Messages

16

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 09 2012, 09:09:45 PM »

Car passed CA smog with the TT classic chip installed. It feels like its running better.


I think ill have time tomorrow to install the scanmaster and see what that tells me.

17

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 07 2012, 08:40:20 PM »

This explains why I couldn't do a burn out very well and the slow spool up. The NA convertors stall at around 1,600rpm which is what I was finding.
 

Yes that is exactly the rpm that it lets me rev to and then nothing... I think you may be right. Thanks for the lead, i will look into it.


I called the previous owner and he never changed it. To his knowledge it is stock, but he didnt own it until 1990 so....

18

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 07 2012, 12:01:01 AM »

Am i missing something..... ive been reading a bunch of posts talking about how these cars launch best around 4 or 5 psi.


Do i need something special to build boost at the line? I cant just hold the brakes and give it some throttle?


Can anyone point me to some good reading material or tell me how its accomplished.. .. Could be my tired motor or crappy chip?


and yes i feel dumb for asking 

thanks

19

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 06 2012, 11:01:53 PM »

Ok i guess trying to do a burn out with it as soon as i got it is abuse.....

Burnouts are fine. There's not much you can do in life (with your pants on) more enjoyable than a burnout.


If you're driving the car with antifreeze in the oil, leaky head gaskets, wiping cam lobe and/or boost control issues...   then that's abuse.

You need to get any electronics you have installed pronto...   and from your opening posts I'd seriously do every diagnostic that can be done on the long block. Most importantly, a leak down test, compression test, and figure out what the oil pressure is doing.
    If that can be taken care of with out pulling the engine, there's a laundry list of preventative maintenance that will need to be installed.

I hate to sound like a Debbie Downer but these cars like to make new owners jump through SHITLOADS of hoops before they stop acting like jerks. After that, they're kinda fun to drive.

   there is light at the end of the tunnel. ill get there eventually.

20

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 06 2012, 10:50:38 PM »

I believe you need both as Scanmaster provides constant monitoring of the O2s and timing retard...of course, if it is in the trunk you should have saved your money.

as it turns out it was a scan tool.... i was confused. still learning but i think im making some progress. i took the radiator out and had it flushed today, it was pretty filthy.  i picked up a fuel pressure gauge and put on an adjustable fuel pressure regulator. set it to 45psi then put the line back on and watched the psi drop by like 8.


couldnt resist, i took it for a spin. previously when cruising at 30 mph and then going WOT, it would bog bad and not rev, thats no longer happening. the turbo spooled fast and held at 15 psi until i let off around 80mph. is it possible that my stock fuel pressure regulator couldnt keep up with the larger injectors, bigger fuel pump, and hot wire kit, and thats what was causing some of my symptoms. now i have to get rid of this old ATR chip.




still cant do a burn out or build boost at the line. TT chips and scanmaster will be here thursday.


 

21

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 05 2012, 11:48:23 PM »

just ordered a scanmaster 2.1 and some TT chips.....

Send the useless ScanMaster back and get the PowerLogger. What is this a flashback to the year 2000?

hahahhahah.


care to share your reasoning?


I think the scanmaster will be just fine until i gain more knowledge of this car.

22

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 05 2012, 11:43:18 PM »

Not necessarily... we called the 42.5# injectors green stripes as well even tho later they were marked with different colors and different parts number.  Parts number is the only meaningful ID

good to know thanks i think they were purchased from kirbans part number says 1544, same that kirban lists.

23

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 05 2012, 08:44:57 PM »

just ordered a scanmaster 2.1 and some TT chips.....

24

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 05 2012, 08:07:27 PM »

Ok i guess trying to do a burn out with it as soon as i got it is abuse.....


Anyway i found an old receipt for green stripe injectors which if im not mistaken means that it is 30-32 pound injectors. Less than the 40 pounds that i originally thought were on it. Day 2 of owning the car, alright!

25

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 05 2012, 07:46:49 PM »

I hear ya, car is parked.


The ATR chip is getting replaced. I called Turbo Lou to let him know ill be seeing him soon. We will prolly end up pulling the heads and having a look.


Pulled the radiator today for a flush and rod. The antifreeze in the reservoir had tons of gunk in it.


@ Earl, I havent been abusing it. I rescued it from a garage where it surely would have rotted away! And it rarely freezes here in Los Angeles.


As it turns out, I have a scan tool, not a scanmaster. All of the sudden i have a lot on the to do/buy list.


I don't mind rebuilding the motor if it needs it. My wallet might but i don't.     Its worth it!

26

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 04 2012, 11:29:50 PM »

Yea it for sure will need to see a good mechanic. It has no problem starting and idling and grocery style driving but thats as far as the good news goes. There isn't any weird mechanical noises but its definitely acting erratic.


As i was told the story about 22psi, I kept imagining the heads blowing off the motor and then the phone call to the husband that followed.

27

General Buick Tech / Re: New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 04 2012, 09:03:06 PM »

Scanmaster... right i forgot i had one, Ill plug it in and see what codes it gives me. Stand by.

28

New Member Introductions and Welcomes! / Re: My Very Own GN

« on: November 04 2012, 08:58:42 PM »

scan master is NOT in the trunk....


I also got some floppy disks and cables to connect to the car, which i will never use cuz i have a scanmaster now......

29

General Buick Tech / New GN owner questions/issues

« on: November 04 2012, 08:52:49 PM »

Recently picked up an 87 GN. You can see some mods and info here. http://www.ihadav8.com/forum/index.php?topic=3778.0


The previous owner gave me a new fuel pressure regulator that i need to have installed. Hopefully that will help with some of the issues im having.


I cant get the car to build boost at the line or spin the tires for that matter. I hold the brake and hit the gas and it wont rev past like 2200 rpm. Sometimes while cruising at 30mph and then going WOT, the thing will stall and sputter, other times, the turbo will spool and away i go. Also, my oil pressure has been all over the place, as low as 20 psi and as high as 80 when WOT. Dunno if thats normal.


It seems like the turbo isn't spooling very fast either. I have it set to 15 psi. When i'm WOT and i get to 15 psi, after a moment it drops to 10 and wont go any higher.


The previous owner also told me that his wife had driven it when he had the boost turned way up (22psi) and well.... it wasn't pretty. He had it turned up for some passes at the strip but his wife took it out on the freeway before he turned it back down. She threw it down to third to pass a vehicle and when the boost maxed out, the stock motor couldn't hang. Since that happened he turned the boost down to 10 psi and kept it there til he sold it to me.


My next step is to take it in for a tune up and get the regulator installed. Being in SoCal, it looks like it will end up in the hands of turbo Lou, unless anyone knows of a capable mechanic closer to Los Angeles. The heads have never been off the motor so if i need to do a serious overhaul then so be it. I want this car to perform like i know it can and last for another 25 years. Im willing to spend some money on it.


Any advice or words of wisdom? What do i need to replace or double check from the unfortunate rattle at 22psi? What would you do?


Thanks!

30

New Member Introductions and Welcomes! / My Very Own GN

« on: November 04 2012, 07:22:49 PM »

Im the 3rd owner. Previous owner had it since 1990. Its got 92k miles and was well cared for.

Mods include hot wire kit, cat back SS exhaust from ATR, green stripe 30# injectors, chip from TT, bigger rear sway bar. You'll notice some other aftermarket things from the pics.