ForcedTorque's Slick/Quick Build

[ForcedTorque]

No problem George! I didn't want that car to go to scrap, and you didn't deserve what happened to you. It being a 3E5 89, just like yours, made it that much easier.

BTW........Video now has a little music

 

[ForcedTorque]

This will be a very somber post!

First, the last time I drove the car, it had a coolant leak somewhere behind the turbo. I can see it shooting a stream very near where the IC pipe going to the turbo. I new several days ago that I'd have to get under it to see where it came from. The weather has kept me away from it until today. I finally got it jacked back up, and got under it. I see exactly the same thing from under it as I did from above, just from a different angle. I see that coupler at the turbo and a stream of water.

This lead me to tearing out IC pipes, AFM, and such. Once I got the intake off of the turbo, I instinctively checked my turbo for shaft play. Well here is where I haven't posted everything. While chasing this leak, I have been hearing a very disturbing clank if I should rev the motor. It scared the hell out of me, but wasn't rod knock. I now know what it is. I found my compressor wheel just dangling. My finger bumper the nut holding it on, and it fell off in my hand. I put it back on, and got it hand tight. It still has some play, but not like it was. A quick look at the fins didn't show me any damage, I cam my disgusted ass in here to post this. Now I have a broke turbo, and a leak. This car may never get back on the road.

To top this off, it looks entirely like my leak could be shooting out of the head. I can't think of but one more place it could be coming from, and thought I had it ruled out. I can't see the bottom side of the flange where the metal coolant lines bolt to the turbo.


AND......My nephew, who spent the weekend in my damn house was diagnosed with the swine flu yesterday. I have absolutely no energy, and have slept most of this day away. Jacking the car up was all I could do. I came back in an hour or so to crank the car. I've got a headache, body aches, and no energy. Hopefully I don't have the flu. I'm not in too bad of shape, just tired really bad.

 

[buckshotglass]

Wow shitty news. Hopefully it turns out to be something simple.

 

[gtsfirefighter]

Damn Scott, when it rains it pours. I can't imagine your problem being anything with the head but who knows. Maybe it's leaking from the turbo coolant lines. Don't assume the worst yet. As for the turbo, can you fix it or is it toast? You can probably pick up a stock CT26 in good shape really cheap somewhere.

Now if you get a fever you better get to the doc asap so they can swab you and get you on some anti virals quick. Now I'm not one to succumb to the swine flu hysteria, but having any flu sucks serious balls and can be dangerous.

 

[ForcedTorque]

I am feeling a good bit better this morning so far.

As for the turbo, it may be fixable, but not by me probably. If I did it, I'd always worry about it coming back apart. It definitely could be coming from the coolant lines. The spray is coming at a weird angle for the head. My hardlines are Jdub coated, so I guess there could be a pinhole from the process. I think I'll get started pulling the turbo this morning, and I can check those out from there. I'm not sure you can change them with the turbo in place anyway. The turbo will need to come off anyway. I'd be scared of balance issues if I could fix it, so I'll tighten it up, and take it to someone locally to see if they can be sure it's balanced.

 

[jugodegolf]

Glad your feeling better, bummer about the turbo.

 

[ForcedTorque]

OK, things have changed a good bit for the better. It hit me in my sleep where else that coolant could be coming from, and it motivated me to get the turbo off of the car. It hit me that it could be coming from the water pipe wrapping around the block. So, after getting my daughter on the bus and taking my morning walk, i got right on trying to get the turbo pulled. It took 4 tries, as every time I went out, rain would start pouring within getting a bolt or nut off. Once, I put on my shoes, and before I could get out of the chair, it started again.

I finally just got the turbo off and out of the way. I poured straight water into the radiator, and just as I thought, it started spraying off of the side of the motor. In no time, I found that it is coming from the water pipe, just behind where the turbo was. Anybody ever changed that pipe on the car????????????? i think I have 2-3 different styles around here.

As for the turbo, it is not in such great shape. Video forthcoming, after I shower. Both compressor and exhaust wheels do a good bit of wobbling. I don't know if tightening it up will help it, or if I should have the balance checked by someone. I have worked out a deal to get a good condition stock turbo on Sunday. I am delivering my sideskirts to somewhere just north of Jay, and have a cash/turbo deal worked out. It will be either good insurance, or more likely a temporary replacement for a little while.

 

[Justin727]

yes with the head off. I had the same problem once. The pipe seperated from the flange at the water pump housing. Cut it off between the bend on the flange, unbolted the flange, took it and the pipe and brazed them together. Went to a diesel shop or marine shop got some of that high pressure hose with the coil made inside of the rubber itself.
bolted it back on and use the pressure hose of course between the cuts and held up just fine.

Anyhow take a pic of where exactly the leak is good sir.

 

[ForcedTorque]

Here is a video of the leak. Lighting is not very good at all, but you can see the spray if you try at the beginning. It is just below the exhaust manifold. I can't see the pipe, but I can reach down there and stop the flow. It feels like the pipe has some sort of collar on it, maybe for a bolt hole. The leak is somewhere in the seam of that. Tomorrow, I will get the manifold off, and at least make a plan od action on it. I can definitely see me cutting as Justin had said. I don't want to be pulling the intake manifold too. But, we'll see!

http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p87/forcedtorque/?action=view&current=MOV04405.flv

 

[Justin727]

couldnt really see it there.. Take off the exhaust manifold can see it plain as day with it off.

I suspect could possibly be where one of the tabs that bolt it to the block, could be leaking. The weld broke exposing a hole or rust ate thru it causing it to waste away slowly over the years.

I actually had mine during my build cleaned and treated then coated to prevent future mishaps.

 

[ForcedTorque]

Well, I made the 610 mile round trip to Dogdrake's house to deliver my Bomex sideskirts. In trade, I got a low mileage turbo with a polished compressor housing, a ported/polished elbow and a 3" flange with flex that he had needed the back section off of, a shiney intake manifold, a short shifter, and a turbo shaft to repair my other turbo with. I also bought a HKS Oil Pressure Gauge from him as well.

Chuck is a great guy. He also helped out on a couple of problems with the Trailblazer. He put a stepper motor in my oil pressure gauge that was messed up. He also allowed me to learn the process as he went along, in case I wanted to try to make some money doing it myself. Then he hooked a computer to it, and cleared the code that was present due to some emissions problem. It pointed us to a sensor that was not plugged in completely. We cranked the truck and let it run for a good while with no idiot light, but it did actually come back on before I got back home. He told me if it came back that it was probably a common problem with the fuel filler neck as it meets the tank. His wife also has a TB, and he has already crossed that bridge in theirs.

And, he looked at my turbo, and confirmed what I suspected after making a video of the bad turbo. I have a broken shaft in it. That is why he threw in a shaft.

I'll take pictures of all of the bling tomorrow.

 

[ForcedTorque]

I finally had time, at the same time that rain was stopped today to get started on my coolant pipe swap. I first removed the turbo manifold. Then, I added some water to finally locate the source of the leak for sure, and make a clear video. That's when the diagnosis changed!!!! I will now be seeking information on replacing freeze plugs. I have a stream of water shooting straight out of a freeze plug on one side, and a weak plug on the other side. So, I guess I will be replacing them all. Anybody with any help, please feel free to pass it along! Can it be done with the motor in the car? (PLEASE say Yes)



AND........Here is the promised picture of all of the new goods.

 

[Justin727]

yes it can. I've seen it done many ways.

 

[ForcedTorque]

I think I'm going to go to youtube to see it done in as many ways as possible. Go to Toyota for replacements?

 

[ForcedTorque]

Here's an update!

I decided after looking at all of the freeze plugs, that i would only do the bad one and the other suspected one. It looked like someone had done a partial job on them, as these two were the only two with a spec of rust on them. I ordered 2 new ones from Toyota and got them installed just now. I have also started putting things back together on the turbo side. It is now ready for the turbo, but the turbo is not quite ready to go on. I have to get my JDub parts (oil/water lines) and new ported elbow installed to it before putting the turbo on. I have to get cleaned up now for a doctors appointment, so maybe that side of the motor will get finished up before the sun goes down. My goal is to be driving it by Sunday evening. Hopefully all will be well this time around.

Also, I got my new HKS oil pressure gauge line mounted to the block and run inside the car. Now I just need to run a power and ground to it.

 

[jugodegolf]

Sounds good Scott. I hadn't heard back as to when paint will be done.

 

[ForcedTorque]

The motor is all put back together, and with any luck everything will be back together and running tomorrow. It is holding coolant in the non running state for now. I just need to put the Intercooler piping all back on. I'm going to modify the pipe that rides so close to the wheel before it goes on. Then, I just need to hook up the exhaust and AFM/Accordian. I didn't touch it today, as I went to the Cruise'n the Coast event in Mississippi. Maybe it will be better on the weekend, but it sucked for today. Very few cars, and rain left me with no pictures to show. Rain has dominated our forecast for the last week, but I did get most of the motor together yesterday. Hopefully it will hold off for the little bit remaining tomorrow. And, hopefully the freeze plugs will hold with the car running once I can crank it. No leaking over night wil it completely full while not running.

 

[jugodegolf]

Was much better today. Had to drive to Biloxi. Sunny and tons of cruisers.

Shouldn't be long till she's finished Scott.

 

[Justin727]

Scott better get a move on man ya need to head out here asap!

George that VBC fix your titan?

 

[ForcedTorque]

Not long at all George! I just got back from a trip around the block in it. The first half was a spit'nsputterin, backfiring mess, until it died. It acted as if it had blown off an IC hose. I got out and checked all of the loosely fit piping, and figited with a few other things. I talked with 3 different neighbors, and finally tried it again. I don't know what did it, but it ran like a champ from there.

I still have yet to figure out why the fuel pump starts pumping as soon as I connect the battery. I added a ground wire from the block to the frame during this round of work. That didn't help at all. This also causes the ECU to never have time to learn idle, so perfect running, it is still not.