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Well, last night sure sucked...

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Timberwolf

New Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2003
Messages
108
I have an 85, and when I got it, the guy included a spearco intercooler covnersion kit.

I hooked up the intercooler and the car would idle but nothing else. Was smoking out the exhaust too. Dunno what the hell was wrong with that. So I had to undo everything I did and put it back to stock. Car started but kept stalling out. Went to give it just a touch of throttle to see if it would stay running and I could hear a squeal. I thought it sounded like a loose belt. Made no sense to me. By then it was getting late so I decided I would tighten the belts the next day (today). Got in the car and as soon as I put it in gear I noticed the oil pressure was zero and the light on the dash was on. So I shut it off quick.

When I got out of the car, I noticed in the spot where the car had been previously (I backed up a about 3 feet when I put it in gear) there was a nice oil slick in the yard. I figured it was the oil drainback tube not properly aligned. Settled in for another disassembly (mind you it's now 10pm). Removed the turbo and found the drainback line split half way around, right up by the flange where it mounts to the turbine housing. Now I knew I was screwed. The car was out at the shop where I have been renting to work on other vehicles over the last few months. It was half in, half out and couldn't be started. Even if it could there was no room IN the garage (my wife's 'vert was directly ahead of the door) and I couldn't back it out and leave it overnight because the nazi landlady would have a fit. Regardless, I work two jobs and wouldn't have had time to do anything with it anyway until my next few free hours on Sunday.

So I found some hard setting silicone and did my best to seal up the tube. Put it back together and finally left the shop about 12:15 am. It held for the most part. just a little drip. The car still didn't want to idle though. I made it to within a mile of my house before the tube started dumping again. Took my chances and putted it the rest of the way. Oil pressure stayed, so it must not have totally drained before I got her home. I did notice on the way home though that if the needle ever got into the boost side of the gauge (up hills and such) that I would get a nice roll of oil smoke out the back of the exhaust. I am guessing the turbo at a minimum is screwed. Dunno about the motor yet. The idle thing is what's bothering me the most... hoping it was just an air leak around the adapter or something. Also don't know what's going on with the intercooler and why the car wouldn't run very well with it in place.

So now I don't know what to do. Anyone want to trade me a nice honda civic for a black buick? (it needs a little work) :(
 
dont give up yet. seems like a lot but it could be only a few things.......
 
He'd just added a fresh set (of plugs) the day before. His turbo appears to be smoked and he's in the process of deciding where to go from here.
 
i thought that he may be sucking a little oil in thats all... doesn't take much when you are running cold plugs...

m.
 
I am sucking a little oil now ;)

Anyway, the plugs I took out looked like brand new. I am guessing this thing was running awful lean :eek:

Hopefully that will be better now witht he new injectors and the red's chip that arrived monday.

Right now I am deciding whether to go with a turbo in the stock location or remount it in front of the engine (since I have an electric fan, I have plenty of room now).

The interooler uses piping that looks like it was bent at an echaust shop, and is only 2.25" so I want to redo that in mandrel bent, and larger diameter. I just have to look at the i/c and see if larger inlet/outet can be grafted on.

I know by relocating I will have to so some exhaust plumbing too. Thinking about finding set of headers from a 86-87 so they dump a little closer to where I need. If not I will just get creative in the new setup.

One thing I haven't figuered out yet though, is how to go about extending the throttle/cruise/TV cables if I relocate the TB.
 
Originally posted by Timberwolf
One thing I haven't figuered out yet though, is how to go about extending the throttle/cruise/TV cables if I relocate the TB.

86/87 cables should fit. the tb is approximately in the same place...
 
The throttle cable off of almost any FWD car with the Buick motor will work. They're about the same length as the stock 86-87 cable. I relocated mine near the firewall and the TV cable barely reached but it did work.
 
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