1990 GT Turbo Project - Second Generation Forum
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Well, since Minion had to go and build a monster, I've been working on this car that has been sitting aound. It came from a junkyard, and an old friend found it and proceeded to remove things, like the whole headlight assembly and the front/rear bumper covers and reinforcements. I basically got the car for free, just had to pay to have it towed. He needed to get rid of it. All I cared about was the engine really. I had to put a rear axle/ trailing arm assembly whatever you want to call it on, and had to put a set of wheels on. Now working on just getting the engine to the point where it will run again. Only a tiny bit of oil shows on dipstick, turbo is thrashed, as was the head. At some point the engine got REALLY hot, and at least I got a spare head with it. Anyway, what I still need at this point.. Camshaft, radiator, distributor, turbo, AND... more time than I have to work on it. ( but doing what I can) Also have an 86 Monte Carlo that I've been working on. I still need to pull the block but everything above is already out and cleaned up and inspected. Anyway, with some work I should have it running in a month or two. If anyone has any of the things I have listed lying around that they are willing to part with, let me know. Also need to replace headlights and grill insert piece, but at this point, I don't care if I get the original pieces or not. something about 1990 J bodies, now I have a pair, lol.. So much work, so little time
as for a turbo, I woudl look for a turbo gran prix turbo....It's a bolt a go deal. You have to drill and tap two little holes, clock it, and hook up the lines(the lines area PITA). Much better turbo for the 2.0 motor. So that way if you decide to get stupid say 20PSI, it should be able to do it since the turbo is originally for a 3.1. My turbo bird with the TGP turbo has traction issues at 8 psi on stock wheels and tires. Definitely a fun car. I have a j-body turbo laying around i'll sell you for $70 + shipping. Works great, the only thing wrong with it is the waste gate is stuck open a little bit-so it's really laggy, and can't build more than about 6 psi at 5500rpm. If you would get the waste gate unstuck It would work awesome. I can get you pics if you want. email me back if interested adowdell@iastate.edu
1990 Pontiac Sunbird GT turbo
-TGP turbo
-DSM SMIC turned TMIC
-Injectors
"I have a dream... Traction!" Yeah, at 8 psi traction starts to go away. At 14psi, my car would bounce left to right, steering pulling from side to side as both front tires took turns pulling the car from a standstill. At 17, thankfully, the tires gave up completely. Tony's car is even worse. If he decided to run Goodyears he'd be beaten by PETA and the SPCA at every intersection. Keeping that car from burning up Eagles is 'bout impossible.
The stock turbo is hard pressed to provide 17 psi on my otherwise stock engine. Without an intercooler it would be impossible to maintain for very long. I also feel that changes to the stock fueling and timing are very important to the engine's survival at that boost level. My calibration has had much timing removed, and I'm still refining it a little at a time.
The camshaft can probably be substituted by one from an NA PFI 2.0 from 93 or 94. The distributor from any of the pre 93 OHC sunbird engines will work. They can be found in junkyards around here for $20 or so. I would have the head checked by a good machine shop, both for flatness on the gasket surface and for cracks/ leaks. As far as time, maybe you can collect from everyone who's "borrowed" a minute over the years. I haven't got any better answers.
As far as the Monte goes, if you decide to upgrade the rear axle don't bother looking for the 8.5" GM housing, go right to a 9" Ford. The GM housing still has the same tiny axle bearings and funky backing plates as the 7.5" diff. If you don't beat on the car the 7.5" rear will hold out for quite a while. I built a 455 powered 79 Monte and the stock rear stayed in until the axle brg wore through the axle almost 9 years later.
Have fun.
-->Slow
im starting to pull apart my car in march and im gonna use my dis MPFI set up, im building up the block adn all that good stuff...jut gotta get to fawking texas!!!!!
TURBO4DOOR.....starting march 10
Hey guys.. Thanks for the responses, I thought this thread was way gone. Well, right now I'm in the process of getting an engine stand, then I'm pulling the block from the car. The whole top of the motor is sitting in the garage already. Then have work done at machine shop. I did manage to find quite a few of the things I was missing, but I have alot more stuff to buy. Plus, I have to scrap the A/C system since it was cut all up. I have some pics but the one I really wanted didn't come out good so I will post some later. I think it's going to look really good when it's done, but for now I just want it to run again. Can't wait until I can get it in the garage, but it won't be long. I actually saw one like it on the street the other day, same color and everything. Oh well, think I need to go pull some parts from the yard today. Later
Ok so here are a couple of pics. Don't hate me cause I take sucky digital pics..
I actually paid nothing for the car, but I paid $70 to have it towed from this guys parent's house. They didn't want it there so he had to get rid of it. I got a free rear trailing arm assembly with Z swaybar thanks to my ex girlfriend. I only have 3 Z wheels that I got for $75 and I will find another, but I'm not paying $75 for a B grade wheel.
Ok, so I finally have something to add to this post. Been a long while, but the GT is no longer sitting outside. It's in the garage, in very many pieces. I wanted to pull the block, but I could only get 2 of the 3 bolts to the torque converter out because the crank wouldn't turn all the way around. I had never pulled the oil pan on one of these engines but if I had it would've saved me alot of trouble. I had to pull the block and trans out together by myself and turn them up on the side and then I was able to get the oil pan off and disconnect the rods from the crank. Ended up being some rust in #4 cylinder that wouldn't let the piston move, but I > rust so I won. I hate rust. Anyway, I made a mess while I was at it, so I need to go clean up since I was working pretty much all Friday and Sat until last night. Will get some pics while I'm at it and post when I get home. Later
Sexy car, mind you I love the 88-94 cav appearances so I'm biased. Awesome you got it for free (basically). If I knew anything about mechanics, I'd go to the scrapyard and grab a car. Unfortunately the only things I know how to do is install audio systems and change the motor oil
well, no pics.. sorry. I did manage to get the rusty drivers side subframe brace stripped, primed and painted. and the control arm too. They look pretty good I think. I'm going to put those back on so we can roll the car around so it doesn't take up garage space. My grandfather told me that he knows a guy at Hendrick that can get him a discount on a short block, so I'm going to find out how much that will be, or he knows a really good machinist that we'll take the block to. Either way this project is going to create a black hole in my pocket but I love this car and I've already put too much time and work into it to give up now. Well, have to get pics tomorrow I guess.
hmm, should have put spaces or something in there. And sorry for the tiny pics
Ok, trying this again. must have had a lapse of thought when posting pics before
I think this turned out really nice
All the AC crap I ripped out
Yes, it's just a dirty block, but it's going to be a badass little turbo motor when I'm done with it. I at least managed to post the pics right this time.
Looking good, you'll love it once you get it built! Something else to think about is computer tuning. I'm just about ready to invest in the Ostrich by Craig Moates and Tuner Pro RT. Little more research and I'll be ready to go! Using the Tuner pro you can use all of the factory hardware to build what ever boost you want and throw as much fuel as the hardware will allow you! $175 for the ostrich(replaces PROMs) and Tuner Pro (software) is free with a $30 goodwill donation. Less than $200 and you can tune in real time and get real time data from all of the sensors. Just thinking out loud!
1990 Pontiac Sunbird GT turbo
-TGP turbo
-DSM SMIC turned TMIC
-Injectors
More pics..
a little rust in the cylinders but the machine shop will take care of that.
Pretty much ready for a trip, maybe 1 or 2 more things to do.
Lots of stuff. Well, it's coming along anyway, not trying to rush too much or cut any corners. Anyway, hope you like
way to keep them second gens alive man. looking good
Yeah, keep going you'll love it when it's all together. Like Minion said - that looks like my basement too!
Tony
Tony
1987 Sunbird GT turbo convert
Ported intake, Fiero 53 MM TB, 52 lb inj, ported and flowed head, tube header, Mitsu TD06, ARP rod
bolts/head studs, adj cam sprocket, 4" x 12" x 31" FMIC, Paxton AFPR, modified 125 trans/LSD
unit/3.42's, custom chip tuning, Alky Control Methanol injection
13.61 ET at 101.44 mph, 262 WHP/350WTQ
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP roadster, 2.0 turbo w/GMPP exh, CAI and turbo upgrade, 290 hp/325 ft lbs
1969 Olds 442 convert
400 Eng, 200-4R trans, 3.73 posi, power everything, OAI
When I had my 89 Sunbird GT with a T3/T4 hybrid turbo on it (too big!!) running 15 psi of boost it was fun!! Instant loss of traction, even on the drag strip with an automatic transmission. It was nice to be able to leave the line with 6 psi of boost though!!
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91 Cav "GT"<-- R.I.P.
91 Cavalier Wagonstein - Turbocharged wagon goodness
You can take my rifle when you pry it from my cold dead hands.
Quote:
It was nice to be able to leave the line with 6 psi of boost though!!
Yeah, the auto trans guys do have a better time of making boost before launch. Manuals seem to do best by running the rpm up and dumping the clutch. I just hate beating on the front axles like that.
-->Slow
Well, I should be getting my tax return soon, and of course most of that will be going toward getting the rest of the parts for the Sunbird, and getting the engine running. Anybody have an idea about how much it will cost to get the block cleaned and get the cylinders finished, plus have the crank polished/turned, and have the head cleaned/inspected? Just wondering... Anyway, in the meantime while I'm waiting, I need to get the trans. back in and pull the pan and drain what's left of the ATF, and change the filter. I did notice a couple of other problems in some pics I took.
In this pic, you can see how the metal line on the pass. side of the power steering rack is mangled. Also, have an issue with some brake lines but nothing I can't fix. Later
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