I just bought a low mileage 87 Turbo T. It has a hot wire kit, TA49 Turbo, Reds 93 chip, and a K&N cone filter. Tires out back are DOT drag radials (50 series I think). If I don't powerbrake and really let boost build(like 6 seconds), it won't spin the tires. The car seems somewhat fast, but I feel it's being held back some. I'm gonna take it to AZ GN in a few days or so to have them look at it. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!!
Underpowered w/ Mods??
- Thread starter radtech
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Check for exhaust leaks. I wouldnt doubt that it may have the wrong torque converter in it either. You need to do a complete sensor adjustment, clean out the intercooler, change the fuel filter, and verify the integrity of ignition components.
Mine does the same thing... had the car since Friday... Mine at half or so throttle seems to pull pretty good and runs good on the road good mpg even....Has the same deal though build boost in the brakes and it spins out decent and wot from a roll is disapointing. I get this same sound I think when I lift with boost .. I was thinking maybe it was a blow off valve or something... hard to describe the sound really I was hoping it was normal.
Maybe something is rattling and causing knock retard. Take off the accessories and check all the retaining bolts. Ive seen loose bracket to head bolts cause false knock in cars before. Check the compressor inlet also and be sure the turbo is ok.
IMHO... seeing as you guys are newbies to the turbo Buicks, what you are hearing is what some people refer to as a turbo sneeze...
This happens when the compressor is spinning real fast... making boost.... and you close the throttle real quick.... the pressure spikes real high in the up pipe because you just slammed the door (the throttle blade) closed... and the pressure has no where to go.... so the extremely high pressure backs up to the compressor wheel and makes it slow way down... real fast.... causing the sound I think you are hearing... Very common.
Some say it isn't good for the turbo.... but I have not seen and verifiable proof that is does any lasting damage.... my stock turbo lasted 159k miles... and the only reason it failed at 159k is because I spun a main bearing... and put that metal through the turbo bearings....
Right or wrong..... I think it sounds cool.
Hope this answers your question.
This happens when the compressor is spinning real fast... making boost.... and you close the throttle real quick.... the pressure spikes real high in the up pipe because you just slammed the door (the throttle blade) closed... and the pressure has no where to go.... so the extremely high pressure backs up to the compressor wheel and makes it slow way down... real fast.... causing the sound I think you are hearing... Very common.
Some say it isn't good for the turbo.... but I have not seen and verifiable proof that is does any lasting damage.... my stock turbo lasted 159k miles... and the only reason it failed at 159k is because I spun a main bearing... and put that metal through the turbo bearings....
Right or wrong..... I think it sounds cool.
Hope this answers your question.
benoitthegr8
Sociopathic TR Ownership
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- Mar 21, 2004
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Turbo Buicks will snort if your not feeding them high octane fuel, they like to drink up the C-16, they also have been known to feed on methanol.
+1 on the turbo sneeze. as far as being down on power what kinda of brake shoes you got on the rear. someone could have up grade to both large pads and s10 wheel cylinders and with a stock converter you will never speen them tires. just something to look into.
turbo nasty
Turbo Dojo / MNTR
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- Jul 19, 2001
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First thing is to get rid of the Reds chip and get a Turbo Tweak chip.
Hands down will be a different car
TurboTweak Home
Hands down will be a different car
TurboTweak Home
Car does have a STOCK converter. The car was upgraded to a rebuilt powermaster system. As far as I know, the rear brakes weren't changed. By changing to say a 3000 stall 10 inch converter, will turbo lag get better? I'm running crappy 91 octane because that's all we have here in AZ. Thanks!
salvageV6
Daily Driver
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- May 25, 2001
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The car should run just fine with a stock good D5 and the TA49.
I'd ditch the chip for a TT, check the plugs for color and gap and report back.
Spinning the tires isn't a measure of power, hooking and not spinning them is.
Scantools and one that logs like Direct Scan help tune these cars to run nicely.
I'd ditch the chip for a TT, check the plugs for color and gap and report back.
Spinning the tires isn't a measure of power, hooking and not spinning them is.
Scantools and one that logs like Direct Scan help tune these cars to run nicely.
radteck call Nick Micale he will help you out and if you live close i would take it to him and see what he says. he can set you up with a converter if you need a converter he can set you up with headers if your headers are crack he can fix pretty much anything. A 3,000 stall will help but if you have a cracked header then you still havent fixed the true problem. The Ta-49 you have should spool fine with a stock converter as that turbo was built around the stock converter just like the TE-44. Also i would get a up to date chip burned for your setup. give turbotweak a call and have him set you up. Also you might want to check you plug wires and plugs to make sure there in good working order and make sure you know what injectors are in the car. if you cant do this stuff take it to nick and he will be able to do this stuff im sure. anyways nick is awsome he is building my motor right now and has a few other parts of mine. Nick built my tranny and he knowledge is awsome.
Boost321,
Yep I'm going to Nick soon to check things out. The car has a hot wire kit and "green stripe" injectors I think. I'm just waiting for my collector insurance to get finalized before I drive the car a lot. Thanks everyone for helping me out!!!!!
Yep I'm going to Nick soon to check things out. The car has a hot wire kit and "green stripe" injectors I think. I'm just waiting for my collector insurance to get finalized before I drive the car a lot. Thanks everyone for helping me out!!!!!
whos insureance did you go with? did you have to get an Appraisal? if so who did you call? just wondering as i will be doing this once i get back from the desert. i want to get my car appraised for around 20K and the mileage limit should be fine as i dont drive it much.
Azgn
AZGN will sort things out for you, with his experience and knowledge he'll beable go over it with a fine tooth comb and find the things that need to be done intially/baseline. Have him service your car do a Spring cleaning and complete tune.
Seeing that they put a 49 on her they may have put larger injectors as well. you'll need to know if your going to get a new TT chip. Check all vacuum lines for leaks and intergrity and especially zip tie all boost lines from turbo, check for exhaust leaks. You may have typical inherent header cracks on driver side header. Once AZGN sets all your basic tuning parameters you will need to continue to monitor them with a Scan tool of some type. How old is your O2 sensor? Does you car have a fuel pres. gauge and adjustable Fuel pres. regulator and after market Boost gauge? You need to monitor Boost and Fuel pressure simutaneously at WOT.
Vortex Buick and gnttype .org is a good place to start. Alot of great info!
Turbo sneeze always reminded me of one of the 3 Stooges when he got mad. Curly gets on the ground goes around in circles, hittting himself on the head and he goes whhooopwoopwhoop sounds just like him.
AZGN will sort things out for you, with his experience and knowledge he'll beable go over it with a fine tooth comb and find the things that need to be done intially/baseline. Have him service your car do a Spring cleaning and complete tune.
Seeing that they put a 49 on her they may have put larger injectors as well. you'll need to know if your going to get a new TT chip. Check all vacuum lines for leaks and intergrity and especially zip tie all boost lines from turbo, check for exhaust leaks. You may have typical inherent header cracks on driver side header. Once AZGN sets all your basic tuning parameters you will need to continue to monitor them with a Scan tool of some type. How old is your O2 sensor? Does you car have a fuel pres. gauge and adjustable Fuel pres. regulator and after market Boost gauge? You need to monitor Boost and Fuel pressure simutaneously at WOT.
Vortex Buick and gnttype .org is a good place to start. Alot of great info!
Turbo sneeze always reminded me of one of the 3 Stooges when he got mad. Curly gets on the ground goes around in circles, hittting himself on the head and he goes whhooopwoopwhoop sounds just like him.
ChavoLC2
Yep, I'll have Nick fix me up soon. Car does have larger injectors I believe. I was initially gonna have someone tune the car w/the existing mods and leave things alone. I wasn't PLANNING on getting a Scan Tool unless I need one. If that's the case, I'll pick one up.
Yep, I'll have Nick fix me up soon. Car does have larger injectors I believe. I was initially gonna have someone tune the car w/the existing mods and leave things alone. I wasn't PLANNING on getting a Scan Tool unless I need one. If that's the case, I'll pick one up.
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