88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power August 25, 2007, 04:22:42 PM I recently acquired an '88 turbocoupe, its an automatic, just shy 0f 200,xxx miles. It drives great, gets ok mileage sounds quiet and drives very smoothly; stops quickly. My only real issue is low power, I noticed that the hood scoop duct doesn't connect to the turbo intake. That is, its loose, so when you step on the gas and the turbo automatically kicks in, you can hear it his as it seems to suck air from around the hood s. If i fix this, will it help, or is it time to get a replacement turbo. (There's no knocking sound, just a smooth hiss...) Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #1 – August 25, 2007, 04:28:22 PM whats the boost read?? Automatics had less boost then maunals, because the a4ld was JUNK. Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #2 – August 25, 2007, 05:13:21 PM The scoops duct air to the intercooler, not the intake. Also ditching the stock airbox and clamping a cone filter right to the inlet of the vane meter helps a LOT. Quote Selected
well... Reply #3 – August 25, 2007, 08:32:45 PM Forgive me for lack of understanding, but what I'm getting from you guys is (it's got a K&N intake) that the air coming from the hoodscoops is what cools the intercooler...? This is what doesn't connect, btw. The car is an automatic, and the boost gauge doesnt read... but it hisses like I said. I don't believe its that the turbo doesn't engage, I believe its just the gauge. It definitely kicks in, but I often find myself flooring the car to get it moving... Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #4 – August 25, 2007, 10:36:10 PM sounds to me like you've got a hell of a boost leak. it also sounds like this is your first turbo car, and that you don't have a full understanding of what you're dealing with. my first suggestion is to check ALL of your vacuum lines and fittings. then check the hoses that couple the intercooler to the throttle body and the turbo itself. then report back. also, read. read as much as you possibly can about turbo cars and how they work. my money is on the intercooler being detached. Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #5 – August 25, 2007, 10:37:19 PM Got any pictures? Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #6 – August 26, 2007, 12:51:14 AM I scored a TC rear just recently by fixing a friends newly purchased TC. His problems were misrouted vac lines and his lower intercooler line wasn't clamped on right(caused loud hissing). Fixed both of those problems and the bird flew. Double check those. The vacuum line routing can be a bit confusing with a pic. The tech section at NATO has a crude diagram on how it should look. Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #7 – August 26, 2007, 01:30:04 AM boost leak. Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #8 – August 26, 2007, 02:44:42 AM i will have 2 say boost leak but if you need the underhood replacement part that works with the scoops i got on i have not used in 2 years and i would sell it pretty cheap. Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #9 – August 26, 2007, 09:07:45 AM Quote from: Billyf17;172073I scored a TC rear just recently by fixing a friends newly purchased TC. His problems were misrouted vac lines and his lower intercooler line wasn't clamped on right(caused loud hissing). Fixed both of those problems and the bird flew. Double check those. The vacuum line routing can be a bit confusing with a pic. The tech section at NATO has a crude diagram on how it should look. Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #10 – August 26, 2007, 10:56:19 AM ^ That's it...haha Quote Selected
oh no Reply #11 – September 01, 2007, 04:49:06 PM So i finally got back to the car, to find that it has an exhaust manifold crack.... is this my problem? I've checked all the lines for tightness and unless something is misrouted its vacuum boost/seems tight. The hiss i mentioned is now gone. It is a thin crack, on the third cylinder counting form the front... how much will it cost to get this replaced? Is there any sort of temp fix I can use? Does replacting involve removing the engine? (it looks like if i remoed the intercooler there is enough room to get @ at...) if its going to be difficult I may as well get the engine rebuilt at the same time, as its at 200k... Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #12 – September 01, 2007, 05:41:55 PM You can get a exhaust mani on E-bay or over at http://www.turboford.org. Yes you can replace the mani without removing the motor. The hardest part is hooking the oil return line back up after the swap. Those turbo nuts aren't to fun to get at. Also with a crack in the mani the turbo isn't going to build as much boost. That is most likely why you are down on power. Quote Selected
88 (turbo) thunderbird has low power Reply #13 – September 01, 2007, 06:38:14 PM When the engine is running, do you feel exhaust flowing through the crack? Quote Selected
yes Reply #14 – September 01, 2007, 08:48:40 PM The exhaust is visible ona cold day... but its not a ton, just visible. It makes sense, the crack is right before the turbo. How much will replacement be? Approx? Good to hear i can get at it w/o removign the block.... Quote Selected
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