some progress on the blue Spirit R/T

[TurboSedan]

It's like a shining star in the middle of the engine bay Looking good

it will look alot better later this summer. the previous owner (idiot) painted the engine bay black so i need to pull the engine out, clean the hell out of everything, remove a bunch of stuff and repaint. i'm also planing on getting red powdercoated valve covers, intake and valley cover. the valve covers are currently chevy orange and they look hideous.

------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[Clay]

probably a chevy owner....... they LOVE to paint the engine compartment black on every car they have!

[turbovanman²]

probably a chevy owner....... they LOVE to paint the engine compartment black on every car they have!

I am a chevy lover and DON'T do that,

[TurboSedan]

thankfully it seems to come off pretty easy. i already scratched some of the black paint off with just my fingernail.

-------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[TurboSedan]

didn't get much done today due to the cold weather. i took the downpipe to the carwash to blast as much of the oil out of it as i could, then bolted it back in. after that Jerm and i installed the TU turbo line set.

tomarrow we are going to be doing the timing belt, rocker shafts and then put the valve covers on so i can fill it with oil. next up is the O2 sensor wiring and then reinstall the radiator/intercooler and fill it with coolant. then reinstall the vacuum harness, hook up a battery and fire it up. with any luck tomarrow will be the day.

--------------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[TurboSedan]

it WILL be finished today. the ONLY things left are rocker shafts and valve covers, intercooler hoses and airbox, fill with coolant, vacuum harness, a clamp for the coolant return line and put a battery in. should take less than a 1/2 hour and then it's time to start it up vid and pics to come!

would have had it done today but i uh....had something important to do
------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[TurboSedan]

well dammit. huge snowstorm came through. most snow we've had all winter! sooo...the R/T is going to have to sit for a couple more days on the bright side, it's supposed to be in the 50s this weekend.

damn weather. i wish i had a heated garage with electricity.

---------------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[mcsvt]

Ouch, we are having our first day in the 70's today...

Good luck clearing the snow

[TurboSedan]

IT RUNS!!!! screw the cold weather, i've owned this car 7 months now and i've waited long enough!

i have a short video of the initial startup hosted on my website (.mpg) but can't figure out how to post it? can anyone tell me how?

http://www.turbosedan.com/spiritrt/DSC03818.JPG

http://www.turbosedan.com/spiritrt/DSC03819.JPG

http://www.turbosedan.com/spiritrt/DSC03820.JPG

http://www.turbosedan.com/spiritrt/DSC03821.JPG

runs great, sounds great, oil pressure shows 3/4 up on the gauge voltmeter looks great. WOOOOOT!!!!!!!!

i'll be installing the airbox and intercooler hoses tomarrow when it's a little warmer. unfortunately i can't drive it because there is a mountain of snow in front of the garage. it goes into 1st and reverse fine though.

----------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T

[TurboSedan]

well if you want to see the vid of the car running go to:

http://www.turbosedan.com/spiritrt

then go all the way to the bottom of the index and click on the movie link

---------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[TurboSedan]

drove the car for the first time just a few minutes ago around the block. it's running minimum boost (short vacuum line between the wastegate can and nipple on compressor outlet). it runs like a bat out of hell! i'm guessing minimum boost is around 7psi? i can't even imagine what 15psi is going to be like! it shifts PERFECT, clutch feels soooo nice my Regal GS is faster right now, but i'm betting the R/T as it is right now would give it a run for its money. at the stock 11psi...my Regal probably wouldn't have a chance.

time to go get this thing registered, put some plates on it and add it to my insurance policy.

------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[shellboy]

good job!

[Turbo224]

Awesome! Take it easy on her for as long as you can.

[iTurbo]

The car seems to be running great. I even got to drive it a bit. No leaks, no apparent bugs. It is running minimum boost right now, with a short 1/4" hose from the compressor discharge nipple to the wastegate nipple. It is pretty loud with an open downpipe but sounds awesome in the upper RPMs. He is already taking it on the first road trip, up to Gillette 250 miles north of here... It is getting the exhaust welded back up Monday and probably won't get a manual boost controller for a few weeks yet.

I sold him the turbo that he replaced on the car which I got from Simon. Simon suggested having it rebuilt, but after getting it, it looked just fine and seems to work great. No smoke, makes boost just fine etc...Thanks Simon!

[TurboSedan]

yep, drove the R/T today up to Gillette. 250 mile trip with no problems at all! trip computer showed 28.5mpg when i got here. the car runs AWESOME!!!! engine sounds soooo nice and smooth, oil pressure is great, suspension is very nice as well as the brakes. only issue is that i think the PS reservoir is leaking. when i got here i had no power steering at all. the return fitting on the PS reservoir has been glued on and i think all the fluid leaked out.

i've been easy on it but i do know that the car has NO problems smoking the tires from a 10mph roll-on in 1st gear Jeremy, if you thought the car felt strong in Laramie (7200ft) believe, me, here in Gillette at 4500ft this thing is the cat's meow (well....for a stock R/T anyway).

one big difference between my R/T and my old T2 GTS is that this thing just keeps going and going when the RPMs go up. it just doesn't stop pulling like the T2 did. i don't think i've brought the RPMs up past 5500 yet but damn....

I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!

----------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[Turbo224]

yep, drove the R/T today up to Gillette. 250 mile trip with no problems at all! trip computer showed 28.5mpg when i got here. the car runs AWESOME!!!! engine sounds soooo nice and smooth, oil pressure is great, suspension is very nice as well as the brakes. only issue is that i think the PS reservoir is leaking. when i got here i had no power steering at all. the return fitting on the PS reservoir has been glued on and i think all the fluid leaked out.

i've been easy on it but i do know that the car has NO problems smoking the tires from a 10mph roll-on in 1st gear Jeremy, if you thought the car felt strong in Laramie (7200ft) believe, me, here in Gillette at 4500ft this thing is the cat's meow (well....for a stock R/T anyway).

one big difference between my R/T and my old T2 GTS is that this thing just keeps going and going when the RPMs go up. it just doesn't stop pulling like the T2 did. i don't think i've brought the RPMs up past 5500 yet but damn....

I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!

----------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

Haha! Thats one thing the 8 guys who have never driven a 16v will never understand. These motors feel like they will pull clear to 9000 rpms. Thats what frightens me with my car, I can look down and be at 6500 rpms before I even know it and the motor sounds as happy as can be.

[TurboSedan]

well here is an underhood pic now that i've gotten everything done and reinstalled the intercooler hoses and airbox. it will look alot better once i get the valve covers, intake manifold, and valley cover powdercoated red. i haven't even powerwashed the engine bay yet.

sorry the pic is kinda big....

http://www.turbosedan.com/spiritrt/IMG_0578.JPG

well i guess that sums up this thread. thanks for looking!

------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge SPiRiT R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

[mcsvt]

awesome, glad you got it all together

[turbovanman²]

I sold him the turbo that he replaced on the car which I got from Simon. Simon suggested having it rebuilt, but after getting it, it looked just fine and seems to work great. No smoke, makes boost just fine etc...Thanks Simon!

Your welcome, I think,

[2.216VTurbo]

How are you driving that thing without a Serp Belt Josh? Gonna get hot real quick isn't it?