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Topics - Joel Russo

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1
General Buick Tech / Help With No Start
« on: December 08 2022, 08:02:46 PM »
Help with no start.
I’ve followed the steps outlined in the Vortex Buicks pages, and here’s where I’m at…
87 GN, 15 K miles, TT 60 lb injectors and 5.7 chip with 255 Walbro in tank recently.
Car sat for 2 years without starting.
I have spark, 32 lbs pressure on the rail, injector pulse, but no start.
Is it possible the injectors are clogged?
Where do I go next?

2
For Sale/Trade/Want To Buy / New Richmond Gear Set
« on: September 06 2016, 06:46:34 AM »
I finally found some time to get the GN out and beat on it over the weekend.  That gave me the opportunity to do some garage cleaning.


I found a new set of Richmond gears that I purchased a while ago with the intentions of converting to a 3.73 ratio.  That never happened and it never will, so offering them up for sale here.


Fits 8.5-8.6" , 10 bolt, 3 series carrier.


$175 plus actual shipping.








3
General Buick Tech / Smoke Out Exhaust
« on: November 09 2014, 07:12:48 AM »
Had the car out for a run yesterday, couldn't resist a sunny 45* day.  When I returned home, I pulled on the driveway...let it idle.... while I moved a few bicycles from in front of the GN stall door..


As I walked toward the car, I noticed "smoke" coming out of the exhaust.  Looked to be typical bluish in color and had the smell of burning oil.  I checked temp gauge and it was 165*, which is where it was while I was out for the run.  I blipped the throttle and the smoke briefly went away until in came back to idle rpm, and then it came out of the exhaust again.


I did not notice it while driving or stopping while I was out on the road, but then again, I wasn't looking for it.


Stock unopened '87 GN with 14k on the clock..


Do I need to replace valve seals, or do I have a issue somewhere else?

4
General Buick Tech / Fuel Pressure
« on: November 13 2013, 12:52:20 PM »
So I dug out an extra Auto Meter liquid filled Pro Comp fuel pressure gauge out of the extra race car crap, and decided to mount it on the hood to monitor the pressure under boost.  I mocked up a plate, used some Pro Flo hose and Earl's fittings and made sure it didn't leak.  I have a small gauge on the rail that I have been using for years to set the pressure....Ap pears as though I have a discrepency between the two.
The rail mounted gauge reads 46 psi with the vac line off of the Accufab regulator.
At idle with the vac line on and me sitting in the car, the hood mounted gauge reads 52 lbs.  I ran the car a bit to make sure my pressure raises 1:1 under boost, and it does.  At 10 psi boost, pressure is 62 lbs.  Scanmaster tells me I'm at 780-800..
 
So, What gives??   :chin:
 
 

5
General Buick Tech / Comp Valve Spring Question
« on: November 13 2013, 10:08:25 AM »
If you were to change valve springs on a stock motor with stock heads and cam.... would you use the Comp 980 or the Comp 981 springs?
 
980's are rated at 92lbs at 1.700 and the 981's are rated at 105lbs at 1.700"
 
When you change the springs, and eliminate the stock spring cup, do you need to use shims? 

6
General Buick Tech / Upgrade Intercooler... Or Not ??
« on: November 05 2013, 09:24:21 AM »
Gents~
I value your experience and opinions...Hel p me on this one.
I know it's all about combinations with these cars, so I have tried to put together a good combination thus far.  Wanting to take the next step, and I think it may be the intercooler, thus my new thread.  If I go with the intercooler, I want the stock location one.
I have read, and re-read the Intercooler section of the Combination Synergy page that Steve posted.
This is a 13K car that sees little to no track time.  Stopped that years ago when the kids came into the picture.   
TE-60, Walbro 255/hotwire, 60# injectors, TT5.7 chip, Accufab FP reg, RJC DP, Pypes 2.5" w/Race Pro mufflers, 2600 10" NL, built trans.  The motor has not been opened up, stock heads, cam, valve springs....
Looking for that killer street combo with good driveability. 
I have researched the GN1 and the PTE.  Seems like two good pieces but the PTE is twice the price.  I don't mind spending the money, but want to realize some gain over the cheaper priced one.
So where do I go from here?  Is the intercooler the next logical step without opening up the motor?   If not, then what next?

7
General Buick Tech / Please ID This Wastegate Actuator
« on: November 03 2013, 12:20:34 PM »
Is this a HD or standard?




8
For Sale/Trade/Want To Buy / "Free" DP and Test Pipe
« on: October 26 2013, 09:05:07 AM »
I have a Fred Vetter style 3" DP and cut out pipe that I will offer up free, but local pick up only.  This pipe was a slip fit on the stock elbow that was enlarged to 3".
 
I am located in Harrisburg, PA.   717.805.0940

9
You guys running them on the street,  what psi are you running?

10
Paint and Body / Door Moulding Off!
« on: September 27 2013, 09:38:12 AM »
Got tired of looking at that factory door moulding for the past 26 years, so I pulled it all off, wet sanded the panels and buffed it out.  Here's a few before and after shots. 
I'll wet sand the hood and deck when the snow starts to fall...
 
 

11
General Buick Tech / Which Exhaust ?
« on: September 25 2013, 12:08:57 PM »
Had the car on the lift to install a new set of MT Drag Radials, and I realized my one muffler shit the bed... Exhaust system is aftermarket but has been on the car for the past 20 years. Car only has 14K on the clock.

I did my research and it looks like the Pypes, 2.5" cat back system with the Race Pro mufflers is a good value for the money for a complete bolt on system.

Is there any other system that is cat back, bolt on, 2.5", that I should look at before I pull the trigger on this Pypes system?  I don't want a loud exhaust... 

12
General Buick Tech / Wild, Scary Ride......
« on: September 16 2013, 09:21:36 AM »
Alright Steve and gang, put your thinking caps on...
 
Temps were in the mid 60*'s yesterday, so I parked the John Deere and hopped in the GN.  Got out on my favorite stretch of highway and cut her loose.  And that's where it got ugly!
 
I stabbed it to the floor and boost went to 19lbs, I glanced at the Scanmaster at the top of third gear and it read 800 w/2.5* kr.  Thought life was good.. I lifted and nothing.... boost stayed at 19 lbs with my foot off the accellerator.  Life was not good..  0ver 100 mph and the pucker factor building.  I was belted in to a run away GN.  First reaction was to hit the brakes, which only locked the fronts and created major tire smoke.  Second reaction was to stab the pedal trying to get it to release, no go.  Passing other cars like they were standing still and keeping a lookout of where I could crash this thing and not kill anyone but myself...  Kept trying to kick down the pedal and then threw it in neutral to get it out of gear.  Somehow it shut off, and I coasted to a safe place off the road.  After I changed my shorts :icon_redface: , I tried to start it to get it off the shoulder.  It started normal and drove normal for about 100 yards.  I got out and took a look under the hood.  Could not see anything out of place. 
WTF I thought.  So I sat there for a bit to clear my head, then turned it around to head back home.  I drove for a few miles at 45-50 mph while monitoring oil pressure and listening for anything suspect.  Oil pressure was 40 lbs plus, and no audible noises.  I figured it had something to do with boost, so to prove myself right, I put some boost back in and it came un-glued again.  Same ordeal, foot off the pedal and it maintained boost.  Runaway GN again.  Tried the same sequence as before and it "un-boosted", but did not shut off. 
That's it, I thought, and milked it home with no boost and put it in the garage.  Went inside and poured my a Crown straight up to calm my nerves.  I'm getting too old for this shit.
To help you diagnose this problem, I'll tell you what recent mods I made.  A few miles before this incident, I did a few healthy burnouts without issue.
New Walbro 255 with Hotwire kit and in tank wiring.
New RJC 3" DP utilizing stock wastegate accumulator.
New Accufab fuel pressure regulator put on the same day this happened.     
 
This is an '87 GN with 13K on the clock.
 
Your expertise please, because common sense and reason will keep me from driving it.
 
 
 
     

13
General Buick Tech / Walbro 255 Install/Car Shut Off
« on: September 03 2013, 01:10:40 PM »
I ordered a Walbro 255, and Hotwire kit from TT, and installed it on my '87 GN over the weekend.  Installation went smooth, as I took my time, and I'm pretty anal...
I started the car this morning and it fired right up, fuel pressure went right up to 44lbs at the rail, and stayed there.  I check for leaks as I also replaced the fuel filter.  All was well, so I ventured out on the maiden voyage.  Car ran like a scalded dog as it always has.  I got a few miles from the house and realized I forgot my wallet.  Always nice to have when you get pulled over :D 
I shut it off in the driveway, got my wallet and came back out to the car.  Opened the hood to check fuel pressure again when I started the car.  Car fired up, then I noticed the gauge drop as the car started to stumble.  Fuel pressure dropped to 20lbs as the car shut off.  The first thing I did was check the 20 amp mini fuse that is on the Hotwire harness that mounts to the rear of the alternator.  Fuse was blown.  I replaced the fuse with another 20 amp, and the car still would not start.
I checked the FP and injector fuse on the fuseblock, and they were fine.  Ended up pushing the car into the garage and now I'm begging for help....
 

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