Building another Buick Century Turbo...
07-30-2009, 11:53 PM
#11
0.0 BAR
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Northport Alabama USA
Posts: 12
Goal is I guess - whatever it can take without running lean or detonating.
The engine is factory-rated at 150 HP / 200 LbFt torque. It should make about 240 HP at 10 PSI boost.
I will dyno it, but don't know what the automatic transmission losses will be.
My last "full on" turbo build on this same model engine put 325 HP 380 TQ through the transmission to the wheels. It has a GTK450 turbo and Comp 258HR cam. Along with other supporting mods.
Later,
David
08-02-2009, 12:26 AM
#12
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Northport Alabama USA
Posts: 12
Well - didn't quite get to take a test drive today. More severe weather; actually blew rain under the barn and soaked everything and made a royal mess. Then the starting motor FELL OFF my generator, taking with it the threads from the aluminum Briggs & Stratton engine block.
But anyway - I did manage to get the battery tray relocation and charcoal canister relocation done.
The factory battery location is the LT front corner of the engine bay. I needed this area to put the air filter for the engine, since it had to be moved to accommodate the turbo system pipework. Battery needed to move to the other side.
The battery clamp is the one originally mounted on the LT side of the car. I simply drilled away the pinch welds and removed it. To give it support, I welded it to a plate of 1/8" steel since the RT corner of the car didn't have the correct shape for a battery tray. The steel was a piece of an old Bush Hog mower deck! After painting everything semi-flat black, it was a bolt-in assembly.
Battery sits in there just like it was made to!
The charcoal canister used to sit in this area where the battery is now located. It is simply there to absorb gasoline fumes as the car is sitting. It has a tube connecting to the fuel tank vent port; then an engine vacuum hose draws fresh air through the charcoal powder to remove the fumes. It keeps the car from making the garage smell like gas fumes. Good thing and nothing I want to take off and leave off!
So I made a bracket and set it inside the front bumper below the RT headlights. The steel tubelines simply go and connect to the original tubes that went to the canister. The electrical harness had to be extended about 2 feet to reach here.
Had another "visitor" today!
Must be full of eggs - that is about the fattest toad I've seen!!!
On the other corner of the car, the air conditioner dryer can had to be removed to make room for the turbocharger pipework. Since the A/C worked when I got the car; and even if it had not worked - I was planning to fix it; this part had to be relocated. This required having a custom set of A/C hoses built. I took the hose set that connects the compressor, and had the rubber sections replaced with new hose; with the suction-side hose 3" longer. Then the short hose from the evaporator core to the drier had to be replaced with a 48" hose. This hose has the primary low-side charging port on it.
Drier now sits just below the LT headlights, hidden in the front bumper!
At some point in the past, the car had a minor front-end collision. The bumper was not shimmed right, and it had the rubber covering warped. I will have to shim this properly before the rest of the front end goes back on. Hopefully will get that done tomorrow and be able to go for a test drive!
If you have trouble with the pictures, refresh the page because my server can only support a few connections at once.
Later,
David
But anyway - I did manage to get the battery tray relocation and charcoal canister relocation done.
The factory battery location is the LT front corner of the engine bay. I needed this area to put the air filter for the engine, since it had to be moved to accommodate the turbo system pipework. Battery needed to move to the other side.
The battery clamp is the one originally mounted on the LT side of the car. I simply drilled away the pinch welds and removed it. To give it support, I welded it to a plate of 1/8" steel since the RT corner of the car didn't have the correct shape for a battery tray. The steel was a piece of an old Bush Hog mower deck! After painting everything semi-flat black, it was a bolt-in assembly.
Battery sits in there just like it was made to!
The charcoal canister used to sit in this area where the battery is now located. It is simply there to absorb gasoline fumes as the car is sitting. It has a tube connecting to the fuel tank vent port; then an engine vacuum hose draws fresh air through the charcoal powder to remove the fumes. It keeps the car from making the garage smell like gas fumes. Good thing and nothing I want to take off and leave off!
So I made a bracket and set it inside the front bumper below the RT headlights. The steel tubelines simply go and connect to the original tubes that went to the canister. The electrical harness had to be extended about 2 feet to reach here.
Had another "visitor" today!
Must be full of eggs - that is about the fattest toad I've seen!!!
On the other corner of the car, the air conditioner dryer can had to be removed to make room for the turbocharger pipework. Since the A/C worked when I got the car; and even if it had not worked - I was planning to fix it; this part had to be relocated. This required having a custom set of A/C hoses built. I took the hose set that connects the compressor, and had the rubber sections replaced with new hose; with the suction-side hose 3" longer. Then the short hose from the evaporator core to the drier had to be replaced with a 48" hose. This hose has the primary low-side charging port on it.
Drier now sits just below the LT headlights, hidden in the front bumper!
At some point in the past, the car had a minor front-end collision. The bumper was not shimmed right, and it had the rubber covering warped. I will have to shim this properly before the rest of the front end goes back on. Hopefully will get that done tomorrow and be able to go for a test drive!
If you have trouble with the pictures, refresh the page because my server can only support a few connections at once.
Later,
David
08-02-2009, 11:04 PM
#13
0.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Northport Alabama USA
Posts: 12
Here is video of first test drive with turbo. Untuned and being very careful - but for the first time ever; after 22 years of natural aspiration - the 3.8 has seen BOOST!!!
YouTube - First boost for the 87 Century Turbo Sedan
YouTube - First boost for the 87 Century Turbo Sedan
08-05-2009, 12:03 PM
#15
0.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Northport Alabama USA
Posts: 12
Here's a "real" acelleration video! Have NOT tuned the ECM or done anything other than bolt on the turbo system. When I get back from 2 weeks at work; I'll be tuning this thing to get a little more out of it!
Later,
David
YouTube - 87 Buick Century Turbo Sedan 3.8 SFI Turbo baseline acelleration 5 PSI boost
Later,
David
YouTube - 87 Buick Century Turbo Sedan 3.8 SFI Turbo baseline acelleration 5 PSI boost
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