86 TurboCoupe Howdy

Hey guys, I just bought a TurboCoupe and figured Id say HI before I start asking questions. It is in great shape, the body is mint, underside is great and the engine runs pretty well for having 200k and leaking oil into the radiator. It has the ford motorsports front mount, and a nifty oil acuumulator to feed the turbo. I pressure tested the oil cooler and the turbo coolant passages and no leaks, so Im assuming the head gasket is leaking. However, compression test shows decent compression in all cylinders, 135 140 125 130. I dont have the stuff for a leakdown test, but was wondering peoples ideas.

Little extra info, 86 tc, pc1, super60, fms front mount, sm vam

Thanks for the help.

A fellow 4-eyed owner. Welcome! We need more early birds on this board. We'll be taking over soon! Oil in the coolant sounds like a HG. At 200k, you're about due.
Post up some pics for all to see!

Welcome
A "blown" HG does not always show up in a compression or leak down test. HGs can blow different ways in different places.

If the oil cooler isn't the cause, then an HG is a good bet. You know you wanted to freshen that head anyhow

Howdy....

This is a great place to hang out and learn about turbo coupes/cougars.

Are you going to take the TC to the track????

Good luck with the headgasket.

Travis

1035 HG, ARP head studs, BOPORT STG 3 port with big valves, Gillis at 18 psi, 14.20's all day long.

but yes, this does sound HG related. besides, its never a BAD idea to swap it out :p

Welcome

-J0N

Originally posted by 86XR7auto:
Are you going to take the TC to the track????

Headgasket is an easy fix, Ill have it done in 4 hours or so, I worked on it for an hour and Im ready to undo the headbolts, but figured id ask around a little bit before I popped it.

With my track record as of the past 2 years...I doubt it. I used to live at the track, but between jobs and school and my welding shop to run, I didnt get much time to go. I did get to go to the fun ford weekend in epping nh this year with my 67 mustang fastback. It ran fairly well that day other then the stock fuel pump not being sufficient at the top end. I managed a 12.25 @ 112mph. Then last year I blew up my 94 turbo 5liter at the track, with 10psi and a 150shot, guess your supposed to retune when you up the hp 50, but you learn quickly from your mistakes you make while mad. Best run with 225 tires was a 13.1 @ 113mph, track officials yelling at me for burning the tires sideways to the 1/8th mile mark.

Anyway, it will get to the track when I get time, even though it will stay as stock unless it is very boring to drive. Whats needed to swap to an la3 ecu, I looked and it needs to be repinned, and needs the big vam, and browntops, but what else really.

Originally posted by UNTAMND:
Whats needed to swap to an la3 ecu, I looked and it needs to be repinned, and needs the big vam, and browntops, but what else really.

Welcome! Other than what you have listed, all you need is the ACT in the intake. Just drill and tap a hole in one of the intake runners, install the ACT, and run 2 wires.

you should already have browntops. just repin as you said and large vam plus the act sensor.

People talk about the ACT sensor...I have never installed one...I figure the car makes good power what the heck.....

Travis

Originally posted by turbocolombian:
What the intake tract look like..is there oil puddled like in the VAM hose.

The intake track is perfect. The ic piping is dry and zero oil in it, and the vam hose has just a slight misting of oil from the crankcase vent. The throttlebody doesnt have anything for oil on it, with just a slight discoloration due to the crankcase vent oil. This car is in amazing shape; from what I can tell, either this car was maintained by an anal ford mechanic, or this car is a virgin. (can I say that) All of the bolts are original, and look as if never removed(as in no rounding of corners or non stock nuts/bolts) I have no idea how this car could go 200k without some idiot working on it (all thats changed now lol) Either thurs night or friday Ill tear into the head, Im anxious to get this car going for a winter beater instead of my 14mpg V8 explorer(although awd donuts/drifting are awesome)