83 Cutlass w/ 3.8L carbed turbo - take II

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techg8

Master Mechanic
Feb 29, 2012
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I scored a complete 1978 Buick 3.8L carbed turbo engine for $100 awhile back, and I have started the process of rebuilding it.

I am going to drop it in my 83 Cutlass and see what kind of performance I can tune out of it.

About two years ago I did the same thing but with a 1967 ODDFIRE engine (out of a CJ5 I think) that had a carb turbo setup on it. I did not like the oddfire's vibration, and it sounded like a Jeep so I didnt go too far with it before moving on to an Olds 307.

Anhow I am back at it with a carbed Turbo 231.
I have done a little head porting and will be adding an Edelbrock camshaft to the re-ringed engine. Get it running and then start playing with it.

I will post pics as things progress....
 

techg8

Master Mechanic
Feb 29, 2012
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I got the engine cleaned up and honed, installed new bearings and gaskets, and gave it a shot or three of GM Corporate Blue.

New Edelbrock cam, lifters, Comp pushrods, springs, retainers and keepers. New timing set.
 

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techg8

Master Mechanic
Feb 29, 2012
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more progress. Now I need to remove the 350 from the cutlass and drop in the turbo6 before adding all the sensors, the turbo, etc....
 

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81cutlass

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Feb 16, 2009
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Sweet, and its not a BORING SBC or over done LS.

I have a warmed over 80 drawthrough setup in my cutlass with a cam, ported heads, 84/85 GN headers and a custom down pipe. Its wastegated to 8PSI and regularly goes to 13. Only bad thing about them is they are laggy with the heavy air fuel mixture getting thrown into the turbo and the crappy intake. If I ever got the 200r4 and a stall for it it would be more than fun enough, and still pull 20+mpg.

Do you still have the timing/knock retard setup?
 

techg8

Master Mechanic
Feb 29, 2012
475
342
63
81cutlass said:
Sweet, and its not a BORING SBC or over done LS.

I have a warmed over 80 drawthrough setup in my cutlass with a cam, ported heads, 84/85 GN headers and a custom down pipe. Its wastegated to 8PSI and regularly goes to 13. Only bad thing about them is they are laggy with the heavy air fuel mixture getting thrown into the turbo and the crappy intake. If I ever got the 200r4 and a stall for it it would be more than fun enough, and still pull 20+mpg.

Do you still have the timing/knock retard setup?

Yes actually the engine I bought was very complete. Whoever removed it knew all the pieces to keep. Even cut out and kept all the little vacuum tees.

Over time I have collected pieces at swaps and here and there....I looked thru the pile o parts I have and found I have three turbo control centers - pic attached. I dont know if aany of them work, but lets hope for at least 1.



Since mine is the low port head of 1978, my exhaust manifold/header options are limited. In fact my 78 drivers manifold was cracked so I had to weld and port match a drivers manifold from a 1983 231 V6.



I am looking forward to the improved gas mileage and tinkering with the setup for performance.
 

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techg8

Master Mechanic
Feb 29, 2012
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I really dont care about the hp/tq numbers. I also dont really know what to expect out of this carbed turbo6. I am doing the project for the fun and the experience.

That said, I would like to see 1/4 mile times in the 15s if I could with some tuning.
 

techg8

Master Mechanic
Feb 29, 2012
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I got the Buick 350 removed yesterday from the Cutlass.

I need to cut the frame pads off the cradle - they are welded in place - but then it should be relatively ez to get the 6cyl in place. Thats what was originally in this car.

will advise
 

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techg8

Master Mechanic
Feb 29, 2012
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Turbo 6 is in place,

ran into the first real snafu - I dont have a set of pulleys for this engine....anyone have a set they want to get rid of?
 

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