89 XR Build--- Extensive

[victory01]

In 2018 I drove to MI to purchase my XR. Similar color (Blue) to the one I owned when I was 18 years old.....only slightly rustier and with a blown head gasket. Did nothing with it for years but sit in my garage.

However, Jeff H and Mike O have been awesome in getting me parts over the years. Some, scarce parts. About two years ago I dismantled the car and began its renovation.

A shout out to BoPort racing and Stinger Performance for all the engine build parts. Ported head, Intake Manifold, Stage One Cam, T3/T4 Garrett Turbo (Goal of around 400 HP), 120 degree rotated Upper Intake, and Full Tubular Manifold.

Thanks to Gables Mach and Engine in Akron OH for assembling and cleaning my engine. It's really nice. Rods/Pistons/new everything.

Thank you to Henderson Driveline and Axle. Made a perfect two piece driveshaft for my T5 Trans to rear end. U-joints eliminate the Guido. Nice carrier bearing from standard Ranger (this may be bigger than stock). Everything bolts right up.....no adapter and no one-piece wobble. Henderson DL also installed the new rear end, Eaton Differential.

One tremendous pain in the ass worth mentioning was the total conversion to a hydraulic clutch. For six months or more I could not find the T5 clutch fork for the 4-cyl engine. I finally gave up and began the conversion to a Tilton unit. But to make room for this I needed to make the brake vacuum booster smaller. So it was converted to a Hydro-boost from Sweeting Performance. Very huge, big pain in the ass and time will tell if the conversion actually works. But it does it looks nice and creates lots of room. Soon after I finished this project from hell, Mike O came up with a T5 clutch fork. All you can do is smile.

PimpX is going in it now and tuned over the next two to three weeks.

Compomotive wheels and 215/35/18 tires. No rub. Bilstein shocks w/ Ground Control front springs and rear HyperCo suspension coils. 350f/650r spring rates.

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

I made a dropbox account once but didn't like it. Try Imgur or imgbb.

[victory01]

Now, for those of you with websites, or those of you that work on platforms where you’d like to host/ display images, here’s all you need to do: convert your shared link into a ‘raw=1’ link!

1. Create a shared link to the image in question (by following the steps mentioned above).

2. Paste the link you’ve created, and convert it into a “raw=1” link, by changing the text from ‘?dl=0’ to ‘?raw=1’ at the end of the link.

For example:

This: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5bs4a7c2gs38wm0.png?dl=0

Becomes: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5bs4a7c2gs38wm0.png?raw=1

3. Finally, simply copy the new ‘raw=1’ link and use that for the image - it should then render correctly.

[ZaphodB]

Build looks awesome!!! And you have gone and found the best suppliers for our vehicles. BTW,
where in NE Ohio are you located?

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

It's back to all the broken image links again

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

All the pics look good now. One question, are you planning to run a coolant expansion tank?

[victory01]

Never did see this question. Yes to the coolant tank.

As an update.

My work needed some more work. Had to drop the car off at a tuner shop as I've moved out of the state.

He has the car running and everything works. Even the clutch system I made. lol

Getting the engine broken in now and then to place a tune on it.

Once the tune is in the car it will go to the paint booth for the final item along with an alignment at some point.

More to come.

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

I hope you trust the shop and it is extremely reputable. Some guy at a place I used to work removed a large chunk from his 401k to purchase his dream car. It was an 87 GN with show quality paint and a thick folder of receipts for performance parts. Basically built with no expense spared. It ran and drove well, the interior looked brand new, and the original parts were in boxes and included with the sale. Besides the paint and wheels it was an original numbers matching ride. Guy wasn't a real car guy I guess because when I asked how much boost it made he just kinda shrugged his shoulders. Also he thought the small "piggy back" air fuel controller was running the engine similar to stand alone. Anyway he was telling everyone at work about how he dropped the car off at a performance shop with a budget of 10k. Those people had it for a really long time and he seemed a little mad about the whole process when anyone asked about the car. Finally he got it back and his wife was driving it on the highway. Something let loose and when she pulled off the road there was a trail of oil behind the car. They towed it back to the shop which claimed the oil filter wasn't on tight? That sounded like bs to me. They did replace the engine for him, not sure what that donor was in originally, and he got the car back. So now the car is not numbers matching. I know those guys were taking the car out and having fun with it, either with or without permission, and caused some kind of damage. I would want to be on site while a reputable tuner did their thing.

[victory01]

Update.

First, https://www.facebook.com/GoFastTunerParts/ is who's working on it and I have a tremendous amount of respect for Aaron Irving. He's been good to work with and knows what he's talking about. I don't care to hear someone else's war story....this is working for me.

As for the car, it's making 300whp but it's coming on boost slowly, around 3800 rpm. We are trouble shooting this now. We believe if all goes well it should end around 350ish and spool better. Keep in mind this is all first shake down runs. I had another leak around the heater valve...we are going to see if it was a broken valve or hose just not tight.

The cool thing for me is the new hydro clutch unit I put in seems to be working. Most of the driving so far has been break-in miles on the engine. But it works. They were able to fix a number of leaks and rework some stuff I didn't get quite right. Overall, I'm super happy with the progress...and I think they were fair on price.

Hopefully some video and final numbers in the next week or two.

Next I need to get an alignment and then off to be painted.

[Jack_James]

How's the timing curve on it when boost builds? It should snap pretty hard when it hits wastegate pressure. Love the pictures. Clean work. How did you seal the transmission tunnel with the T5? Mines an open mess with lots of noise and smells.

[victory01]

Timing curve has been conservative thus far. We had an issue with fuel pressure not holding under boost so we installed, today, a Stinger Performance fuel pressure regulator. Also added some timing to the intake (4 degrees advance) on the bottom end. Still getting slow boost...3700-3800 full. Seems super slow to me. Anyone have thoughts? What's typical of timing in the computer? I have a 63 compressor housing instead of the 48 on a 50 trim. This thing should spin.

Same smells and noise as you in the T5 tunnel. No worries.

-Scott

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

Looks like someone put some sort of giant turbo on there. Are you going to move the battery and the heater control valve or lines? They are really close to those pipes.

[victory01]

It's not that big. 50-trim with 63.

Pictures lie some. There is room, although I wouldn't mind moving the battery and eliminating the valve.

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

Is there a .63 turbine buick gn combo on there? How are they adding timing on the bottom end but only to the intake? Sorry about all the questions just trying to figure it all out. I used to drive by that tuning shop everyday on the way to work for years and years. Go fast tuner parts was still at the old location on 619 by Reiter Dairy. There was always a bunch of totaled WRX STI's out front. I guess they would buy wrecked ones from the insurance companies and part them out. Then it seemed like they started getting into EVO's and GTR's.

[victory01]

No Buick GN. Full Garrett new from Bo Port.

Never was fully happy with the spool up but it did 385 at the wheels on a dyno. Friend of mine drove it around and said spool in third and fourth is a little laggy but its quick.

I took it to the paint shop and hope they get start working on it soon. Bi-wing, early rear hatch, and front facia.

Wel shall see how I like it and maybe rid of the .62 housing for the .48 or simply move to another turbo. I really thought this would spool better but I suppose the piston compression is old school too low.