Hi all,
I just brought home a complete draw-through system from a 1979 Riviera, incl. carb, for a song. Anyone know whether this turbo was similar to the GN turbos? I seem to recall that earlier than 1982 the Buick turbos were bigger... What kind of air can this thing push?
Anyway, I'm thinking, just for S&G, of putting it on the wheezy 307 in my '87 Cutlass (what can I say, I work with what I have!) I also happen to have a factory port fuel injection manifold that fits on it, just in case the draw-through setup doesn't meet the approval of the masses!!!
Any thoughts?

Chris

 

Well, I found out more about this turbo:
Compressor A/R .60
Turbine .82

It needs a rebuild, as the shaft does not spin very freely (it probably sat for 15 years before we found it sitting in the back of a bus at the yarde)

I've done some extensive topic searching, and the only real info I can come up with is that Silverback knows how to rebuild a turbo for $25 but won't tell us!!! Come on, can't I be in on the secret???
I'm doing this on a very LOW budget (or else I'd find a bigger turbo!) and if I gotta spend more than $150 just to get the turbo rebuilt I'll just shelve the project.

Chris

 

??? I take it that you know me from another board?

I’m not sure where I ever said that I can rebuild a T3 for $25, but it is possible. Take it apart and replace anything that needs to be replaced. Last JY turbo that I played with actually had what amounted to next to perfect bearings and thrust plate and just needed a new, $9 piston ring seal (at the local Cummins Power Systems). If nothing is trashed in the thing there are only 3-4 parts that can actually wear and if you can find a local source for the parts it can be done fairly cheaply.

WRT to your riv turbo, it's good for the low to mid 300hp range, and uses the GM specific flanges. Draw through/blow through/injected… who cares as long as it's done right.

 

The compressor housing is not the best for flowing with that 90° bend on the outlet.

The Ford 2.3 turbos are also A/R .60, so one could j/y score with one of those and bolt it on.

With Megasquirt, tons of EFI manifolds out there, enough parts to custom built an intake, why not concentrate you S/G energy toward EFI - turbo. Then add the intercooler.

Just a thought.

 

OK, I'm disassembling this turbo now. No broken bolts but the thing won't turn very freely . Anyone have any comments on how to remove the compressor wheel? It looks like the center of the shaft has a place for an allen key but none of mine fit. Am I stoopid?

I played with sticking the turbo in between the fender and the engine...looks like I will have to relocate some A/C stuff...sucks because I didn't want to discharge the system!! But if I do that, it would definitely fit.....Eh...could always mount it way far away in front of the right inner fender (batt's on the other side)

Chris

 

NOBODY has taken apart a turbo before?

Chris

 

Easiest way is to hit it with an impact gun. The big thing is that you don't want to put any side force on the thing (say, a long wrench), just torque since it's pretty easy to bend a shaft.

Make sure you know which way to turn before you do it... many (most?) are left hand threaded.

 

Great idea with the impact gun!

I've taken plenty of Garretts apart and they were all right-hand threaded. I'll double check this today.

 

That's possible... to be honest I haven't touched one for probably a year and a half? I've been playing with big holsets lately.