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A.J.
07-16-2009, 09:00 PM
My parents moved here from NH and need a second car. So why not a turbo car. We're the 3rd owners. The original gave it to their son, he drove it then parked it for four years. Now we have it. The engine smokes so I'm going to swap in an '88 T-I I have. Then my Dad and I are going to "freshen up" the motor thats in it. I'm going to leave the '88 and up T-I one piece intake on it and the probably the Mitsubishi turbo. I think the Garret is too laggy with an automatic. I also have a Shelby T-II rad/i.c. setup I'm going to throw into it. That's for starters. I'll update as I go.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0535.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0536.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0539.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0537.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0538.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0540.jpg
A.J.

blk86trbo
07-16-2009, 09:13 PM
Excellent wagon AJ, tons of potential!

skitzo_inc
07-16-2009, 10:08 PM
Sweet deal! I'm sure you're parents will love it!

A.J.
07-17-2009, 12:10 AM
Sweet deal! I'm sure you're parents will love it!

Ya, my Mom just wants a beater car, but my Dad wants something with power. One of the things I do will be the boost selector switch on the shifter column like I did in my van.

A.J.

turbokid
07-17-2009, 12:58 AM
Thats awesome!
Woody wagons FTW!

Dodge Aries K
07-17-2009, 02:13 AM
Jesus that interior is NASTY! I'll keep my eyes open for those (or other K cars) in the local yard for some better seats for ya.

Otherwise, rust free turbo K car... that's cool.

Badger
07-17-2009, 03:07 AM
awsome! have you thought about what wheels your gonna use?

85dytna
07-17-2009, 08:21 AM
I'm sure you'll make that a sweet ride A.J. Can't wait to see what things you'll come up with while you fix her up.

Glad to hear your folks joined you in AZ. They were smart to leave the winter tundra behind.

skitzo_inc
07-17-2009, 09:32 AM
Ya, my Mom just wants a beater car, but my Dad wants something with power. One of the things I do will be the boost selector switch on the shifter column like I did in my van.

A.J.

You can easily make this both. The boost selector switch was awesome on your van, I'm sure he will enjoy that.
You gonna build it up as much as your van? Or just build it so so?

neongary
07-17-2009, 10:03 AM
Going to keep the woodgrain? It adds character for sure!

A.J.
07-17-2009, 10:51 AM
You gonna build it up as much as your van? Or just build it so so?

It depends on how much money they want to spend. I'm not doing a fmic like mine, the stock T-II will be fine, and most of those parts I have.


Going to keep the woodgrain? It adds character for sure!

Ya, we don't want to spend money on paint. And my Mom said, "If someone opens their door into my car, I want to be able to open my door into their car and not car about it."

A.J.

bradp
07-17-2009, 12:28 PM
I like wagons.

Vigo
07-17-2009, 05:25 PM
Nice exterior, terrible seats.

Overall, awesome starting point :)

skitzo_inc
07-17-2009, 05:44 PM
Yes, the interior could use some magic cleaning.

A.J.
07-22-2009, 11:43 PM
I had plans to go to the j/y the other day to get parts for this thing and it F'ing rained. It hasn't rained all year. I didn't book any appointments so I put a p/s rack in.

I hadn't planned on dropping the k member but it was so dirty and I had the time so I did.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0552.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0553.jpg

Dirty
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0555.jpg

Clean
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0557.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0556.jpg

A.J.

turbokid
07-23-2009, 12:06 AM
Wow it looks HELLA better then before.
Keep up the good work =)

Badger
07-23-2009, 02:12 AM
wow.......good job!

neongary
07-23-2009, 10:51 AM
Interesting...you don't see the rack boot protector shields too often.

Vigo
07-23-2009, 12:17 PM
heh yes a rare breed indeed.

Man when i cleaned my van k-frame the junk was on so thick it came off in 1/4 thick flakes.

A.J.
07-31-2009, 09:49 PM
I got the engine swapped in today. This engine came out of my old '88 Daytona, got swapped into another Daytona, then got swapped into my '88 mini-van, and is now in this '85 T & C wagon. My Dad and I got it done in two days. I call him "second shift" because he doesn't show up at the shop until eleven. I went to start it and the f***ing injector were leaking. Not the o-rings, the injectors. So I got another set I'm going to put in tomorrow. When I get more time I'll write up a list of things I kept and things I had to change to make this '88 T-I Mitsubishi turbo engine work in an '85 T-I Garret turbo car.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0578.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0579.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0580.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0581.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0592.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0593.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0597.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0598.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0599.jpg

I the cruise control is in the way of the intercooler. I'll fix that later.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0600.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0601.jpg

A.J.

monkeyhead
07-31-2009, 10:13 PM
sweet man, that'll be cool cruiser.

A.J.
08-01-2009, 08:49 PM
After swapping out the injectors I got it running today. It runs pretty good even though I don't have the idle air control motor hooked up. The '85 T-I is a 2 wire and huge and the '88 T-1 is a 4 wire and small. They're incompatible. So I set the idle screw to 950 rpms and when I shift into drive it drops to 750.

Things I changed:
>Downpipe. The '85 Garrett won't bolt up to the Mits. The Mits is wider.
>TPS. They're different. I had a pig tail and just put spade ends on the wires and plugged into the original harness.
>Transmissions. The '88 engine is a 8 bolt crank and a 4 bolt torque converter. The '85 is a six bolt crank and a three bolt torque converter. The '85 transmission wasn't original, it had junkyard markings on it. My Dad want's a race car and I didn't know if the trans was a turbo trans so I went with the one I knew was. Otherwise I would have drilled new holes in the '88 flywheel.

Things that I didn't have to change but people might be curious about:
>CV axles. This one had equal lenth and large splines. It worked with my '88 trans. I'm not sure if they're original because the trans is not.
>Distributor. I used the '85. Same drive gear and same size hole.

A.J.

skitzo_inc
08-02-2009, 05:01 PM
Cool build! I know your dad will enjoy it.
Videos of it racing the mini!

Vigo
08-03-2009, 10:58 PM
Videos of it racing the mini!
__________________

indeed!!

FYI anyone trying to hook an old downpipe to a mitsu.. I just took bolt cutters and snipped straight in from the outside so now instead of holes it has slots going all the way out.. Thats whats on the aries right now, even thought its back to garrett.

roachjuice
08-03-2009, 11:14 PM
pimp!!!! sweet wagon!! i want one!

A.J.
08-05-2009, 09:27 PM
REAR DISC BRAKE CONVERSION AND 4 LUG TO 5 LUG SWAP

My Dad asked if we could swap in rear disc brakes. I had some in my shed so we did it. But they are 5 lug and the car is 4. So we had to convert the front. I also had those in my shed. The '85 front caliper brackets bolted onto the '88 Daytona spindles so I kept the '85 brakes.

Rear:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0609.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0608.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0616.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0615.jpg

Front:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0617.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0618.jpg

I also swapped the one wire O2 to a three wire O2. All I had to do was wire the ground and 12 ignition on power. The ground went to the intake and the power went to the ASD relay ignition power which is the hot side of the fuel injectors. That's the way Chrysler did it in later years so it was good enough for me.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0605.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0607.jpg

I also figured out what I'm going to do to kick up the idle when the a/c is on. More on that later.

A.J.

butchsuppe
08-06-2009, 12:05 AM
That project must be a whole lot of fun with that heat wave you guy are having there. Thats one nice ride you're building.:nod:

A.J.
08-06-2009, 12:44 AM
That project must be a whole lot of fun with that heat wave you guy are having there. Thats one nice ride you're building.:nod:

It's not to bad, I'm use to it. I have one evaporative cooler that blows cool but only if your right in front of it. So when we're both working it's tough to divide it up.

Oh and I'm riding my bicycle to work for exercise. It's 95 on my way to work at 8 and 114 when I head home a 5.

A.J.

skitzo_inc
08-06-2009, 01:49 PM
:thumb:

Coming along great, A.J.! If/When I ever back down there I want to see this thing in person!

WickedShelby88
08-06-2009, 03:25 PM
Looking great A.J. Nice to see an old wagon get a little bit of love breathed back into it.

A.J.
08-06-2009, 09:03 PM
I took some pictures with the new rims and tires on it today.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0625.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0628.jpg

A.J.

blk86trbo
08-06-2009, 09:35 PM
Keep up the good work...I like it!

A.J.
08-17-2009, 09:02 PM
I ran into a problem. I figured I could run a later T-I engine in an early T-I car. I knew I couldn't use the early 2 wire i.a.c. on the later 4 wire i.a.c. I figured I could use an "idle up" solenoid for the a/c and be done and I could tune the LM for anything else. Nope. The '85 LM isn't worth tuning and it idles like crap because I'm getting too much fuel at start up. After it warms up it's okay. I said to myself when we bought this car that I am not rewiring this for a SMEC. I doubt I'd be able to even find a wiring harness for it let alone running it in the car. F that. But I didn't tell myself I couldn't build a 6" adaptor harness to run the SMEC in a LM/PM car. It took me a couple of days pouring over schematics but I pulled it off. I only had to run 3 new wires. Z1 voltage and 2 wires for the i.a.c. motor. Other than that I used what was in the car. And if I had to I could put the old PM/LM setup back in. I had to use the SMEC logic module portion of the computer in the car. The SMEC power module portion in the engine compartment. Wire in an ASD relay because in '85 it was in the PM. And use the later T-1 distributor. I plan on doing a write-up for this in the Knowledge Center and I'll get into more detail in there.

Logic Module to SMEC logic module adaptor harness.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0641.jpg

Installed
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0655.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0657.jpg

Power Module to SMEC power module adaptor harness with ASD relay.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0649.jpg

SMEC with LM removed
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0650.jpg

Installed
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0652.jpg

Everything is just thrown together. I'll clean things up eventually. I was just stoked to make this all work and now it runs top notch, cold or warm.

EDIT: Write-up is here: http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41973

A.J.

trbowgn
08-17-2009, 09:19 PM
Awsome build up AJ.
When you did the rear disk did you have to change your brake lines or master cylinder?
I want to do this same swap on my 86 and was wondering what else was needed.

85dytna
08-17-2009, 09:20 PM
Really nice work on the electronics, A.J.:thumb:

Never would have thought early T1 to later T1 would have an issue-thanks for doing all of the hard work of sorting the mess out for the rest of us if we ever want to do it!

blk86trbo
08-17-2009, 09:25 PM
Holy cow...I really respect you guys that can do this stuff...great job!

A.J.
08-17-2009, 09:28 PM
Awsome build up AJ.
When you did the rear disk did you have to change your brake lines or master cylinder?
I want to do this same swap on my 86 and was wondering what else was needed.

You have to change the proportioning valve. I changed the master because I grabbed it with the p-valve. You use the same brake lines. If your not from snow country and they are more metal than rust you can just bend them to the new position you need.


Really nice work on the electronics, A.J.:thumb:

Never would have thought early T1 to later T1 would have an issue-thanks for doing all of the hard work of sorting the mess out for the rest of us if we ever want to do it!

This way is going to be a lot easier now that these cars are drying up in the junk yards.

A.J.

Vigo
08-18-2009, 07:58 PM
Great work on the SMEC conversion. Thats actually something i may consider for myself now!

Keep up the good work!

A.J.
08-19-2009, 09:07 PM
I made a pipe for the blow off valve hose. My parents don't need anything fancy so the stock "in the air box" b.o.v. will be fine.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0658.jpg

I had to relocate the hood louver drip pan drain. It was hitting the taller later T-I intake.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0672.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0673-2.jpg

After
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0675-2.jpg

We also put struts in today. I upgraded them to '89 Lebaron struts. The strut caps needed replacing on the '85s. I had a set off of an '89 with good caps so I went with those and saved some money and only had to replace the cartridge with KYB's. The assemblies are year specific. I had to swap entire thing.

A/C got upgraded also. I went with a compressor off of a '94 Shadow that came with R134a. I also had to replace the compressor mounting bracket and tensioner pulley because of the different design. I had to have a low side fitting added because I got the hoses off of an R12 system with the same style compressor. The R12's had the fitting on the compressor and the R134a's had it in the line.

It's now road ready. By Friday we'll get insurance and a temp plate to drive it. I'm going to drive it for a week before they get it to make sure everything is fine.

I got the write-up done for the LM/PM to SMEC swap done. It's waiting approval. I accidentally put it in the Turbo Mopar section instead of the Electrical section. So I hope the Mods correct that.

A.J.

trbowgn
08-19-2009, 10:04 PM
Wow A.J. you work quick. Keep it coming and +1 on the video if it racing the van

A.J.
08-19-2009, 10:50 PM
Wow A.J. you work quick. Keep it coming and +1 on the video if it racing the van

It's slow at the shop so I have plenty of time to work on this. I'm self employed so I don't have to ask permission or have someone else managing my time.

A.J.

Vigo
08-20-2009, 09:01 PM
I'm self employed so I don't have to ask permission or have someone else managing my time.

Self-employed mechanics have all the coolest projects;):nod:

I actually have an 85 log t1 new yorker that my brother is waiting for, itll get some of the same stuff you have just done to this car.

Ive also used and taken interest in several of your van mods for my own 90 short van. Id even schemed a bit on the toolbox ramp situation since i have a similar size box and do the same thing with it in my van occasionally.

And in fact, after reading so many of your posts, i recently saw a thread posing an easy question, but since i saw you were the last reply, i didnt even bother looking cuz i figured you had it covered.

So i believe that's.. 4 thumbs up:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb: and keep up the good work!

A.J.
08-20-2009, 09:13 PM
Self-employed mechanics have all the coolest projects;):nod:

Not necessarily. My career is also my hobby. That's why I have the coolest projects. :thumb:



And in fact, after reading so many of your posts, i recently saw a thread posing an easy question, but since i saw you were the last reply, i didnt even bother looking cuz i figured you had it covered.


You can always ask questions, easy or not. You should have heard some of the questions I got from Paul (skitzo inc) when he lived here.

Thanks for the positive feedback.

If you use my toolbox/winch mod you have to pay me royalties. It's copyrighted. PM for my home address so you know where to send the check. ;)

A.J.

Vigo
08-21-2009, 09:00 AM
Nah i'll just stick to my board-ramps and lots of hard labor! Ask anyone who's worked around me and you'll hear i like to do things in whatever way requires 'HE-MANning it'. <i actually use that term.

Dont be surprised to see me pushing my box up those ramps while yelling I HAVE THE POOOWWEEERRRR!!!!
http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/files/2009/06/he-man.jpg



Not necessarily. My career is also my hobby. That's why I have the coolest projects.

Way to torpedo my efforts at kinship! but i do technically agree with your point.

A.J.
08-22-2009, 08:05 PM
I got to drive it. Three pounds of boost sucks. I have the manifold vacuum going straight to the wastegate, for now. I had a boost gauge teed into the MAP sensor line inside the car. It started throwing a code 13. I may have to move the MAP to the engine compartment where it was designed to be with the SMEC. It was also smoking out the tail pipe a little. I think it was left over from the smoking problem from the other engine. I took it on the highway and it seems to be better now. It's a nice little car.

A.J.

A.J.
08-24-2009, 08:36 PM
It passed emissions today. I was worried about the cat with the oil burning problem with the other engine.

A.J.

A.J.
08-30-2009, 10:23 PM
They got the windows tinted.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0692.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0693.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0694.jpg

Also I disconnected the rear window defroster and hooked it up to the cooling fan like I did in my van. For those that missed it you can get an idea of what I did here: http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26523.

A.J.

trbowgn
08-31-2009, 09:26 AM
Looks good with tinted windows A.J.

turbokid
09-01-2009, 06:28 PM
Wow thats cool.
Keep up the good work.

A.J.
09-10-2009, 08:31 PM
I updated the instument cluster today. We didn't like the original one because it didn't have any gauges. Just a light for coolant temp. So we got one today, half off it was only $18.

The original one.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0724.jpg

The updated one out of an '87 Plymouth Reliant wagon.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0723.jpg

The adaptor harness I had to build.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0721.jpg

The plugs I had to adapt to. The thin blue one was for the message center. I left that one alone.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0722.jpg

The adaptor harness installed. I did have to run one wire for the coolant temp gauge. The original cluster had the oil pressure switch and the coolant temp going to one light. One the passenger side of the bulkhead connector, the temp wire was looped to the oil pressure switch wire, then ran to the cluster. All I had to do was cut the loop, then from the bulkhead run a wire up to the cluster.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0726.jpg

A.J.

Vigo
09-11-2009, 10:09 AM
good work. Funny that the coolant temp and oil pressure lead to one light.

its the BAD mmmmmK? light.

skitzo_inc
09-15-2009, 03:20 PM
Everything is coming along well! Looks great A.J.!
And those questions I asked...I'm learning. Cut me some slack! haha

A.J.
09-15-2009, 08:36 PM
Everything is coming along well! Looks great A.J.!
And those questions I asked...I'm learning. Cut me some slack! haha

I did cut you some slack, I didn't throw you out of my shop.

A.J.

A.J.
09-15-2009, 08:41 PM
We got some seats today. $45 for front and back, half off day. A bench seat sucks and there are a couple of cigarette burns but it's better than what was in there.

Before
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0732.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0731.jpg

After
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0737.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0736.jpg

I also installed an engine oil cooler with a sandwich adaptor. It was running hot on the highway. It was a lot easier than in my van. I only had to drill three holes and make one bracket.

Before
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0730.jpg

Sandwich adaptor
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0739.jpg

Routing
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0740.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0735.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0738.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0733.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0738.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0741.jpg

A.J.

Vigo
09-15-2009, 09:09 PM
what was the result of the oil cooler and where did you get the sandwich adapter? how uch for the adapter?

skitzo_inc
09-15-2009, 09:24 PM
I did cut you some slack, I didn't throw you out of my shop.

A.J.

Well...thank you for that, I guess.

Those seats look 1,000 times better! :thumb:

A.J.
09-15-2009, 09:55 PM
what was the result of the oil cooler and where did you get the sandwich adapter? how uch for the adapter?

The oil cooler I bought at Car Quest. Pictures of the part number and box can be seen here: http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21360. I think the adaptor was about $35.

I don't have hard evidence of what the results are. Today was a little cooler than the last time my Dad drove his 45 minute drive home. Also all we have in the car in an idiot gauge. He did say it didn't go as high as the last time but again, it also wasn't as hot. I can tell you that the oil cooler in my van (which is a little bigger than the one we put in the T & C) cooled my engine down 10* to 15* around town. I also went from 240* pulling the mountains with the a/c off to 230* with the a/c on pulling the same stretch of road with the same load (four people and our hunting gear).

A.J.

TurboII
09-15-2009, 10:03 PM
I can tell you that the oil cooler in my van (which is a little bigger than the one we put in the T & C) cooled my engine down 10* to 15* around town. I also went from 240* pulling the mountains with the a/c off to 230* with the a/c on pulling the same stretch of road with the same load (four people and our hunting gear).

A.J.

holy smokes are cars get that hot? is that normal?

A.J.
09-15-2009, 10:20 PM
holy smokes are cars get that hot? is that normal?

Only when your pulling a 6% grade for 10-15 miles.

A.J.

TurboII
09-15-2009, 10:56 PM
oo but still thats hot! what does your van run normally?

A.J.
09-15-2009, 11:01 PM
oo but still thats hot! what does your van run normally?

In the winter (ambient about 70*) between 180* and 190*. In the summer (ambient 110*) between 200* and 215*.

A.J.

jerseymike68
09-22-2009, 01:28 PM
useful sources here

A.J.
10-06-2009, 09:11 PM
I relocated the MAP sensor to the engine compartment today. It would occasionally throw a MAP sensor code. Plus I couldn't run a gauge off of the same vacuum line without it running like crap. So I ran three wires and that's done.

I tucked the computer today also. I put it behind the glove box. I barely had enough room to clear it. I used the black plastic cover the covers the connectors behind the factory LM. I had to trim a little off of it. I forgot to take a before picture. I didn't want to build a brace out of metal because if it ever rubbed through the packing goo, it'd short out. I drilled a couple of holes in the air box and used those plastic push pins that hold the inner wheel well in.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0751.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0752.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0756.jpg

A.J.

A.J.
12-14-2009, 09:33 PM
The transmission went out in the T&C. No third gear and no reverse when cold. The transmission has over 200,000 miles. I've owned it since 96,000 miles and it's been in four cars.

Now for the interesting part. The engine that's in it now is an '88 eight bolt crank. The engine that came with it was a six bolt crank and the torque converter for the transmission was a three bolt. BUT it had large spline axles that didn't come out until '87. The guy that sold us the car gave us a spare transmission. That trans had a four bolt TC ('86 and later) and small spline axle shafts ('86 and earlier). Nothing is making any sense here. So I took the original trans with the large axles and the three bolt TC and swapped in the four bolt TC and front pump. All is good now.

A.J.

turbokid
12-14-2009, 10:25 PM
Thats good.
Glad its still going

TopDollar69
12-14-2009, 10:42 PM
According to an old used car salesman I spoke with once many years ago, the easy thing to do was swap the pump-converter to make it work with the flywheel in the car. Then the only thing you had to worry about was the axles. So it's not surprising someone had swapped in a later transmission but just switched the pump to make it work.

A.J.
01-01-2010, 07:50 PM
I got my Dad a TU 3” exhaust for Christmas and installed it today. I’ve got two words for this job. F**K THAT! What a pain in the a**. Actually, it wasn't that bad once I worked out the quirks. Chris doesn’t make a 3” exhaust for the wagons. Chris suggested I try his G/P body exhaust. Because I’m relatively local I didn’t have to pay for shipping and if it didn’t work he said I could return it. He even made two trips to my shop to deliver it because he was out of mufflers but I needed the exhaust for Christmas day for my Dad to open.

The problem I ran into is the spare tire cavity in the ‘85 Town & Country wagon is wider than the G body. Therefore I needed and additional 45* bend to get the muffler to stick straight out the back. WELL EVERYBODY IS CLOSED TODAY. And Autozone has limited 3” exhaust stuff. So I had to make due with what I had and compromise. Instead of going out straight, it's angled at maybe 20* out the corner. It doesn’t look bad because you can barely see it but it would look like s**t for a 65 year old guy with a fat a$$ exhaust sticking out the corner like he’s a f**kin’ teenager with a fart can muffler.

Performance wise, THIS EXHAUST F**KIN’ ROCKS!. This drivetrain and computer was in an ‘88 Daytona that I drove for years and it had a 2 1/2” exhaust. I loved that cars performance. But ever since I put it in this car, it’s felt like something was holding it back. It was the exhaust. Because I’m running a Mitsubishi turbo, I have a 2 1/2” down pipe and then it’s 3” the rest of the way back. As far as “butt dyno” results, it has more lower end torque. On the highway it really bogged down at 65 mph and didn’t accelerate that well. Now it’s barely trying and it holds 65 with ease and acceleration at that speed is a lot more responsive.

It took me six hours to install this exhaust. I’ve installed two TU L body exhausts and they went in like butter. And one TU mini-van exhaust and that also went in with ease. I’ve had to pick up stuff from Chris at his shop and have seen the G body exhaust installed on a J body and it looked like it belonged there. I do not recommend this exhaust for a wagon unless you are an experienced fabricator and have a good imagination. It wasn’t built for wagons but I made it work. So don’t buy one and b**ch at Chris because it’s a P.I.T.A. to install. I'm going to start a thread in the Turbos Unleashed section if you have any questions directly related to this exhaust in this body so other can reference it there.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0933-1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0934.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0935.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0937.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0938.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0945.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0944.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0939.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/TC%20exhaust/DSCF0947.jpg

A.J.

turbokid
01-01-2010, 08:03 PM
That thing looks pretty mean with that muffler sticking out the way it does.
Nice work!
Q

blk86trbo
01-01-2010, 08:25 PM
That's are great job, but I don't envy the hard work it took to get it done!

Tony Fields
01-02-2010, 01:39 AM
You do good stuff A.J. It was great to meet you and your Dad while I was
in Arizona.

Are you guys in winter mode?

A.J.
01-02-2010, 11:00 AM
Are you guys in winter mode?

Yes. I'm bundled up more than when I lived in NH. I wear long johns, a vest and a jacket to work to stay warm. It's been below 70 for about to weeks.

I got both of your Christmas cards. One would have been enough.

A.J.

ScottD
01-02-2010, 12:14 PM
Nice work so far, I liked the creativity with solving SMEC and instrument cluster adapter harnesses!

A.J.
01-02-2010, 04:26 PM
Assumption is the mother of all F-ups. I assumed that because the L bodies and Caravan exhaust went straight out the back that the G/P body does the same. Nope. Chris from Turbos Unleashed called me today after reading the above and told me I did it the way it was suppose to be. It only took me six hours to figure it out. :mad: Oh well. I just saved someone four hours of work. I have to get one more stainless steel band clamp to finnish the exhaust and get some more pictures, then I'll do a proper write-up.

A.J.

bradp
01-02-2010, 04:37 PM
Looks great, here's what my exhaust guy did on my old 87 for a tip. It was 2 1/2" though.

A.J.
01-02-2010, 04:43 PM
Looks great, here's what my exhaust guy did on my old 87 for a tip. It was 2 1/2" though.

Is your muffler angled the same way mine is? And if so is the tail pipe bent to aim straight out the back? It's hard to tell with the angle the picture was taken at.

A.J.

bradp
01-02-2010, 04:57 PM
Is your muffler angled the same way mine is? And if so is the tail pipe bent to aim straight out the back? It's hard to tell with the angle the picture was taken at.

A.J.

Yes the muffler is angled and the tip is turned to go straight out the back. I don't have any other pics of the back.:(

Chris W
01-02-2010, 09:46 PM
A.J.,

Your install looked GREAT except for one minor thing I would have changed. The direction of the studs on the SS Exhaust clamps are aimed at the gas tank. Should there be a side impact an incursion might occur followed by a fire quicker then you can say "Crown Victoria".

Sorry I didn't remind you about those exhaust kits exiting at an angle. I figured you would recall the same kit I installed in the LeBaron GTC from SanDiego.

So, now that you know it wasn't supposed to go straight out was it still a pain in the A$$ or just like any other install?

Chris-TU

A.J.
01-03-2010, 12:01 AM
A.J.,

Your install looked GREAT except for one minor thing I would have changed. The direction of the studs on the SS Exhaust clamps are aimed at the gas tank. Should there be a side impact an incursion might occur followed by a fire quicker then you can say "Crown Victoria".

Chris-TU

Good point. I have to put it up to install one more SS clamp and take more pictures. I'll flip it around then.



Sorry I didn't remind you about those exhaust kits exiting at an angle. I figured you would recall the same kit I installed in the LeBaron GTC from SanDiego.

So, now that you know it wasn't supposed to go straight out was it still a pain in the A$$ or just like any other install?

Chris-TU

I probably got the Lebaron confused with your Shelby Charger that is usually parks on your lift in the air with it pointing straight out the back. So ya, if it wasn't for my confusion it probably wouldn't have taken any longer than the L bodies I've done.

A.J.

Vigo
01-04-2010, 09:29 PM
I made a 3" kit for a shadow fit my dynasty, that was fun. Then i put a hitch on the dynasty and had to redo it with even less space.. that was more fun.

I'll try and put up some pics of the way it is if i can find them. It's similar to BradP's setup but not as visible.

A.J.
04-16-2010, 08:53 PM
My Dad wanted some gauges. The one one on the far right is a vacuum/boost gauge. To the left of that is a tach. On the left is an air/fuel ratio gauge.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0185.jpg

The button is a recall for the vac/boost gauge.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0188-1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0189.jpg

It also had a stalling issue. I thought it might be the fuel pump because as far I as I know it was original. Turns out it was original. Plus when I got it out the negative terminal was burnt and was very loose.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0171.jpg

That wasn't it. I'm pretty sure it was the logic module portion of the SMEC. I tried running my Ostrich on it and it was acting up like it was a bad board. I've experienced that before so I knew what it sounded like. So I socketed a new board, ran the Ostrich with the cal it had. It ran fine. So I burned a chip and called it a day.

A.J.

TopDollar69
04-16-2010, 10:30 PM
Where did you get those sweet digital gauges?

A.J.
04-16-2010, 11:05 PM
Where did you get those sweet digital gauges?

I forgot to post that. They're Cyberdyne Gauges. http://www.cyberdynegauges.net/

A word of warning. I find these gauges very hard to read. Especially the air/fuel ratio. If the sun or bright light gets anywhere near them I can hardly read them. My Dad wanted digital because he said he thought they'd be easier to read. He hasn't driven the car since I got them working. I prefer analog.

A.J.

TopDollar69
04-17-2010, 09:03 AM
I think they would look much better in my full digital gauge Laser than the Ultralites I have now.