new here, I have 2 turbo coupes!

So I traded my 1994 3-cyl Metro for 2 TC's. The first one (1988) is in pretty bad shape appearance wise, and definitely interior wise. None of the instrument cluster works, except for the boost guage. I only have a driver's seat. When I drove it home, it would missfire badly as soon as it hit 15psi. So I change the plugs and wires, (and I cut the exhaust pipe right after the cat, it was falling off) runs GREAT now! No hesitation! The second one (1987) looks amazing exterior wise and interior too. But, it needs a clutch.....I was going to make just one car look and drive good and junk the other, but I want to use both now.

Ok, after that long read, I have a couple questions.

Are the turbos IHI .42/.48? I have a brand new IHI .42/.48 in my garage that *might go on my 03 cavalier.

I read on this forum that there is some kind of fan for the intercooler? I tried to search for it.

Any suggestions on mods?

Originally posted by BoostedEcoCavi:
I read on this forum that there is some kind of fan for the intercooler? I tried to search for it.

Any suggestions on mods?

NO factory installed fan in the IC. Best thing for you to do, is a full motorcraft tune up, plugs wires cap and rotor, and some like to do the pcv valve, if yours works properly it should be fine, then look at the beginners mods listed here http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/Mods/Mods01.htm that should get you started. Every thing at this point you would want to do has been discussed many times over, so search and if you cannot find it Im sure anyone can/will try to help answer your questions.

Well that one gets a nomination for the deal of the year. Of course this also shows how bad gas prices have been.

FYI your TC can get into the 28-30 range highway.

IHI's are around, generally they get less 'respect' than the previous T3s on earlier cars. That said there are folks getting very respectable track times out of them.

The fan for the intercooler was a special project one of the members did, there is a writeup floating about the site. Best thing I found since I came here was just randomly searching/reading everything.

Depending on where you want to go with the car(s) mods go from the easy/inexpensive to involved/expensive.

It sounds like you've worked with turbo before, so you already know how important fuel is in a turbo motor, that said, the stock fuel system can be a weak spot, check your fuel pressure/pressure regulator for proper operation.

0th mod, the tuneup, motorcraft only parts. others *may* work, but they also may not within a short time period. This is one of the few cars that does work better for the tune parts being motorcraft.

1st mod, get a boost valve (and a *accurate* boost gauge) to set the valve.

2nd mod, open up the air intake with a K&N

good luck.

Welcome aboard and to the family. Browse through the site, read the FAQ's, take a look at the tech articles, maybes read some past posts. There's a great bunch of people here and tons of knowledge.

Enjoy.

Originally posted by Hurff:
Well that one gets a nomination for the deal of the year. Of course this also shows how bad gas prices have been.

Ha yea my metro was in great shape only 105k mi.

Originally posted by Hurff: 1st mod, get a boost valve (and a *accurate* boost gauge) to set the valve. [/QB]

I just installed my Autometer boost/vac gauge today! I just need a !cheap! boost valve.

Does anyone think pinching the wastgate signal line is a halfway decent thought?

"Does anyone think pinching the wastgate signal line is a halfway decent thought?"

You are really going to fit in here. The 2.3T community is known to be a bunch of cheap bastids. You have just given that phrase new meaning.

Welcome to the board. Pinching the WGA line will NOT provide more boost. It may lead to a boost spike if ti is severely pinched off, but max boost will not change. If totallypinched off, there will be no way to control boost.

Cheap boost "controller" = bypass BCS with a bleeder valve (fish tank valve) or use a butt splice. Do a search, as this has been discussed hundreds of times.

haha ok yea I am cheap! But I got both my TC's for cheap too!

I love the turbo coupes so far though! I finally got the full tank of 87 octane out of the car and put in some 94.

And I fixed the tach, speedo, and fuel switch by replacing a fuse. My only problem is my 88 TC dosent want to start sometimes, until I bang on the starter w/ my breaker bar. Should I try replacing it? lol

Oh and another question, I thought that the premium fuel switch controlled boost as well as timing advance? I am seeing 15psi w/ the switch on either position. Maybe its bad? the light comes on.