1987 Turbocoupe Turbo

[jpywell]

The turbo is off an automatic, 187,000Km on the car. I plan to put it into a standard transmission car. Since this is out of an automatic... will it work? Anything special there? Its a great price and its local... I was hoping to pic it up today and show pics... but I need to know if it will work.

Justin

[Evil86lx]

It's small, but it will work. I would rather have a T-3 from a SVO or earlier turbo coupe. But i have seen a few people running hard with the IHI and it would be a good starting point. You could alway's upgrade at a later date.

kyle

[jpywell]

Crap! Its not the T-3??... hrmmm that changes things. The price is not as attractive as I thought it was. :(

[jpywell]

Sorry how about the one of the 1985 turbocoupe? They have one there aswell :D??

Answered my question:

What car(s) have a Garrett T3 turbo?
**All Merkur
**All Svos
**All 83-86 Turbo Coupes
**All 84-86 XR7, 2.3 Cougars
**All 83-84 GT Turbo
**All 83-84 Capri RS Turbo

[Evil86lx]

Any one of those T-3s will work. Their's nothing wrong with a IHI if your going to stay pretty mild. If you plan on turning the car up a little then a T-3 will work better.

I've seen a bunch of guy's reach 250 rwhp (about 280 flywheel) with stock T-3s. If you want more than that you going to need a upgrade.

A stock T-3 will be perfect for your car untill you want to crank her up. Remember to stay simple and dont get to crazy with the hi-po parts untill it's together and running corectly. It will be easier to diagnose running problem's when you dont have a bunch of aftermarket parts on thier. Once it's running correctly you can have at her.

If you have any question's on the 2.3t ask away.

kyle

[jpywell]

I guess lastly, after talking to a friend with a supercoupe, he was saying that I may have to have it completely redone... any ideas what that involves and maybe costs? Can it be rebuilt personally with a kit maybe?

The T-3 is the exact same price there, Im just concerned about the rebuild now since that money they are asking for it, I can repaint my car completely with (my own shop).

Justin

[Evil86lx]

That depends on the condition of the bearings/housing ect.

Randy (SVO85) rebuilt the T-3 on my SVO (when it was his). You should ask him about the rebuild and where he got the part's. i have not rebuilt one, if it ever takes a crap on me i'll just replace it with a hybrid.

kyle

[jpywell]

How does your SVO perform? Comparing it to the 5.0 how would you feel it stacks up? With the proper mods do you think it would be a pretty good *sleeper* as it were compared to the stock 5.0's? I will be pretty much going crazy on this car with roller cams/rockers 5.7" rods, aluminum pistons, customer inline intake and custom turbo headers, I have never had a chance to really see what a 2.3L turbo could do stacked up properly.

Just your opinion thanks :D

Justin

[Evil86lx]

Well I have no problem with N/A 4.6 car's or slightly modded 5.0 car's. Once boost come's in the car pull's hard.

My lx ran low 14's up here (low 13s at sea level) and i can honestly say that from a 45 mph roll the svo would walk all over it. But they are not made for drag racing, more for the twistie's. You can make the 2.3t haul arse, and to a certain power level it's cheaper than a 5.0.

I'm not to sure how far I'm going to go with the svo. I dont want to stray to far from stock and it's a lot more fun to drive than my lx.

I'll prob step up to a better intercooler, bigger squirter's, ported intake's, log style header, and a bigger turbo. I would like to see 300 rwhp and not change anything that cant be easily taken back to stock.

kyle

[mfpmax]

The IHI on the 87/88s is quick enough for a lighter car like a Mustang...and upgrading it is easy.

[not-a-stang]

I think that automatic 87/88 T-coupes had the better turbo than the manual car, and it comes with a 3.73'd 8.8 rear too!

[mfpmax]

I think that automatic 87/88 T-coupes had the better turbo than the manual car, and it comes with a 3.73'd 8.8 rear too!

I believe they(the turbos) are the same haven't found any info saying different.

[jpywell]

ok, and lastly then, how much would the T-3 go for usually used? Seen any for sale on ebay or such?

[mfpmax]

$100-200. Local junkyard wants $200 for one.

[jpywell]

Ok, my pricings right on with that aswell. I of course will offer them less depending on its condition then. Im going to head out in about an hour to check it out. If I get it I will post pics, if I dont then I guess I will just get the paint and equipment to paint my car.

[jpywell]

Well great news, I would like to thank everyone for posting here so promply! I got the garett t-3 w/headers/exhaust downpipe/intake pipe and oil lines! I also managed to get all my primer aswell, not the base coat color... but I get paid this week so maybe I will be able to get it then.

[svo85]

Good luck! Let us know if you run into any more problems or questions. I am going to be re-building my T3 on my GT Turbo sometime this week so I will have most of it fresh in my mind! :D

Have fun and remember that pics are always cool!

[jpywell]

Sure will and I go crazy with my camera I am just trying to get my server backup and running so that I can show everyone all the pics I just took today!

[RichV]

A T3 runs around $60 here at a pull-it-youself. Randy rebuilt the T3 for about 120 bux. You should be able to get a kit from your local Garrett/turbo place. Kits on e-bay go for around $80 plus shipping. The IHI turbo is just not common, if the price is same, go for the T3. Be careful on the boost level. If you have a turbo head, youre OK, if not do not go past around 8 psi. If you have an I/C maybe 10. WATCH DETONATION! or you'll be using your pistons as a telescope :D .

Good luck with it!, Rich.

[jpywell]

lol, loved the telescope bit :D, I will be running with esslinger aluminum turbo heads :) So no worries there, plus I am getting a remote hallman boost controller and using a custom watercooled intercooler. The car also has a functional hood scoop that will be directly connecting to the turbo intake.

[86caprirs]

Well I have a question......I am looking to purchase a 88 tbird TC. I want to do some mods but one thing you said is not go past 10 pounds of boost with an IC?????I used to have a turbo coupe that I was running 15 pounds of boost and had no problem.In stock trim they run 10 LBS boost on those cars.

[mfpmax]

They were not talking about a stock turbo engine, they were talking about a N/A engine converted to a turbo with cast pistons. Those pistons aren't dished and will have a higher compression ratio and if a problem occurs will destroy themselves.

[jpywell]

Talking about raising the dead. And sadly I have made progress but not as much as I would have liked on my car lol. Not too mention building a 520 for my 89 coupe but thats why we love this, its not a weekend deal.

[86caprirs]

On my 87 TC I am running 17 psi with a cold air intake,13 degrees timming,MOTORCRAFT tune up, no cat and it goes good and strong.I will be doing a front intercooler,60MM tb and 3" downpipe to dual 2 1/2" exhaust from Stinger performance in the future. Right now I have to do paint.

[83rsturbo]

before you buy it check for end play and the turbine fins also look for oil seepage

[pete]

The 87-88 Autos used a smaller turbo than the 5spds.

[mfpmax]

The 87-88 Autos used a smaller turbo than the 5spds.

They used the same size turbo for the 87/88s. The previous years are the ones that had different sized turbos.

[pete]

Interesting... I finally did some research.

I had always read that the Autos used something like a .48 A/R and that the 5spds had something like a .60 A/R. I knew the part nos. were different. Turns out the only difference is the wastegate settings and water inlets.

I almost gave away a few auto turbos thinking they were worthless. I'll keep them as cores for my dad's 5spd 88.

[mfpmax]

All the 87/88 cars got IHI turbos all the same size. The previous models(83-86) got AiResearch T3s which have 0.48 and 0.63 turbine housings.

[jpywell]

All the 87/88 cars got IHI turbos all the same size. The previous models(83-86) got AiResearch T3s which have 0.48 and 0.63 turbine housings.

Right but the IHI's had intercoolers where older models did not, by having the IHI with intercooler you got quicker turbo responce and power. But a T3 with a proper intercooler and ported head will be much nicer then the IHI's.

[mfpmax]

Forget that, its nicer just with the T3 and intercooler. Ask me how I know :tu:

[83rsturbo]

HOW do you know :lol:

[jpywell]

HOW do you know :lol:

lol someone had to do it.

[mfpmax]

From a friend of a friend's third cousin's son's friend twice removed!