What is Spark Knock?

[Shane]

Hi-
I own a 1983 T-Type, which I've owned for about a year now. After having a lot of fun with it, I decided to move up the food chain, which is why I just bought a 1987 GN last weekend.
I took it out tonight, looking for some trouble so to speak and I ran into another GN, a 1986. We raced, and he beat me, but at the end he told me that I needed to look at my Spark Knock. I never ran into that on my T-Type. What is it, and how do I fix it?
Also, when I first start the car, it emits smoke from the passenger side tailpipe, and the stops. It only smokes again when I really lay on the boost. From what I know from my T-Type that means that the Turbo is going. Does that sound right? So whats the best turbo for overall driving (Great speed with respectable gas milage), and whats the best Turbo overall (Fastest)?
Thanks,
Shane Smith
83 T-Type
87 GN

 

[NastyGn]

Spark knock is also known as detonation. You should get a scan tool of some kind so you can monitor what is going on in the motor.

You might want to go to www.gnttype.org and see the spring cleaning in the Tech section and start there. As far as the smoking on start up my guess would be valve guides. You can take the down pipe off the turbo and see if there is oil in the exhause but I would first do the spring cleaning and maybe flush out the intercooler and stuff first.

Good Luck and enjoy the new car