Work In Progress. '88 TC

Topic: Work In Progress. '88 TC (Read 20022 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #90 – September 09, 2024, 07:52:49 AM

The humidity gets too much up here to go without A/C for us too. I spent my youth without A/C so I already did my dues there.

I spent a little over 8 hours working on the car yesterday. Only got about 2 things done. Oil return line and the air filter is on..............progress is progress.........

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #91 – September 09, 2024, 12:52:34 PM

Quote from: Mikey97D – on September 09, 2024, 07:52:49 AM

The humidity gets too much up here to go without A/C for us too. I spent my youth without A/C so I already did my dues there.

I spent a little over 8 hours working on the car yesterday. Only got about 2 things done. Oil return line and the air filter is on..............progress is progress.........

I spent 8 hours working just on the oil return line once because i refused to remove the compressor for access so dont feel too bad like you didnt get anything done.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #92 – September 10, 2024, 03:37:49 PM

Quote from: Ductape91 – on September 09, 2024, 12:52:34 PM

Quote from: Mikey97D – on September 09, 2024, 07:52:49 AM
The humidity gets too much up here to go without A/C for us too. I spent my youth without A/C so I already did my dues there.

I spent a little over 8 hours working on the car yesterday. Only got about 2 things done. Oil return line and the air filter is on..............progress is progress.........

I spent 8 hours working just on the oil return line once because i refused to remove the compressor for access so dont feel too bad like you didnt get anything done.

I wasn't going to remove anything either. I guess the car was just showing stubbornness back at me.

We have ignition. On test drive at 5psi we heard a pop and boost leak was there! Crawl around on the pavement under the car putting the coupling back together after 9:30 pm at night. Decided it was time to stop and finish another day after getting back to the lot.

Oh, the lower radiator hose decided to announce its leak after I topped the coolant off.......

Bit smokey. I don't think I got everything that oily. Need to put back on the lift and check for leaks.........the dread has already settled in about the oil return line.......

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #93 – September 11, 2024, 05:05:04 PM

My return line was leaking both down along the motor and tubes(all over the starter also)and slinging back at the downpipe because of the bolt hole not being drilled out properly. Smoking and stinking.
Alot of work just to remove and alleviate that in the tight parking space i had at the time, im glad i bought a pack of those gaskets for the return line on the turbo.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #94 – September 25, 2024, 09:27:05 AM

Sunday evening I took the car to a cruise as a kind of test run. I had the spring and ball removed from the boost control valve to limit boost, but I showed some self control to keep it under 5psi. This was a test run for Tuesday with the household being down a vehicle. Found a coolant leak where the hose clamp was slipping on the new hose on the bottom. Also tighten the exhaust connection to the turbo outlet elbow.

Tuesday morning, replace hose clamp and drive the car to work. Forgot how much I actually like driving this car. Made it to and from work below 5 psi......until that last long straight before home....lean on it a little to roughly over 10 psi. No pops of intercooler piping.

Tuesday Evening, pick my son up from school a few towns away. A little more comfortable but still keep the boost pressure below 5 psi until that last straight again. Stopped and let the car eat with my son giggling the whole way with me rowing through the gears..
Saw 15 psi max through the gears......should have stopped at 10 psi without the ball and spring in the boost controller. Also, the gauge didn't climb very steady.

I am going to setup an air regulator on the wastegate actuator to watch it's function. Also think I should do a vacuum leak smoke test.

The saga continues.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #95 – September 30, 2024, 10:18:05 AM

What kind of controller are you using? From my understanding, most have a vent hole in them to allow the wastegate to close. That could be venting some pressure and basically increasing your boost limit. If you remove the controller and connect the hoses with a barb, it should then operate at whatever the wastegate spring is at.

I'm glad to see you've got it back together and solid.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #96 – October 02, 2024, 09:07:59 AM

Quote from: Tbird232ci – on September 30, 2024, 10:18:05 AM

What kind of controller are you using? From my understanding, most have a vent hole in them to allow the wastegate to close. That could be venting some pressure and basically increasing your boost limit. If you remove the controller and connect the hoses with a barb, it should then operate at whatever the wastegate spring is at.

I'm glad to see you've got it back together and solid.

Thanks! I will find a barb to put between the vacuum lines instead of the controller.
It a Gilles boost controller.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #97 – October 02, 2024, 10:44:10 AM

Yeah, that Gills controller shouldn't be a problem. I have something similar on mine currently. No problems.

Does the car "surge" or anything in line with the erratic movement of the boost gauge?

I'd do a smoke test and see if you have any leaks.

I don't remember. Is this car running on a stock LA-series ECU?

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #98 – October 02, 2024, 11:54:15 AM

Thankfully no surging. Although I have only once really leaned into it.

Still on the stock computer. I did bump the fuel pressure up a bit to make up for the brown tops. It's an item I plan to back off once I have my setup done if the AFR is too rich at WOT.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #99 – November 25, 2024, 08:49:53 AM

I have been fighting an exhaust leak between the wastegate cone and the down pipe. Finally gave in on Friday and went to a exhaust shop. The cone part of the down pipe must have oblong from misalignment and was never going to fit. The garage made a new pipe and also added a glass pack for me right before the ler.

So much better! A little less on the dB's for the longer drives and I can hear the radio better. Also having correct reading from the wideband is a plus.

I've rented a spot in my friend's garage for the winter. Yesterday I put the 'Bird away before the snow comes and all the salt on the roads.

Now that marching band is done for my daughter's schedule, the parent taxi cab service has gotten a mild break. Two teenagers are busy. Plans for the winter is tear into the wastegate actuator and the gate operation. Replace the starter solenoid and the ignition switch (I think it is the solenoid going bad but not a bad idea to replace both).

I'd like to get a caster/camber alignment kit this winter just to tinker around with the MM caster plates.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #100 – November 25, 2024, 09:51:53 AM

It's usually good to have a little bit of flex in the exhaust. The engine moves around a bit on the stock mounts. That might've caused your leaking issue.

On your WG and actuator. Checking the WGA by applying pressure to it is a good route. Easier to see if it holds pressure and/or moves smoothly.

Removing the ball from your MBC just made it act like you had a direct connection between the turbo boost reference and the WGA. The limit will be whatever the WGA is stock.

I haven't gotten to the point to put mine away for the winter yet, but I think it's getting close.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #101 – November 25, 2024, 10:51:29 AM

Quote from: Mikey97D – on November 25, 2024, 08:49:53 AM

I have been fighting an exhaust leak between the wastegate cone and the down pipe. Finally gave in on Friday and went to a exhaust shop. The cone part of the down pipe must have oblong from misalignment and was never going to fit. The garage made a new pipe and also added a glass pack for me right before the ler.

So much better! A little less on the dB's for the longer drives and I can hear the radio better. Also having correct reading from the wideband is a plus.

I've rented a spot in my friend's garage for the winter. Yesterday I put the 'Bird away before the snow comes and all the salt on the roads.

Now that marching band is done for my daughter's schedule, the parent taxi cab service has gotten a mild break. Two teenagers are busy. Plans for the winter is tear into the wastegate actuator and the gate operation. Replace the starter solenoid and the ignition switch (I think it is the solenoid going bad but not a bad idea to replace both).

I'd like to get a caster/camber alignment kit this winter just to tinker around with the MM caster plates.

One of my old headgasket sets came with a graphite donut thingy for the connection to the downpipe, i used it because of pretty much the same reason.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #102 – November 26, 2024, 08:23:08 AM

I was looking for one of those donut things but couldn't find anything listed for the car. Do you remember the brand gasket set that came with the donut? The FelPro 8993 didn't nor the Felpro kit above it (more gaskets).

ps: I have the headgasket number already memorized........this is not a good sign.

Re: Work In Progress. '88 TC

Reply #103 – November 26, 2024, 12:31:01 PM

Quote from: Mikey97D – on November 26, 2024, 08:23:08 AM

I was looking for one of those donut things but couldn't find anything listed for the car. Do you remember the brand gasket set that came with the donut? The FelPro 8993 didn't nor the Felpro kit above it (more gaskets).

ps: I have the headgasket number already memorized........this is not a good sign.

It was actually in an old nos Detroit gasket set i dont know the number for the set offhand when i stop by the garage to pay it in a few days ill see if i can find it.