Hey y’all, I recently purchased a 1987 Turbo Coupe. This is my first turbo car and I don’t really know much about them. My stock wastegate is bad, what I’m assuming could be called the actuator keeps coming apart, so I’d like to upgrade it. I’m keeping my turbo and intercooler stock for now, but I’d like a wastegate that can support up to 25psi. What are you guys running? Thank you.
08-04-2021, 05:24 PM (This post was last modified: 08-04-2021, 05:24 PM by Kuch.)
Razz,
What is coming apart on the actuator, can you post a pic of it? Is is something that can be fixed? If not, the stock IHI turbo wastegate can be bought online and used, BUT... the stock IHI turbo on your 87, if it still stock, will not be good at all at 25psi. It would probably cost you power from the amount of heat built up by the compressor overspinning. Also, your stock injectors and fuel pump will not support that much boost and you will end up melting pistons. With that being said, the stock IHI at 18psi can be a very good street driven turbo. Most of us use a "Gillis boost valve", linked below. It is a very effective and simple ball and spring valve to help build boost faster and hold max boost in all gears. Also, before you turn up the boost, give it a good motorcraft tune up including fuel filter. Is this a 5 speed car or the auto? give us some specs on it and we can get you in the tight direction before you destroy the motor as turbo cars take a lot more planning to make power than an N/A engine.
(08-04-2021, 05:24 PM)Kuch Wrote: Razz,
What is coming apart on the actuator, can you post a pic of it? Is is something that can be fixed? If not, the stock IHI turbo wastegate can be bought online and used, BUT... the stock IHI turbo on your 87, if it still stock, will not be good at all at 25psi. It would probably cost you power from the amount of heat built up by the compressor overspinning. Also, your stock injectors and fuel pump will not support that much boost and you will end up melting pistons. With that being said, the stock IHI at 18psi can be a very good street driven turbo. Most of us use a "Gillis boost valve", linked below. It is a very effective and simple ball and spring valve to help build boost faster and hold max boost in all gears. Also, before you turn up the boost, give it a good motorcraft tune up including fuel filter. Is this a 5 speed car or the auto? give us some specs on it and we can get you in the tight direction before you destroy the motor as turbo cars take a lot more planning to make power than an N/A engine.
So basically in the back where the rod coming off the wastegate connects to some sort of rotating piece of metal, the rod keeps popping out every so often rendering my turbo useless because I can no longer build boost. I read something about having to mess with the pin but the whole thing just looks crusty and in bad shape so I figured I’d replace the whole thing. I can go try to snap some photos but it’s kinda hard to see with the intercooler and all there I can hardly even get my arm down there to fix it. And it’s a 5 speed car. Top mount intercooler. Bone stock aside from a HKS blow off valve the previous owner installed (which kinda gets in the way of the throttle). Also, thanks for the information regarding increasing my boost
08-04-2021, 11:04 PM (This post was last modified: 08-04-2021, 11:06 PM by Kuch.)
Yup, Brad has it in that pic, you probably are missing the small clip that hold the wastegate actuator arm to the wastegate flapper. It is basically a small "C" clips or "E" clips, same thing, or as we used to call them "Jesus" clips. When you remove them you would know why we call them that. I would go into harbor freight and buy the set of "C"clips they sell and see which one fits the tightest but still snaps in place. I am not sure of the exact size though off hand. You best bet is to get to it from underneath with the car on ramps so you can see it as it goes on. This is an easy fix for you to get it back on the road. Something like this assortment should get you what you need,
I will add to what Kuch explained.
Check that that arm can swing freely. That arm rotate a "flap" that is your wastegate similar to a throttle body if you want to visualize it except it goes to your exhaust.
My car someone put extra washers on the actuator so the arm rusted solid to the actuator pin causing over boost and destroying the actuator.
1988 TC, 5 spd, Stinger 3" Exhaust, Schneider Roller Cam, -4° Cam Pulley, Cone Filter, Gilles Boost Control Valve set at 17 psi, Walbro 255 lph, CHE Rear Lower and Upper Control Arms, Braided Brake Lines, Hawk HPS 5.0 Front and HPS (F) Rear, CRES Inserts in front calipers, and '93 Cobra Wheels with General 235/50R17 Tires.
