Turbo Sunbird

[bishir]

Turbo Sunbird Information needed

I was curious to find out more information about the Turbo Sunbirds. I have a relative that bought one for his daughter in the 80s and it has sat in his barn for a few years. I'm guessing it has a 2.0L engine. It's a neat little car and my Uncle claims it was pretty fast in it's day. I could probably buy the car pretty cheap if I wanted it. I'm already thinking about a SMC Alky kit and turning up the boost, but I'd like to know more about these first. Could make a good daily driver for me.

Thanks,

James

 

[GNVAIR]

Those things flew. Only problems was trying to keep head gaskets on them. They were based off of a Brazillian made 1.8/2.0 4 cylinder. From what I remember, the ecm is the same one used on the Syclones and Typhoons. Major problems were trying to make more than 12lbs of boost with it. I seem to remember Patrick from PTE saying he has one that runs high 13's.

 

[hot6-231]

Saw one at LVD running 13's(I think best of 13.4??). It's got a turbo, so it can be made to run. It would be a hell of a sleeper!!

 

[bishir]

I thought they might be fast but not low 13s! Perhaps I'll make an offer the next time I see him. I'm sure he'd sell it dirt cheap. If only I could get over the looks. A great sleeper indeed

Any thoughts on worth or reliability of this car?

James

 

[DKREDT]

I was a 17 year old high school student washing cars at a Pontiac dealer back from 84-86 when these were new.

I remember taking a new one to get gas and getting into it, building boost and about having the steering wheel yanked out of my hands due to the extreme torque steer as that little **** came up on boost!

I always thought it would be fun to have like a 86/87 converible Sunbird with a turbo for the heck of it.

Get it if it's cheap and have fun with it!



Joel

 

[Little6pack]

I was reading the 1987 Hot Rod April issue (the GNX one).
On Page 8 there is a CUTIE from Pinellas Park Florida standing next to a Fiero that has a transplanted Sunbird Turbo motor in it..

 

[tjthorson]

They are kinda fun. I had an 87 GT convertible. The 86 and lower are the 1.8, and the 87 and up are the 2.0. ANother nice thing about the 87 and 2.0 is the fact that the turbo is oil AND water cooled. Makes for a much longer lasting turbo.

Brazillian made OHC motor. Headgaskets are a pain. Hot retorque TTY bolts for the heads.

As stated, same ECM as the sy/ty, so a chip guru can get involved. The boost limiter cuts off the FUEL over 12 pounds of boost, so you need to get an adjustable FPR, and bleed off the boost that the ECM senses to keep the ECM happy.

What they really need is an intercooler. As soon as the temp rises, the power really drops off.

See my web page under "my cars" for what happens to a brazillian motor when someone throws 2 rods through the oil pan.

 

[DALESGN]

That was one of the first stoplight races that I had when I first got my GN. This guy rolled up to me at a redlight in a nice looking blue one and wanted to go on the green. I pulled him pretty bad , but it still seemed ike it ran pretty well.

 

[myclone]

Patric at PTE has one (or he did last time I was by his place) that I believe goes low 13s or high 12s. Ya might give him a call and see if he can give you the low down on em.

 

[Pronto]

Nice collection of scraps in that pan.

 

[tjthorson]

yep. That car had 120K on it. I drove it for 4000 miles without any problem and decided to sell it to get a bigger and newer convertible (see 1995 Cutlass). Threw it on ebay, kid bought it from New York.

He drove out with a buddy, picked up the car and left. 10 minutes later there is a knock on the door. Car just "died out"

It was one block away with a streak of oil running up the street about 50 feet.

Turn key.... click..... oil dumping out on the ground.

Kid must have decided to see what happens PAST the redline - he had to have held the gear or something.

Anywho - I felt bad for him and didn't want any problems, so I put a shortblock in it for him...... free......

I found a NEW GM crate shortblock at a machineshop that someone had ordered like 5 years ago and never picked up. Talk about luck. Bought it for $175.00, the difference of th4e deposit left on it and their cost.

Put it in, kid picked up the car 3 weeks later and haven't heard from him since except some pictures where he put a new top on and such....