Ok guys, this is a wierd-one-maybee.
I was crawling thru the local wreckers this morning and came across a turbo cav (second gen--looked like about 91-92 or so). The trunk lid is sitting about where the back seats should be, it got hit that hard--but the motor and turbo on it look fine.
What do you turbo guys figgure the odds of getting that unit to work on a 1984 2.5l Iron duke ? What would be involved in the setup? The duke I'm thinking of is in a fiero coupe at the moment but that can come out real quick
I've never done any serious work on a turbo motor, just driven them so its gonna be a learning curve--but daaayyymmmnnnn I like the idea of a turbo fiero
and the price is right to take as much or as little as I want off the wrecked cav. So what should I be salvaging here?
Rice.....Part of a balanced Pontiac diet.
depends on how fast you can go is how much it will cost. i dont think that car is worth it but if you think so be my guest
1989 Pontiac Sunbird GT - LT3
Turbo cav? Not factory. Turbo Sunbird, ok, was factory.
If not factory parts, then you'll have to know what you're doing to install on 2.5 engine.
I did see an exhaust manifold for 2.5 turbo on Ebay just today. Says "perfect for Fiero." Cavvy and 'Bird exhaust manifolds are different from 2.5. J car intake manifolds are also different from 2.5L. Are you going to use TBI or switch to PFI? You'll need to get correct injectors. And you'll probably want to get the ecm form a turbocharged car also. I saw one from an 85 turbo 'bird on Ebay today. Be sure to ask if the chip is included.
Basically, it's not a plug and play deal.
-->Slow
Uh....no turbos on a Duke. This engine was GM at it's very cheapest. The crank only weighs 35lbs, and has only 2 counterweights. This is why you see NO aftermarket Duke Turbo kits for the Fiero, BUT you do find a few for the 2.8L engine.
Turboing a Duke would be more advised on a SuperDuty Duke with SuperDuty internals. A nice 2.7L would make a nice engine to play with.
Don't take my word for it like it up on the net there are a few articles on 140hp max Dukes, but nothing more without going to a SuperDuty engine.
LOL--no thanks on the 2.8. I've had a couple of them in an 84 Blazer 4x4. Bad harmonics on the crank take out the mains if you do too much steady speed hiway driving. I got real good at changing motors in that thing before I got smart enough to sell it.
But OK--time to go 2.7 shopping
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BTW--the wreck is definatly a cav, and the engine/parts are definatley GM 2l (even still nice and red and shiney
so I dunno--sumbody may have swapped in a sunbird setup
Rice.....Part of a balanced Pontiac diet.
Engine's red? Says "turbo" on the top of the intake? Throttle body to driver's side of center of engine? Sounds a Pontiac OHC engine. The factory didn't put that engine in the cav. Buick and Pontiac got turbo 4 cyl, Chevy got v6 for "extra" power. Sounds like somebody did some swappin' at home. Could be a complete turbo engine, or could be the turbo parts bolted to a TBI OHC engine.
The 2.5 has other shortcomings. The later year engines were better. The timing gears were replaced with a chain, the oiling system was improved, and overall reliability improved. These engines usually say "4tech" or "tech4" on the intake (it's been a loooong time since I worked on a 2.5). Once upon a time I owned an 82 Phoenix w. 2.5. I had big dreams for that engine. Luckily I traded it and some cash for a Chevelle before I could do anything silly.
The early 2.8 carburetted and throttle body engines found in the Blazers was a real dog. Later on they started showing up with pfi in the cars and they did get better. Some of the tbi guys swap to thepfi intake and ecm and notice a real difference. As far as the harmonics, right around 84-85 GM started changing the engines. There are different flywheels and flexplates for these, and finding the right one can take a ton of work (ask me how I know). The wrong one might live a long time until you go to take a long drive.
Best advice I can offer is if that engine really is the OHC Pontiac turbo engine grab it. It is stronger than the 2.5 for sure and is already turbo friendly with bigger injectors, forged lower compression pistons, and turbo friendly cam. Get the wiring harness and 1227749 ecm. If you don't use 'em, put 'em up for auction. All the parts will sell.
-->Slow
actualy, 85 they changed to larger mains, 87-88 they changed to internaly balanced cranks. the 80-84 2.8l were bad for main bearing problems, the 85+ is the same size mains used today in the 3400 and even 3500.
