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Author Topic: Taking the turbo plunge!  (Read 64060 times)

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Offline dianne

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #60 on: February 23, 2015, 12:46:37 PM »
your getting there, I sent you a PM on the steps to install the engine and trans, you will be so happy when it is done , later Blaine :o

Thanks and I'm printing this out for it :)
Vehicles:

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FORD: Federal Ownership Respectfully Denied

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #61 on: March 09, 2015, 01:05:13 PM »
I've been slacking pretty hard lately(not feeling so well). But I have been doing some small stuff here and there, as meds allow. I have most of the wiring and clutter moved under the dash now. Battery is trunk mounted. No more wire bundle zip tied across the firewall. Starter relay, voltage regulator, coil and ign. module all under the dash, but still accessible. I'm trying to decide what to do with wiper fluid tank. I want to keep one, but not see it under the hood. Decided to delete that ugly firewall seem, while I'm in there replacing the fender well, where the battery used to live. Moving slow, but still moving...
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #62 on: March 09, 2015, 11:22:28 PM »
I had to ditch the washer reservoir altogether to make room for the relocated battery because I didn't want a battery sharing cabin space with me. It might have been different if I had a sedan, but at the time it was going to be my primary transportation .
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline Srt

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #63 on: March 10, 2015, 02:42:01 AM »
Put the reservoir inside the front wheel well
the only substitute for cubic inches is BOOST!!!

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #64 on: March 10, 2015, 01:59:49 PM »
Yes, if you still have your donor car (and the earlier cars are the same as the '88) the Turbo Coupe washer fits in the wheel well with a half circle cut. Here are a couple of pictures. They don't highlight the washer tank per-say, but if you look for it, you can see how I have it positioned as it regards placement in the engine bay.

 Note also that the battery tray is from the Turbo Coupe with very minor alterations.  There are two extended "nubs" on the bottom of the tray.  I just slide a piece of PVC (I think 1") over one of the nubs and have the lower end resting on the frame rail.  This aids in support of the battery.  I have a home made alternator bracket and I'm not sure this tray location works for alternator clearance and a stock mount. As can be seen in the second picture the alternator is as tight as can be to the engine. Thus, the reason I made the mount "to fit."


Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #65 on: March 13, 2015, 11:51:24 PM »
I never remember to take any pics when I'm working, but luckily a friend was there yesterday and got a couple pics of the battery relocation and de-cluttering of the engine bay.



My hand fabbed battery tray and hold down, and the trunk bomb!





My ocd is at rest for now. But I'm pulling out the motor and trans. as soon as I feel up to it. And cutting some sheet metal up in there, while the bay is empty.
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #66 on: March 14, 2015, 12:44:33 PM »
I'll try to get some more pics of the under dash work, either when my friend returns, or when my ribs heal up a little. Got real personal with the e-brake lever to work up in there, but with the pain killers, I didn't notice I was damaging myself.
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #67 on: March 18, 2015, 08:57:07 AM »
My turbo heads will be ready for pick up today, allegedly. So far behind on this already. I though I'd be turbo-ing all over the place by now! I don't even have the n/a pulled out yet. Won't pull it till I get the other motor ready, as it's my grocery getter.
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #68 on: March 19, 2015, 10:57:06 PM »
A few pics of the under dash.







And the final routing of the engine bay wires.



1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #69 on: March 19, 2015, 11:09:30 PM »
And a better one of my battery tray.

1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #70 on: March 20, 2015, 10:20:53 AM »
You left out the center dash support!!!  Why... that is there to keep the engine and transmission away from the fireball in a simultaneous front/rear collision. LOL

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #71 on: March 20, 2015, 11:03:57 AM »
You left out the center dash support!!!  Why... that is there to keep the engine and transmission away from the fireball in a simultaneous front/rear collision. LOL

I'll duck tape a siracha sauce bottle in there for support. Those bottles have to be fire proof.
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #72 on: April 02, 2015, 12:08:07 AM »





Here's the siracha bottle and duct tape. Should hold, and make more real estate for gauges.
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #73 on: April 02, 2015, 01:34:50 AM »
Oh, no! You have now made the support too strong. Now vibration and torsional twist tear the dash, or trans tunnel (or both) out!!!  LOL

Offline dick1172762

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #74 on: April 02, 2015, 08:08:13 AM »
If that is an oil cooled coil, you should never lay one on its side. Look at all the cars that use that type of coil and you will see they are mounted vertically. Use the Ford E-core coil to get a much better coil and you can mount it any which way you want. Dirt cheap in the junk yards.
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Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #75 on: April 02, 2015, 09:15:55 AM »
Hmm... I've never had any problems from mounting a coil sideways. What is the issue?
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline dick1172762

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #76 on: April 02, 2015, 09:33:18 AM »
Story is that an oil cooled coil will over heat if layed / mounted on its side. Never seen a factory mount one on its side. E-core coil is so much better that all the mini stock racer use them 100%. Dirt cheap on e-bay and junk yards. MSD's how to book talks about this too. Coils are used on all the fords of the 90's. 4 cylinders coils are the same as 460. No difference.
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Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #77 on: April 02, 2015, 09:48:22 AM »
Story is that an oil cooled coil will over heat if layed / mounted on its side. Never seen a factory mount one on its side. E-core coil is so much better that all the mini stock racer use them 100%. Dirt cheap on e-bay and junk yards. MSD's how to book talks about this too. Coils are used on all the fords of the 90's. 4 cylinders coils are the same as 460. No difference.

I'm not sure if the one in there is oil cooled, never checked. It's a pertronix flame thrower, or some such thing, so I can look that up. What is used for cooling in an e-core? And is there a way to identify one at the yard?
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #78 on: April 02, 2015, 10:03:20 AM »
A lot of the Ford big block engines (390 that I know of) came from the factory with the coil mounted sideways.  That said, they may have been built to certian specification to have done so. The concern regarding sideways mounted coils is the oil is not properly contacting the internal windings and thus not disipating heat evenly/properly. As Dick mentioned the modern Ford coil is forgiving in that regard and plentiful as well.

If your coil is a Pertronics I think that contacting them would bring a confirming answer as to intended mounting positions.


Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #79 on: April 02, 2015, 10:07:40 AM »
"E-core" coils have epoxy-potted cores. While oil helps cooling in old-style coils, it is there more to act as an insulator. Epoxy coils have the iron pile eposed and don't need special cooling measures when driven as intended(usually an ECU or coil driver with dwell control like the original TFI module or a GM HEI).  The ones that Ford used with EFI are better known as TFI coils and are blockish in shape. I'm using the one that came out the '86 Thunderbird donor. Just be aware that they use a special plug with spade terminals, not posts like a regular coil.

On a side note, I have the oil-filled coil in my Mustang mounted on its side and the TFI coil in the Pinto mounted upright.... ???
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #80 on: April 02, 2015, 10:29:05 AM »
I learn something new every other week. I'll look for some the next time I make a yard run.
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #81 on: April 05, 2015, 01:11:52 PM »
Many Fox3 vehicles, especially Mustangs and T-Birds, have the coil hidden under a plastic cover on the driver-side inner fender...if the cover is still there.
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #82 on: May 02, 2015, 01:19:55 AM »
Well I have 2 blocks, 3 heads, 3 turbos and whole 87 turbo coupe donor that runs great! I think I'm ready to start the swap now. Will that disc brake rear end and radiator/fan setup from the tbird fit my 76?
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #83 on: May 02, 2015, 08:51:54 AM »
That 'Bird has upper and lower control arm rear suspension. You could cut all the brackets off and weld on spring perches, but the rear end will still be about 2" too wide on each side. However, something the '87-93 Mustang crowd would do (if I recall correctly) is use the Mustang axels and somehow flip the caliper brackets in order to use the TC rear under a narrower Mustang. FYI, your donor car will have 3.55 gears if it's a 5-speed and 3.73s if it's an automatic....a nd a Traction-Lok in either case.

The radiator is way too big and won't fit without major mods. The fans might have potential.
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #84 on: May 02, 2015, 09:02:41 AM »
That 'Bird has upper and lower control arm rear suspension. You could cut all the brackets off and weld on spring perches, but the rear end will still be about 2" too wide on each side. However, something the '87-93 Mustang crowd would do (if I recall correctly) is use the Mustang axels and somehow flip the caliper brackets in order to use the TC rear under a narrower Mustang. FYI, your donor car will have 3.55 gears if it's a 5-speed and 3.73s if it's an automatic....a nd a Traction-Lok in either case.

The radiator is way too big and won't fit without major mods. The fans might have potential.

It's a 5sp. I thought the rad looked too wide, but I haven't had the time to check all that out yet. I'll stick to my current 8" and do a disc conversion later. Maybe I can re-coupe (get it?!) some money, by selling that one. Is there any info out there on the harness mods to run it in the pinto? 
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #85 on: May 02, 2015, 01:38:11 PM »
Is there any info out there on the harness mods to run it in the pinto?

The info is pretty much "use something else."

Ford apparently made the '87-88 Turbo Coupe harnesses into one big integrated part that carries wiring for a lot of other non-engine systems. Wittsend has an opinion on using one in a Pinto as I recall.  ;)

I used the ECU harness from my '86 donor car and it was still a major project paring it down to the bits I needed. It may have been less work to keep the emissions-related stuff had I used a stock ECU.
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #86 on: May 02, 2015, 02:03:57 PM »
Ford apparently made the '87-88 Turbo Coupe harnesses into one big integrated part that carries wiring for a lot of other non-engine systems. Wittsend has an opinion on using one in a Pinto as I recall.  ;)

For sure on that. After I pared everything down that seemed non-essential I still had about 20 "not sure" wires. And that pared down took days.  I'll included a shot of the harness as it relates to the dash. Now to be fair I opted to used the T/C steering column/fuse box etc. - but still.  Basically I wanted the engine management free and clear of the stock Pinto wiring.  Thought I'd avoid problems that way. LOL  NOW..., I'm inclined to think I'd have been better off leaving 6" at the end of each connector and just soldering wires as needed.  Live and learn.

The radiator I'm 99% sure is too big.  I did bump my '73 17" to 20" but I assume you already have the 20".

As far as the rear end, I have the inverse. To have the T/C carcass hauled away I welded the Pinto 6-3/3" rear. So, you can somewhat visualize the difference.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #87 on: May 02, 2015, 11:33:28 PM »
I took the tbird out for another ride. Man, that thing is pretty quick, for a boat! I did a bunch of staring and smoking today. I think I got the harness situation mostly figured out. I got to start today by replacing the fuel pump relay. I'm going to do the mods in the tbird to make it easier to just swap over. I did notice a hydraulic clutch though, that's going to take some more staring and smoking. And are you guys running thru the existing fuel lines and just clamping flexie efi lines off them, or flaring them out for compression fittings? Or?

Here's a couple pics of my donor.





1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.

Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #88 on: May 03, 2015, 12:34:52 AM »
If you think the 'Bird is quick as it is, try that driveline in a car that's 800-1000lbs lighter.

And are you guys running thru the existing fuel lines and just clamping flexie efi lines off them, or flaring them out for compression fittings? Or?

I'm using the stock steel lines with some mods, but there are numerous options for plumbing the fuel.
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline 76hotrodpinto

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Re: Taking the turbo plunge!
« Reply #89 on: May 03, 2015, 12:58:37 AM »
I wasn't able to stuff myself to far under it yet, so I'm not certain the trans has a mechanical speedo output, or electrical. Anyone able to say with certainty, one way or the other? My understanding is that's only on the world class t5, this should have the non-world class t5... right?
1976 half hatch 2.3 turbo w/t5.