Turbo buick virgin wants to go fast.

[anti-chevy]

I just picked up a stock '79 turbo regal, Im about to start working on getting the turbo working again, and I also want to give the car some balls. Im trying to do this cheap so a rebuild and ported heads are out of the question. There dosn't seem to be much I can do Headers wouldn't be a bolt in, and none of the aftermarket intakes out there would work with the stock turbo set-up.
I'm thinking about a cam, carb, down pipe, exhaust, no cat, no smog, no AC, and makeing an adjustable waste gate (some how).
The cam I'm lookind at is CRANE PowerMax #813901 (PAW #) with .416" in., .432" ex. lift / 264*in., 272*ex. adv. duration / 112* seperation angle. Is this cam to big?To small?Or just right?Any other cam suggestions?
Im sure this is a stupid question but what is alcohol(alky)/water injection?How dose it work? How much dose it cost?
Whats this little black box thats wired to my distributor and bolted on to my fan shroud for?
How much boost can I run without an intercooler, but with good gas (94 octain).

Thanks for any info!

 

[b4black]

Welcome. Nice ID. But now that you know you don't like Chevy's, you need to stop thinking like your building one. Let me explain before I offend you.

Forget new cams, carbs, headers, intakes. The key is in the beginning simple:

1. Get it running right
2. Up the boost
3. Find weak link
4. Go back to step 2

You have a long way to go before that formula needs work. I wrote this page a a while ago, but it's still pretty good. I will try to update it soon. http://www.flash.net/~rjgeorge/racing.htm


Headers - they are available, but not cheap and not necessary yet. Your stock '79 exhaust manifold are very good.

Intakes - The are none.

Cams - there are plenty, but high on the list of things to do.

Carb - Stick with the Q-jet for now. It's plenty of carb and specialized for the Turbo Set up

Smog - Make sure you know 100% what your doing before removing anything.

Adjustable wastegate - Excellent mod to do:http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/images/Adj_wastegate.JPG

Water/alcohol injection - spraying a little water/alcohol into the intake helps suppress detonation, and allows you to run more boost. Not the weak link yet.

The little black box is the knock retard system - http://www.flash.net/~rjgeorge/knock.htm

Downpipe - This and low restriction exhaust will be the first major modifications to do. The DP will need to be a custom peice.

Read this website:
http://www.flash.net/~rjgeorge/
and this one (more for the 84/87 TRs)
http://www.flash.net/~rjgeorge/knock.htm

Good luck and ask a lot of questions.

 

[b4black]

Originally posted by anti-chevy
How much boost can I run without an intercooler, but with good gas (94 octain).

Oops, almost forgot this one.

You can't run an intercooler on a Draw-thru carb set up. Stock boost is 9 psi. The adjustable wastegate will allow you to run a little more, but it's restrictions and detonation that's prevents more.

Get boost gauge - incredibly important. I highly suggest something to monitor knock as well. I like Casper knock gauge:http://www.casperselectronics.com/cgi-local/store/commerce.cgi?product=INST

 

[anti-chevy]

Thanks for the info! Im used to toying with BB pontiac(400s and 455s) and SB & BB V8 buick(350s and 455s) motors. This will be my first V6 and/or Turbo motor.

 

[fc227]

My Suggestions:
1. Do a Leak down or Compression test, Make sure the engine is sound before you do any thing.
2. Get a boost gauge.