North American Turbocoupe Organization



Need help with 3.8 bird so I can work on my TC!
1987tc Offline
Senior Member
#1
I have just finished getting an 88 Tbird running ( V6) and it has been sitting for probably close to a year. I changed both head gaskets even though only one was just starting to seep a little. It runs and starts right up but I have a real big problem..... SMOKE lots of thick white smoke. Here is what I am wondering, Would reallllly old gasoline make it smoke white?
The gas does smell like turpintine. It seems to not run too bad ( I have not tried to take it on the road for obvious reasons). There is about 9 gallons of gas in it going by the dash ( digital). I am Hoping that the old gas is the problem. I bought the car with a leaking head gasket so I did not hear or see it run before I bought it. The car has been well cared for and there is no sludge or any trash in the oil or coolant. Any help would be great!

I have a lot of work I need to do to my TC so I need this car running asap!

[This message has been edited by 1987tc (edited 03-12-2002).]
Sold my Turbocoupe. It went to a good home.
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#2
If it's been sitting that long yo may have water in the gas tank. Try putting a bottle of "dry gas" in it and running out that tank.

The alternative is you are getting coolant in the combustion chambers, not unheard of with the head gasket problem of the 3.8

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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 Dunham


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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#3
Lets see..... lots of white smoke on the well known HG eater 3.8 V6.... I bet on a blown HG or maybe both sides blown. I would pull the plugs and look for evidence of blown HGs, like ultra clean plugs, or even coolant coming out the plug holes while cranking.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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1987tc Offline
Senior Member
#4
The car was sitting indoors in a garage and covered when I bought it. There are no bubbles in the radiator and it is not rough running. The heads had no cracks when I had them checked. It actually runs ok just smokes like a bug fogger!
Sold my Turbocoupe. It went to a good home.
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1987tc Offline
Senior Member
#5
I just changed the head gaskets! It has not even been running long enough to get warmed up! There is maybe a total of 5 minutes of time on it since I got it put back together.

This is the first time it has been run since I fixed it. The head gaskets are brand new. Great compression and the plugs are new and not run long enough to get anything on them.
Sold my Turbocoupe. It went to a good home.
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TurboCoupe50 Offline
Posting Freak
#6
Does it start smoking as soon as it starts or does it wait a few minutes? If it is after a couple of minutes could just be anitfreeze/oil in the catalyic converter, from the old gaskets leaking.

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Two 1988 Turbo Coupes ..... yea one of em has a 5.0 And runs 13.1s
1988 Turbo Coupe331 AOD

1972 Comet GT

1969 Fairlane Cobra 428CJ 4-Speed
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1987tc Offline
Senior Member
#7
That is a thought. It does it NOW as sson as it fires up. I reallly do not remember if it did it the first time or not. Right now though it starts with in a couple of seconds of starting the engine. And it seems to get worse as it runs. I am not sure about the last part though. It might be doing it the same all the time and just collecting and seeming worse.
Wes
Sold my Turbocoupe. It went to a good home.
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Turbojet Offline
Senior Member
#8
I bought a 91 Explorer with a cracked head. I replaced the head and had the same results.It was antifreeze in the exhaust. It smoked like hell. I left it run for about 30 minutes, before it cleared up.

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86-STOCK
87-STOCK
88-STOCK MODIFY SOON
The Family:
86
87
88
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1987tc Offline
Senior Member
#9
One thing I should mention too is the fact that I put about 4 OZ. of Stabil fuel stabiler in the gas tank before I started it. It is used for engines to keep the gas fresh while in storage. I don't think that is the problem though.
If it is good to put in the tank when you store a car it ought to be ok when you start it back up.
Sold my Turbocoupe. It went to a good home.
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#10
I doubt if it is the fuel stabilizer. I use that and fogging oil in the cylinders and all I get is a few seconds of the fogging oil burning out when I start the boat the next season

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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 Dunham


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