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  1. #1
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    Default My 2.3 Turbo troubles

    I've been working on a kinda basement Frankenstein's monster child in my garage, it's a 2.3 Tubro out of a 88 Turbocoupe TBird that has less than 12,000 miles on it since it was built. The person that I got it from didn't have the turbo or the vacuum lines so I'm kinda trying to get this to work and having some difficulties... the motor is in a 92 5.0 shell the wiring harness is a adapted 89 wiring harness of a regular 2.3 to the tbird computer and a Moates quarterhorse and plugs on the motor. I got it to run and everything but I can't find anything on the vacuum lines diagram as to how I should have it. EGR delete, one vacuum line from the intake to the break booster, one to the breather on top of the motor( made the exhaust start to be a little bit blue - one line to the oil filter I think? ( a tube next to the alternator going down to the filter) and then I had one line that I had going to the turbo wastegate controller... I don't have a dedicated tree but I have a Y tree off of the intake and another vacuum single.... any thoughts or anything would be appreciated.

  2. #2
    FEP Power Member SchoolBoy's Avatar
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    A few pictures of your engine bay would help us judge whats missing.
    If you blink at the end of the straight away you'll miss the twisties and what fun would that be!
    1982 Capri RS 5.0L
    Suspension Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...tion-and-Build
    1985 SVO 2A & leather. Stolen & Destroyed 2022
    Motor Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=63505
    Dyno stats and exhaust install http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Dyno-d-finally
    My FMIC build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-amp-D-project
    Electronic boost controller and bypass valve
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-Bypass-Valve
    Opperation SVO Tunes http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...51#post1148551

  3. #3
    FEP Power Member 4-barrel Mike's Avatar
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    You don't need the Moates on a stockish engine if you have a 2.3T ECU. What kind of tune is on it?

    Do you have a vacuum line going to the fuel pressure regulator?

    Mike

  4. #4
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    I believe so, I am trying to figure out the different things that need vacuum when I get it back in my shop in the next month. let me see if I have any videos of it running or pictures. I had to put Moates on it because it's not a stock turbo - its off of a Chevy 6.5 turbo diesel because I couldn't find a stock one and I had it lying around. The injectors I'm using are sadly the 87s 30lbs injectors rather than the 35lbs injectors because the person I got the motor from let gas sit in the injectors so have to get them cleaned or replaced so the engine is tuned down for the 30lbs... Stock VAM, Intercooler that goes over the turbo to the intake... I tried to follow this image to best of my ability but I have removed the EGR and I do not have an actual Tree like this image does https://f01.justanswer.com/jsturgis5...ac_diagram.jpg
    Last edited by tsxfire; 01-25-2018 at 09:27 PM.

  5. #5

  6. #6
    FEP Power Member SchoolBoy's Avatar
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    Ok this is straight out of the 84 vacuum book for the 2.3T without A/C.... click on the pictures links to view them in 18mp size...

    IMG_0085 by Judge Dread, on Flickr

    IMG_0088 by Judge Dread, on Flickr

    IMG_0090 by Judge Dread, on Flickr

    IMG_0092 by Judge Dread, on Flickr

    IMG_0096 by Judge Dread, on Flickr


    Now the primary vacuum source should be at the front of the intake manifold with a "T" Fitting. The big port should go to the vacuum tree {if you dont have one there are all metal ones out there you can buy or check npd for a stocker,} the little port should go directly to the fuel pressure regulator.

    What are you using for a boost control, stock unit or a bleed valve?

    You have at least two vacuum leaks based on the fitting with two nipples sticking out of the intercooler. Look for any others!

    The breather on the back of the valve cover is supposed to have a hose or line that runs down to just before the intake snout of the turbo to help evacuate the blow by vapors. Now under the intake manifold should be a 2"x4" oil separator stuck in the block with a hose the comes up to a PCV valve, with more hose that hooks into a nipple on the underside of the top half the intake manifold. This is your primary crank case evacuation system.

    Send the 36lb injectors to http://www.witchhunter.com/ he does great work.

    if the turbo you have is giving you grief put up a wanted add for a stock T3 turbo. Your options will include water cooled with a .48 rear housing for fast spool or a non water cooled unit with .63 rear housing for upper rpm boost. If the unit needs rebuilt send to http://evergreenturbo.com/ charlie does great work! Other options include a brand new unit from precision turbo.
    If you blink at the end of the straight away you'll miss the twisties and what fun would that be!
    1982 Capri RS 5.0L
    Suspension Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...tion-and-Build
    1985 SVO 2A & leather. Stolen & Destroyed 2022
    Motor Build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=63505
    Dyno stats and exhaust install http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Dyno-d-finally
    My FMIC build http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-amp-D-project
    Electronic boost controller and bypass valve
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-Bypass-Valve
    Opperation SVO Tunes http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...51#post1148551

  7. #7
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    Thanks for all that info man, the wastegate is currently a stock one off of the 6.5 manifold but its only being terribly operated by a 17lbs spring on the wastegate bypass. The intake on the front closest to the intercooler has the smaller nipple and on the side of the intake there is a 2 nipple tree that faces the front of the car.

    The oil Separator which I couldn't remember the name of I had in a terrible mess trying to connect everything and everything just to vacuum in general, which is probably why it is running a bit like crap and even had the pcv valve - which is the part coming up behind the alternator couldn't remember name of.

    The turbo at one point I just ended up baling wire to have the wastegate shut because it barely built any boost with the spring and the baling wire seemed to actually let it build up to 5lbs of boost hahaha....not very good.... turbo is not sized for this little engine....hopefully can get a gt3071r I think based on the compressor maps I've looked at it will give me the hp range I'm looking for...

    I didn't realize the 2 little nipples on the intercooler were causing leak, I stuck my finger to the two and felt no pressure coming out or and vacuum sucking on my fingers like the other ports.... not sure what that means.

    does that 84 vacuum book apply as well to the 88 EFI Tbird TC model?

  8. #8
    FEP Power Member 4-barrel Mike's Avatar
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    This: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-Thunde...NaWSKJ&vxp=mtr has all the info you need with the emphasis on electrical.

    Please describe the problems you're having.

    Mike

  9. #9
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    It sputters at lower rpms, seems like it tends to show on lean side on the moates reading in binary editor till turbo revs up then goes a bit rich. Produces a bit blue on the smoke when the vacuum is hooked up like I have it now and it gets revved up. Won't idle right till warmed up and after that I have to have the idler around 1000-1200rpm. All I can remember off top of my head, I swapped to a alternator off the v8 because couldn't get stock one to charge, but I think I need to change the pully out for a smaller one because it started to die unless I had the engine revved up over around 2000 on last drive I did

  10. #10
    FEP Power Member 4-barrel Mike's Avatar
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    Am I the only one trying to help? Sad.

    Go register on turboford.org and give them a coherent combination of your first and latest descriptions of your problems. Help is readily available, possibly hands-on near your home. BUY THE MANUAL from eBay!

    Mike

  11. #11
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    Nah school boy gave me alot of info that will help me

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