- Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:02 pm
#139139
Yeah so huge kick in the balls...
I got the new transition coupler installed and was going around the block a few times to make sure nothing else was going to blow off... I let off in 3rd gear at about 4500 rpm and noticed some smoke behind me. Then I heard a metal sound like someone dropping a couple tiny washers. Then I noticed there was a lot more smoke behind me. I noticed I was not making any boost
I limped it home and left a smoke trail all the way down the road. I did a compression test to be sure it was not a ring or anything to do with the motor, and cyl 1, 2, and 3 were 160. Then when I was putting the plug back into 3, it did not feel right. I got it out and the tip was crushed. Part of the compression tester had come unthreaded and was stuck inside of the head. WHen I put the plug back in it had tightened it even more! Now I'm pretty screwed... I put thread lock on the plug and put it back in the adaptor from the compression tester and let it sit for a day. That didn't work at all. So I have been trying to turn it a little at a time with a giant flat head, until all the threads were worn down and now the edges above the threads have broken off. So Next I hammered a phillips head socket into the center using a long extension and that's good for a few clicks before it strips out and I have to repeat. Now the center is so stripped out that is not working so well. I have an EZ out but it threaded itself into the hole that was already in the center of the adapter so I took it back out. I need to go to the store and find a bigger one. Even the I don't know if it will work because this adaptor is in there so tight. I'm really trying to avoid tearing the motor apart for this.
And back to the main problem... my turbo is done. Seal must have blown and things then got too hot on the drive home. The metal sound I heard was the fins hitting the housing, mainly on the hot side but barely on the compressor side. The polished compressor housing is still good though. The exhaust housing already had a small crack from before. So I am going to take the exhaust housing from a T3 Super 60 I have that needs rebuilt. I just ordered a new stage 1 turbine wheel, a step up from the stock one I had ran, and a minor rebuild kit. I'm going to use the polished compressor housing from the t3 I had on the car and the compressor wheel from the super 60. Once the parts arrive, I'll assemble and ship it out for balancing.
I never rebuilt a turbo before so this has been a good learning experience. It's easier then I would have thought. Of course I'll make a DIY out of this.
Hopefully this setback will only cost me a few weeks! I'm glad it happened 1/4 mi from my house instead of 1.5 hrs away at the dyno, that's exactly where I was going to drive the car to next too.
I got the new transition coupler installed and was going around the block a few times to make sure nothing else was going to blow off... I let off in 3rd gear at about 4500 rpm and noticed some smoke behind me. Then I heard a metal sound like someone dropping a couple tiny washers. Then I noticed there was a lot more smoke behind me. I noticed I was not making any boost
I limped it home and left a smoke trail all the way down the road. I did a compression test to be sure it was not a ring or anything to do with the motor, and cyl 1, 2, and 3 were 160. Then when I was putting the plug back into 3, it did not feel right. I got it out and the tip was crushed. Part of the compression tester had come unthreaded and was stuck inside of the head. WHen I put the plug back in it had tightened it even more! Now I'm pretty screwed... I put thread lock on the plug and put it back in the adaptor from the compression tester and let it sit for a day. That didn't work at all. So I have been trying to turn it a little at a time with a giant flat head, until all the threads were worn down and now the edges above the threads have broken off. So Next I hammered a phillips head socket into the center using a long extension and that's good for a few clicks before it strips out and I have to repeat. Now the center is so stripped out that is not working so well. I have an EZ out but it threaded itself into the hole that was already in the center of the adapter so I took it back out. I need to go to the store and find a bigger one. Even the I don't know if it will work because this adaptor is in there so tight. I'm really trying to avoid tearing the motor apart for this.
And back to the main problem... my turbo is done. Seal must have blown and things then got too hot on the drive home. The metal sound I heard was the fins hitting the housing, mainly on the hot side but barely on the compressor side. The polished compressor housing is still good though. The exhaust housing already had a small crack from before. So I am going to take the exhaust housing from a T3 Super 60 I have that needs rebuilt. I just ordered a new stage 1 turbine wheel, a step up from the stock one I had ran, and a minor rebuild kit. I'm going to use the polished compressor housing from the t3 I had on the car and the compressor wheel from the super 60. Once the parts arrive, I'll assemble and ship it out for balancing.
I never rebuilt a turbo before so this has been a good learning experience. It's easier then I would have thought. Of course I'll make a DIY out of this.
Hopefully this setback will only cost me a few weeks! I'm glad it happened 1/4 mi from my house instead of 1.5 hrs away at the dyno, that's exactly where I was going to drive the car to next too.
Do Not PM me your technical questions. Post them in the forum! 
My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage
My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage
were you running an oil restrictor?
