I need boost info for 83-86 TC and Cougars

Originally posted by TurboCougar:

I have NEVER seen a 2.3 Turbo Coupe or XR7 that didnt have a factory boost gauge.

I have never seen an 85-88 2.3 Tirbo car without the boost gauge. [Image: smile.gif]

My 85 5 speed was rated for 15 psi.
The gauge is 24 psi
It has a buzzer but it keeps it's mouth shut. I have never heard it.
The 83-84 had the light.
Starting in 85 they all ahd the analog panel with a buzzer.

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85.5 TC 5 speed, K&N filter charger, Ranger Roller cam, 3" exhaust system, manual boost valve, large VAM, SVO PE computer, front mount intercooler & sport grille, underdrive pulley, ported upper and lower intakes,flow matched injectors, ported E6 manifold, 245/45/17 wheels & Tires,140 mph speedo, under restoration

So, I know that I don't see 15 pounds in the higher gears. How does the BCS know what gear I am in? The EVTM shows the BCS connected to the EEC, but doesn't show how the EEC knows what gear the car is in, unless it figures by doing a calculation using input speed and engine rpm. Before my curiosity gets the best of me and I end up pulling the console and/or crawling underneath the car with a flashlight, does anyone know how the EEC knows what gear the car is in, or are the max boost variances just a coincidental engine-load thing?

Now for the don't-try-this-at-home question - I don't see where the EEC sees the boost pressure; does this mean the BCS has two positions, a low position (open to the WG, normally set at about 10psi, circuit not energized,) and a high position (closed to the WG until 15psi, circuit energized)? When I ground the connection for the black/pink wire off of the BCS, I hear it click.

Just curious for now, but I will probably try to figure this out some day unless someone has already done so. I plan on grounding the black/pink wire and seeing if I can get 15 in all five gears without going over. If so, a length of wire might be a real cheap substitute for a 15psi boost control valve. Otherwise, I will be able to tell you if the turbo light and alarm work.

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Mike Walsted - Nato member
1986 5-speed TurboCoupe .

[This message has been edited by Walsted (edited 01-05-2002).]

Before I installed the Gillis Valve, my 86 would show 15 psi in 1st and 2nd, then just over 10 in the rest of the gears. I know there is a Check Turbo Light, but I've never seen it illuminated. I've never heard a Warning Buzzer, although my stock gauge has indicated more than 18 at times (since the Gillis Valve).

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Jim Portteus
NATO Member
86 Turbo Coupe, 131K Miles, 140MPH Speedo, Gillis Valve, 2 1/2" Downpipe to 2" Duals w/ 18" Glasspacks, 245/50R16's and new paint.

My '83 was stock when I put the gauge on it and it was lucky to see 7psi ever. Seemed that the boost controller hit a wall at 6.5psi. Once I finish the '84's motor, I'll get a gauge on it too, but it feels right now to be the same as the '83 when it was stock.
Both my '83 and '84 have the green boost indicator light and a red overboost light. The overboost light/buzzer come on just shy of 13psi in my '83, makes my wife nuts. Somewhere I read that the buzzer will shut off after 17psi. I haven't ventured there yet, but it sees 15-16 all the time and the buzzer is just singin' away.
Niether car has a boost gauge of any sort or any gauges besides the tach. Both cars have a 5spd.

-BP

Hi, my 86 TC has a boost gauge.

0-15 psi with redline at 18. Don't remember having a turbo light but will check book.

Do remember hitting 15 psi very briefly. On my TC I think my wastegate has a weak spring? Boost drops as soon as I ease up on pedal.

Kevin

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86 Turbo Coupe
77 Thunderbird
http://www.kevinomura.com/tbird

Hi Pete,

I looked through all my data books this weekend and I must say, I am very disappointed. Not once did they print what the actual psi of the boost is on any of the cars. In the ’85 book it talks about some of the updates that were made to increase power and increased boost was one along with the addition of the electronic boost controller but again no mention of exactly what the boost levels were.
I even looked in the "Marketing Manual" that I have for the ’83 Turbo Coupe. This book goes into a lot of detail about the car and how it was conceived and built and also how to sell it to the public but once again no number for the psi. It did talk a little about the "overboost" light and that if an overboost condition should arise then the light would come on AND a separate buzzer would sound.

I then dug out some old Car & Driver magazines and they listed maximum boost level for the ’83 car @ 10 psi and 15 psi for both the ’85 & ’88 cars. They mentioned very briefly that the automatic equipped cars were detuned but did not go into any kind of detail as to what was actually done.

In the 1985 vacuum & wiring book it shows that the ’85 cars still have the buzzer mounted under the dash near the headlight switch. It states that if boost level hits 18 psi then the buzzer will be activated. After seeing the picture of it in the manual, I am certain that I have seen this buzzer under my dash before.

When my car was completely stock, it would do exactly the same thing as Jim Portteus’s car did. It would show 15 psi in 1st and 2nd, then the needle would go between 10 & 11 psi in 3rd, 4th, & 5th. You could actually see the needle move back & forth as the BCS would keep adjusting the wastegate to modulate the boost.

I asked another guy I work with who used to own a ’84 TC that he purchased new. He said that he did remember having the "overboost" light come on once, and the buzzer also sounded at the same time.

I find it interesting that in none of the Ford salesman source books did it mention the kind of information that we are looking for.
This was typically the kind of thing that seemed wrong to me when I working at the Ford dealership. Most of the sales tools that Ford would provide to us we more about the demographics of the typical person that they thought would buy a car or truck. That’s fine but they also should give us some REAL specs on the product that we were selling, not just basic information.

Brent


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1985 Cougar XR-7 5-speed: Child & Albert 5.7" Super Sports Rods, Custom Wiseco Pistons bored .030" Over, Childs & Albert ZGS Rings, ARP head studs, main studs & rod bolts, Ported Big Valve Head w/Ranger Roller Cam, Port Matched Intake w/ ’88 Upper, Motorsport Front Mount Intercooler, Ported E6, Esslinger Main Strap Kit, Original T3, Gillis Boost Valve, 3" DP w/No Cat & ’88 TC OEM Dual Exhaust, K&N, ’88 TC Front A-arms & Spindles w/ 73mm Calipers, ’88 TC Rear w/Disc Brakes, 3:73 Gears, Eibach Pro Kit, Koni's, Energy Suspension sway bar bushings, Hella headlight conversion, 140 Speedo.
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1986 asc/McLaren EuroCoupe - 1 of 47 made
1971 Ranchero
Hi-Jumper Sandrail w/2.3L Turbo Power

[This message has been edited by BCA (edited 01-07-2002).]

Looks liek you got most of the info you want but here goes, my 83 TC had a max boost of 10psi but would creep to 11psi. The overboost would come on at 16.5psi. Since they didnt have any automatics in the TC in 83 you dont have to worry about that.

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My vehicle
1983 Turbo Coupe-
13.83 at 103mph!
273rwhp and 342ftlb at 24 psi with a slipping clutch!
And it still feels slow!
Thanks
Shawn

Please click the link if you want to sign my aftermarket head list

Thanks for all the info guys. I did find a couple of sale brochures. One for the 84 Turbo Coupes (only) says max boost is 10 psi and it showers the gauge pod with a Turbo (green)light and an "Overboost" (red) light.
145 HP @4600 and 180 ft lbs at 3600

A 1985 sale brochure for the Thunderbird line states it has a boost gauge, states HP went to 155, states"power output is higher when premium fuel is used" DID THEY HAVE THE "PREMIUM FUEL SWITCH?? or did they just rely n the KS? Didn't find any statement about max boost.



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NATO Member
88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, Main TC with K&N, 3"DP to 2.5"duals through Dynamax, Ric valve at 17+ and disconnected KS.
Elite Bodega 16" chrome wheels. Autometer pod w/ A/F and Vac/boost gauges.140 mph Motorsports Speedo New engine: Total Seal rings and TRW pistons, ported and polished head w/ cc'd chambers,1.59"exhausts, SS valves, gutted upper, knife edged lower, A-230 cam, Race Engineering Adj Cam Sprocket, Crowlers, ARP head studs, and rod bolts. Walbro 255 HP pump and Kirban adj FPR, T-3. Centerforce II, KB subs and jack rails.

Pete,

The T-bird didn't get the fuel switch until '87.

Brent


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1985 Cougar XR-7 5-speed: Child & Albert 5.7" Super Sports Rods, Custom Wiseco Pistons bored .030" Over, Childs & Albert ZGS Rings, ARP head studs, main studs & rod bolts, Ported Big Valve Head w/Ranger Roller Cam, Port Matched Intake w/ ’88 Upper, Motorsport Front Mount Intercooler, Ported E6, Esslinger Main Strap Kit, Original T3, Gillis Boost Valve, 3" DP w/No Cat & ’88 TC OEM Dual Exhaust, K&N, ’88 TC Front A-arms & Spindles w/ 73mm Calipers, ’88 TC Rear w/Disc Brakes, 3:73 Gears, Eibach Pro Kit, Koni's, Energy Suspension sway bar bushings, Hella headlight conversion, 140 Speedo.
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1986 asc/McLaren EuroCoupe - 1 of 47 made
1971 Ranchero
Hi-Jumper Sandrail w/2.3L Turbo Power