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Has the Turbo went out?
- Thread starter TTA984
- Start date
8289ta
Silver Member
I say it is a blown headgasket because the car was running fine one day and then it started pushing pressure out the crankcase. If you scored the cylinders, it probably would have happened gradually. Pull the heads and check it out. Maybe do a leakdown test first to see if your rings are good.
This is your opportunity to put some ported heads on there and make that car a monster.
This is your opportunity to put some ported heads on there and make that car a monster.
TTA984
Gold Member
Went and got the car today, talked to the mechanic that did inspection. He used a bore-a-scope to examine the pistons and cylinder walls. Middle piston on pass side was the worst, he talked like the piston was damaged on the side thus causing cylinder wall damage. He said it could be bored out to correct it.
I asked him why did the piston fail and he said the type of pistons that are in there will not hold up long in a turbo engine, under boost conditions. He told me it needs forged pistons.
Then I told him a lot of guys are racing these engines using the same pistons. He said if they do they are tearing them down quite often.
Did not want to get in a argument so I left it at that. He said he could rebuilt the engine for like $2500, putting his so called forged pistons in there. He said he would not install a engine that has been rebuilt by someone else, but only if he rebuilt it himself. :wall:
I asked him why did the piston fail and he said the type of pistons that are in there will not hold up long in a turbo engine, under boost conditions. He told me it needs forged pistons.
Then I told him a lot of guys are racing these engines using the same pistons. He said if they do they are tearing them down quite often.
Did not want to get in a argument so I left it at that. He said he could rebuilt the engine for like $2500, putting his so called forged pistons in there. He said he would not install a engine that has been rebuilt by someone else, but only if he rebuilt it himself. :wall:
I hate to be downer, but I completely agree with this. If the motor you had built failed, then you could blame his install. I am not saying you would, but a lot of unreasonable people would. This is common practice in the hipo world.
And he is also right about the pistons. Install forged pistons while the motor is out. Stock we have hypereutectic pistons which are cast. They are not as strong as forged since the porosity can be uneven and the metallurgy can be inconsistant.
I still say yank the heads off, inspect the motor, and put it back together. :cheers:
TTA984
Gold Member
Just spoke to the people at Wildcat in Adel Ga. They do not do repair work themselves but do rebuilds. They did give me good advice:
They said the gasoline these days is horrible and for these turbo cars you need ALKY INJECTION to make it run right. There is another guy in south ga that works on turbobuick engines, I will have to give him a call.
They said the gasoline these days is horrible and for these turbo cars you need ALKY INJECTION to make it run right. There is another guy in south ga that works on turbobuick engines, I will have to give him a call.
TTA984
Gold Member
A guy named Fred. Used to have freds turbo shop. I think he may call it something different now. I have had his number for a while, the people at wildcat said he still did work on these cars.
TTA984
Gold Member
Well I talked to Fred in Hahira Ga and he still does the turbobuick work. He has GNX 26 as well as 8 or 9 turbobuick cars. Sounds like the plan will be to take it to him.
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