North American Turbocoupe Organization

Stupid half-@$$ motor with a piston out of another and rings out of a third popped the HG between 3-4 Thursday on the way home from work. At least I've taught them to break down in the driveway (SHO's batt/alt, Cougar's starter, this HG). It went lean real bad for some reason, not sure why yet. All the valves are white (and the plugs). I was doing 20mph in 2nd and no boost when it happened. Melted the electrode in #4 cyl, screwed the head something fierce, and a little divit in the block. I'll slap a head together and see what happens. Oh yeah, fuel system is a BBK (Walbro) 255, new fuel filter (3K miles on all this stuff), Cruzin 35#s, Kirban AFPR, and 41-42psi fp. Gillis set at 14, timing at 13* (car really didn't like 10). Didn't want to say anything until I actually got it apart. The driveway was empty of projects for 3 days. Damn good thing I still have the SHO. Stupid Taurus.

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Michael Pinto
www.aerobirdmotorsports.com

1988 Med Red/Red leather 5Spd, all options, fresh motor, BBK 255lph pump, Kirban AFPR, Cruzin' 35#s, AM IC hoses, Gillis Valve, AM prototype cold-air kit, 2' long open exhaust , Optima, 16.48 on the brakes!
1987 Code 33 Silver-Blue/Charcoal cloth auto, undergoing race engine/5Spd swap
1988 White/Charcoal cloth auto, g/f's car, HL mod, Clarion CD/Stereo
1988 Shadow Blue/Blue cloth 5Spd, hit by truck, missing engine, for sale
1988 Cougar LS Med Red/Red cloth, no engine/trans, parts car
1984 Silver/Grey leather, 5Spd, no engine/trans, parts car
1992 Dk Green SHO 5Spd, feature car, 13.37 , for sale

RIP-1988 Med Red/Charcoal cloth 5Spd, all options, McK kit, spoiler

=I saved a life today, what did you do?= USCG

shitty. How does the setup run normally? Thats close to the setup i wanna be running.

Ray

Well, It went a 16.48 all over the brakes bracket racing with 3 cylinders, so i don't have any freakin clue. Stupid #4 cylinder didn't work the last 3K miles. Damn smart @$$ EECIVs making it run good!!! I can't keep the driveway clear for longer than a weekend!

Could you have torqued the motor enough to have twisted/crimped a fuel line? I think there is one place where it's covered up and can be messed up underneath. Also makes me wonder if the pump went bad.

Seems odd to blow a headgasket at 20 in 2nd with no boost.

Since you went 3k miles on the mismatched parts, I wouldn't think they were the problem.

I'd be looking to see why you went so lean, under such mild conditions -- that's not typical at all. It pretty much indicates, without much doubt, a very major problem getting fuel to the engine in one way or another.

Could it have been running lean for a while and finally just gave up the ghost? Do you check the plugs regularly?


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-asi

1986 TC, 132k pretty well taken care of miles. k&n, gillis@16, timing @ 12 (spout out), A/C delete. 3" Downpipe (no other exhaust... Whoever described that sound as a "pissed off tractor" hit the nail on the head)

[email pics to asimov at forced-induction org for sales/id/showoff purposes (free hosting)]

[This message has been edited by Asimov (edited 06-27-2005).]

Asimov, you hit the nail on the head. I actually rplaced the plugs at 400 miles (and changed the oil, re-torqued everything, and generally made sure it was good.) And the break-in ones were nice and tan. I actually ran the sucker at 45 psi of fuel pres just so it would always run rich (and therefore never go boom). The pump is brand new and I have no reason to think it would fail. I put in new wiring and di-electric grease as well, and a new Kirban, and new fis from Cruizin. I have a gillis for the boost control though and who knows how accurate the stock boost gauge is. (i ran the gillis half way out, showing 13-14 psi). I'm still investigating, but I think the faulty plug and maybe some wiring (fi connectors) may be faulty. I will check the fuel line thing though, that is interesting. I did have the KS disconnected (with the open exhaust it wouldn't run connected) but with the above tune it shouldn't have (and detenation wan't) the problem. On the bright side, I can put in my new engine and put ol tri-pod into the dk blue one with a cracked head to go dirt racing, yeah baby!

Dirty injectors? I just found the receipt from having mine cleaned and flow matched and some were 20% better after..just a thought.

No Matt, I had em re-done by Rich at Cruzin (the same ones I sell) and they are still good (only 4K miles). BTW, what you doing this weekend? How about a little July 4th (well, actually the 2nd) get-together with me Audra and Nate? We'll bring the TCs and go see the sprints (only $7 a pop this week).

Quote:Originally posted by AerobirdMotorsports:
I have a gillis for the boost control though and who knows how accurate the stock boost gauge is. (i ran the gillis half way out, showing 13-14 psi).

Just a FYI, that's about where my gillis is 1/2 way out, so your gauge may not be far off -- I would be looking to replace it though, I just won't trust any of the stock gauges (except maybe the tach, and speedo if you have the correct diameter tires) after seeing how far off some of them actually are.

Good luck btw!

Well it was a stab at it anyway. It's possible my 4th plans will be ruined by work as it looks right now. The bird is in the shop fixing that rear end noise and putting 3.55's in it. I'll let you know about the weekend when it becomes more clear.