car ran low 11's and I'm actually in the works on making it faster. I have another turbo engine sitting on my garage and I would not hesitate to take it to them again for another build up.

 

[.38 special]

very good to know. I will have to give them a call. I have some friends in Austin that I need to visit anyway, maybe I will stop in and check out T-machines.
Do they primarily work on turbo blocks.

I still would like to get more info though, so anyone with some good or bad experience let me know.

 

[dconnor]

Conley's "guy" built my car's engine & I've been VERY happy with it, he's got a ton of experience building TR engines. 11.4x's @ 119.xx so far & I'm still messing with a xylene blend & low timing chip.

Doug C.

 

[turbosam6]

Have you verified the low oil psi condition with a gauge? I highly doubt you lost a turbo from low oil psi, unless the oil feed line to the turbo itself was clogged. You would probably damage the motor with low oil psi before the turbo. 85k isn't a lot of miles on a stock motor, you may be throwing money away. Its worth looking into anyway.

 

[CPAKCP]

Originally posted by .38 special
very good to know. I will have to give them a call. I have some friends in Austin that I need to visit anyway, maybe I will stop in and check out T-machines.
Do they primarily work on turbo blocks.

.38 special,

Brian Beck is the owner and builder at T-Machines in Austin. His phone # is 512-834-8138. He has build a number of ten and 11 second buicks for us. Tell him that the Cedar Park boys sent you

Good Luck

 

[HouseofSpeed]

I still do machine work on special projects... Buick and Viper stuff...and we do a fair TR/GN/TTA business.

I still have my cars....GN and a TTA...and have done all the work except the heads on both cars.

Give me a shout if we can help you out.

 

[.38 special]

Kyle, nice to hear from you. This is Joseph, just in case you where wondering. I guess now that you mention it, I did know that you built your motor for the TTA. I didn't know that you got another GN. It's been awhile. Last time we spoke though, you didn't have the TTA running yet, so of course, I don't know how it runs. But I gotta get by there soon.

By the way Kyle what was up with the insurance thing. Did you forget that you had installed the Kenwood, or were you trying to do me a favor by telling her I had the more valuable stock radio. Anyhow, I had put the stock stereo back in by the time the adjuster came out, So in the end she ended up telling me that I was a liar and my car was never broken into, because you told her stock and that is what was in there. I left you a message to talk about it, but you never called back.
(sorry everyone, it is an inside thing, by the way, Kyle is the former owner of my car.)

I think it is an oil pressure problem because when I start the car I have close to 65psi at idle and after a few minutes of warming up, it drops to about 25psi. And the pressure goes up with the rpm range like it should while it is sitting still in park. That is all ok right. But as the car gets warm, the oil pressure drops after just a little while of driving to under 10psi! But the oil pressure will still rise with the rpm range, while at idle sitting still. But what has me really worried is while driving, if I floor it, the pressure actually drops 3-4psi until I get out of boost. Then it rises just over the already low pressure. I would be lucky to get close to 10psi pressure per 100rpm right after an oil change after diving the car for 15min. To top it off, after my turbo started to make an obvious whine noise instead of whistle, (don't get me wrong the car does still run, I just don't think it is a good idea to drive) the other day I got a pretty bad lifter tap, which I fixed that problem along time ago and haven't had a problem in over a year.

I could be wrong I guess--so if anyone has an idea, let me know.
I still want as much info as possible on engine builders, so that I can make the most educated choice as possible.

 

[.38 special]

Oh and to everyone who has responded, thanks alot your info. really helps. And DConner, your homepage doesn't work, I wanted to see your car to see if I know you.

 

[.38 special]

ttt

 

[JDEstill]

If you are looking for someone local, my understanding is that Conley's uses (used?) Farman's, on Pinemont off 290. There's another place on Pinemont called Custom Engine's that Will Wheeler told me he had used before and liked. I used JK Engine on Bellaire, Kleat is the man there, and I really liked him. Not a TR "expert", but he's built several TR engines including mine. Mike Kurtz used him some and recommended him to me. Kleat builds a lot of circle track engines I think, high performance is not unfamiliar to him.

John

 

[.38 special]

I have a friend who used JK and had a good experience but like you said they aren't turbo buick specialist and I would like to know of more builders who have been around for awhile so I know how their engines hold up.

anyone else? I wouldn't mind reading about bad experiences also, so I know who not to use.

 

[G McCall]

I wish to add for those that don't know;
that the more radical you get with performance the more important it is to get the Buick Turbo Engine mechanic and engine builder. Probably not very many people in any one area (if any) that can set up a set of roller rockers with the correct pushrod geometry on a set of aluminum heads, should you choose to go this level of performance.

 

[gnjim3]

Hey
Dennis Faermann all the way............

Disassymbled.......I put together 2-yrs........

Assymbled SB by him.......4 yrs....and $hitty Gen 6 DFI to boot.


........Faermann has seen many TR engines...It is hard to specialize ........economically speaking!!

 

[.38 special]

Thanks all.

After much thought, discussion, and money counting (since I have to rebuild the tranny in my truck) I decided that before I rebuild the motor, I will put on another stock turbo (donated by a good friend) and use the oil filter relocation kit. I think what may have happened is when my stock timing gear shredded, some of the plastic got caught in the turbo feed line, causing it to starve for oil, at least I hope.

But I still will need to rebuild probably in the next 10-30k miles so the all the advice was not in vain. Thanks again.