i have the 78 turbo from "help my 78". after checking the compression (everything is good). i just decided to do a complete rebuild of the engine. dont know all the parts i need to change out and replace.a recipe for high 12 low 13 would help greatly.
benson
the 1st turbo
1978
13 second timeslips will be very tough for a '78 TR. You're starting with a 17 second car.
Most of what will get you there are bolt on items, not the short block. The only thing I can think of is a cam. There are also mods to make to the oiling system passages. (Somebody else will have to help with suggestions on these).
The first big thing is heads. The '78 used low port heads. You will want to upgrade to '79 and later heads at a minimum. Bigger valves, better springs and a lot of porting. Along with that, you should upgrade the intake and exhaust manifolds to '79 and later units as well.
There's a lot more, but that will get you started on the long block. Personally, I would go with a 4.1 V6 for this.
Since you're motor isn't damaged, maybe you should stick with it as is for now. Get it running perfect and start upping the boost, while keeping the detonation down. You'll get more performance out of it for a lot less money and work.
And do your homework. There a lot to learn with this old motors. Read all of http://www.gnttype.org and http://www.flash.net/~rjgeorge/ to start.
Take a look at:
http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/recipes/recipepage.html
Specifically:
http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/recipes/carb.html
for some ideas ...
Check out my website
http://www.mindspring.com/~fc227/.htm
Go to the build up section.
Hope this helps, Email or post if you have any questions.
THANKS FOR THE HELP AND IDEAS EVERYBODY. I FOUND A 79 231ci TURBO THAT SMOKED A LITTLE FOR $100.00 - THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I PLAN TO GET IT ON SAT. 8/9 AND GET A MASTER REBUILD KIT FROM NAPA. I WILL BE BACK FOR HELP. I KNOW THIS. AND THANK YOU PHIL. I'LL BE GETTING AT YOU AND PICKING YOUR BRAIN ON THIS PROJECT OF MINE.
BENSON
78 TURBO
It's been awhile but I'm back without the block. I was too late. So I went ahead and took apart
the car myself. Sept 30- Oct 7 I removed the heater core. Which now needs to be replaced (top and bottom). Any ideas where I can find one? Lol. I found rust and rustholes after its removal. I then removed the right wheel well to reveal rusted bolts that were being eaten away from battery acid... But that's another subject. I WD-40'd the engine(right side).
Oct 11- I removed the exhaust pipes and the cataltic converter.(which will be replaced with a test pipe) Once again... any ideas where I can find one ? Removed the valve cover to reveal(counting from left to right) the fourth rocker retainer was busted and not in place. I thought that was the cause of the loud knocking. But on the fifth rocker... it was very loose to where I can move it and place my pinkey finger inbetween the rod and the rocker. Even more clearance is above the valve spring. My "trusty" chilton has not shown me any insight to my ordeal with the valves. I have only a little over a month left before deployment to the sands of Iraq. I need to cruise again. Please Help !!!
ITS BEEN AWHILE... IVE FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM.
IT SO HAPPEN TO BE THE HEAD, BENT VALVE... SO FAR. SHOULD I GET TWO NEW HEADS OR GET THE ONES I HAVE REBUILT ? WHAT ELSE SHOULD I LOOK FOR TO SEE IF I NEED TO REPLACE SOMETHING ELSE ? ON TOP OF THE PISTONS FOR A CLUE ?
The 1978 motor used "low port" heads. In 1979, the ports were enlarged. I would get some 1979-1987 heads and install some fresh springs. I believe the 1978 intake and exhaust will bolt right on, but there might be a little grinding needed on the exhaust manifolds.
Even better would be to find some '79 manifolds to take full advantage of the new heads.
tired... i ripped the top half of the engine apart. comes to it that it was a lifter that went bad. does anybody think that i damage the cam shaft by any chance ?