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repair update #308

robert lee said:
it has a adjustable wastegate and i did get it to move, took a good bit of effort ,is the ta-49 a turbo ? didnt see it , if not , what turbo would you recommend ? thanks for the info and link
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What are your modifications? Prescision Turbo and Turbonetics are the leading turbocharger manufacturers. there are others like Mitsubishi and Garret, but in the Buick world the previous mentioned are the premiere turbos and used most widely. The Prescision turbos use the ID TA to denote "Stock Appearing" so that it "looks" stock. Some people want to stay stock looking. The negative is that the stock garret design has a smaller compressor intake. The other ID is TE, this stand for modified or wider freer flowing intake on the compressor.

So basically the popular slightly modded tried and true turbos since about standard1995 till now is the TA-49 and the TE-44. Same internals but the difference is in the intake. I had a TE-44, great fast spooling turbo. Works great with stock to 42.5 lbs injectors and stock downpipe and convertor. I'll post a pic below of the differences.
backTA49PTE51.gif


Now, if you want to move a little faster, you can go with a slightly larger compressor side, like a TE-60 or a 6262, I have a CPT-61 currently that works great with my 2800 NON-lock convertor. Spools lightning fast. It uses the new-ish ball bearing tech instead of standard journal, so this helps with the friction inside the turbo so a larger wheel can spin with the same amount of exhaust energy. But I recommend a 3" downpipe with this. The advantage to BB turbos is that you can keep your convertor "tighter" like 2800 rpm range this helps keep your trap speed higher than if you used a 3200 stall convertor with a standard journal turbo. Make driveabilty nicer and close to stock. Fast spooling turbo and responce. If you get to big of a standard journal 60mm or bigger turbo you'll need a 3200 convertor to spool it up, then losing just a bit of top-end and it will also have a slushy feel when cruising around. Lot to think about in turbo selection and supporting mods.

Some info for you: http://www.turboneticsinc.com/node/196
 
robert lee said:
i found a ta-49 on ebay for $ 899 sound about right ?
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Is it used? If it's used no way in hell!! I sold my TE-44 that had less than 400 miles on it for $475 when the economy was good!:blink:

That link I sent you about the wastegates has a new CPTE44 for $795:eeks:

Equivalent of the Presicion TE44, Jack Cotton has Turbonetics make a specific set-up for him to market.
 
RatFink said:
Is it used? If it's used no way in hell!! I sold my TE-44 that had less than 400 miles on it for $475 when the economy was good!:blink:

That link I sent you about the wastegates has a new CPTE44 for $795:eeks:

Equivalent of the Presicion TE44, Jack Cotton has Turbonetics make a specific set-up for him to market.
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it was brand new from gn specialties
 
I am not sure who GN specialties is and I know nothing about picking out turbos but if I was spending a grand on a turbo I would go over to Turbobuick.com and do a ton of research and then buy from a vendor that they recommend, or the sellers that Ratfink pointed out. It is too easy to get burned on Ebay, and that is a big purchase, that affects the way your car performs.
 
Jack Cotton is great guy to work with. I had to return a CPT61 that had the exhaust housing drilled incorrectly and I was trying to make it to the Nationals the following weekend. He had me a new one on my door step before I could return the first one, like in less than 48 hours! :cowboy:
 
that is a good deal on the te44, im not worried about staying stock. i thought the car was all stock but the more i look the more the more i find,( like the wastegate ) the downpipe looks stock not sure about the rest, any tips on getting the turbo exhaust bolts off? what a pain, starting to look like it would be easier with the intercooler off , thanks alot guys
 
robert lee said:
that is a good deal on the te44, im not worried about staying stock. i thought the car was all stock but the more i look the more the more i find,( like the wastegate ) the downpipe looks stock not sure about the rest, any tips on getting the turbo exhaust bolts off? what a pain, starting to look like it would be easier with the intercooler off , thanks alot guys
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Your downpipe (DP) is for sure 100% stock. You don't have to remove the intercooler to swap out the turbo, but it's not hard to remove the IC if you want more room. Spray some anti-rust type stuff on the threads and let it sit for a while. It's a pita, but is dooable with a swivel socket.

A tip for you, You can go really fast on the stock DP if you put a dump at the very bottom. A handy muffler shop can fab one up. I did this on my stock DP. The guy only charged me $20 (back in 1993, he's on this board and now has a TTA of his own). In the 1/4 mil I picked up 4 tenths with no other mods. Went 13.30's to 12.90's. This mod makes the turbo spool like magic! The TE44 will love this too. It'll raise your boost 3 psi due to loss of backpressure, so I suggest running 104 unleaded. A mechanical boost gauge is going to needed to monitor your boost. The 44 is efficient to 20psi with added octane. Consider Alky injection, 42.5 lbs injectors at minimum, supporting fuel pump mod and drag radials at this point. Recipe should net mid to low 12 second 1/4 mile.

dump.jpg
 
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Do yourself a favor and stud and nut that 3 bolt header to turbo connection and stud and nut that oil return line too....you'll do allot less swearing.
 
TTA984 said:
Just wandering if your car has the stock chip in it. As well as the stock fuel pump.
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i have had the new fuel pump and hot wire kit for a couple months ,just trying to sort everything out with the car, plan on the chip after i see how it runs with the new turbo, maybe new injectors , just playing it by ear ,trying to get the new spoiler and rear deck painted, lot of stuff to do before ohio.but if the lords willing and the creek dont rise #308 will be there
 
robert lee said:
i have had the new fuel pump and hot wire kit for a couple months ,just trying to sort everything out with the car, plan on the chip after i see how it runs with the new turbo, maybe new injectors , just playing it by ear ,trying to get the new spoiler and rear deck painted, lot of stuff to do before ohio.but if the lords willing and the creek dont rise #308 will be there
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Sounds good, If you need a chip and injectors, you can get a combo from Eric at turbotweak.com. That is where I got my injectors and chip.

As WS6 said above, it would be easier if you had studs and nuts on there. I know when I put a turbo on my car my knuckles were so skinned up I look like I had been in a fight.
 
WS6 said:
Do yourself a favor and stud and nut that 3 bolt header to turbo connection and stud and nut that oil return line too....you'll do allot less swearing.
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the header to turbo was already done, but yea that oil drain had me throwing shit, im sure it will be harder going back on
 
yeah, that oil drain is a bitch, Take some pics of your new turbo pre-instal and post. Spin the wheel when you get it and notice how freer the BB spins than a standard journal. Night and day. SPOOL FOOL!!!:burnrubber:
 
TTA984 said:
Sounds good, If you need a chip and injectors, you can get a combo from Eric at turbotweak.com. That is where I got my injectors and chip.

As WS6 said above, it would be easier if you had studs and nuts on there. I know when I put a turbo on my car my knuckles were so skinned up I look like I had been in a fight.
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yea this car has been a real challege so far , thats probably why i like it so much,but it would have took me a lot longer without you guys thanks alot and look forward to meeting everyone ,robert
 
:read: Are there any trained eyes out there that are seeing what I am seeing? The metal flange doesn't fit and it looks like a leak by the O2 sensor. The turbo has definitley been off before. I just don't see how this metal flange works when it doesn't fit into the tube.
 
There is supposed to be a lead gasket there.
lead_gasket.jpg


You have the old one hanging off the header. Are you saying that the gasket does not fit?
 
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