* * new to the community and want some advice

[shaggyslaser]

okay so like I said I am new to the community. I have worked on nissans, toyotas, bmws, hondas, fords, and chevys; all in relation to sport compacts. but this is my firsthand experience on my own dsm. with that said, im not exactly new, nor am I trying to run a 10. and a little background on the car.... and quite a background it has. the laser came into our group of friends because troy bought it from someone else, and as far as I know he still owes like 3gs. in the trim that troy purchased it, it ran 12s. troy didn't like it because he bought it that way and wanted to actually get some labor into it and 'make it his own car.' so he took the head off to be ported, and it sat like that for about a year. well troy finally found someone to put it back together for him, mike, and had some deal worked out. well in the process troy was driving some giant van and needed a better gas mileage car, so he traded the car to mike for a saturn. so then mike had it, finished putting it all back together, and it would run, but not right. so mike traded the car to matt for a cobra mustang upper and lower intake manifold. matt doesn't want to mess around with it, so he sold it to me for the price of the manifold. so now we are onto the car. it has....
ported cast manifold
t3 turbo
gm 3'' maf
dsmlink
adjustable fuel pressure regulator
huge front mount
full hardpipes
greddy type s bov
aem fuel rail
rc 660 injectors
comp clutch
maft
warlbro 255
and more....
id be a retard not to buy it for that price. so now just some advice on where to go from here... I found a turbo colt in the junkyard and I want to rob the engine harness from it to make sure there is no problems with the harness. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me but just want some advice on where to start. I was thinking return it closely back to stock and start remodifying to know there is no guessing game as far as problems. thanks for any and all suggestions. from the research I've done so far, it seems like I will really enjoy this car.

 

[winterftbl]

Are there any problems with it currently?

 

[ali]

whats all needed to make it run

 

[dlb21]

What do you mean it would run but not right??? What is it doing???

 

[shaggyslaser]

I haven't exactly been able to dive into it yet, so I cannot exactly say. There is so much done that it is hard to find a problem. I will keep everyone updated though. I am pleasantly surprised with the interst so far.

 

[turbolover10]

Three words..

Boost Leak Test!

Thats where I would start anyway.

 

[crimsondragon]

First thing that came to mind is you're off a tooth or two on the timing belt. The words "so he took the head off to be ported, and it sat like that for about a year...finished putting it all back together, and it would run, but not right" jumped out right at me.

 

[shaggyslaser]

Previous workers had timed it quite a few times over, so they got pretty good at it. I trust the timing is correct, but still a concern. I was not a part of the build when it was in Mike's hands, so I don't know of everything they did. I do trust their work, so that's why I tend to think the problem could be elsewhere. Electrical maybe?

 

[crimsondragon]

I'd still check timing to make sure it's right. Check plugs to make sure they're copper NGK's, wires for any damage. Boost leak test as well.

 

[91PlymouthLaser]

definately do a boost leak test...changed lots of things on my car and spent about $100...still didn't fix my problem...went and borrowed a boost leak tester for $20 and I found a boost leak fixed it and bye bye problem hello perfectly running car

 

[shaggyslaser]

okay so got sokme new info on the motor. when in mikes hands, a non turbo head was placed on because the head troy had was all rusty. could this have an affect on the timing?

 

[Captainredeyez]

So now there is a non turbo head on the car? Get that non turbo head off and you need to clean up that ported head and put it on the car asap

 

[shaggyslaser]

So now there is a non turbo head on the car? Get that non turbo head off and you need to clean up that ported head and put it on the car asap

why? im not contesting your opinion at all, but for my further knowledge would like to know why you say this. is it because flow characteristics? or because it just doesn't work? if not, why? another question... the turbo colt I found in the junkyard, I know they are rare, I like hatchbacks and have wanted a colt for awhile. is there something off this motor I should grab? I was thinking longblock, complee head and trans.is the gearing of the trans the same amongstall 1g turbo trans?

 

[dlb21]

I believe that the non turbo heads are the same exept for the cam shafts and that the non turbo heads have a plugged turbo oil feed. Can you confirm that?? how is your turbo getting oil? If i am correct then you could just replace the camshafts with some 272's

 

[shaggyslaser]

as far as I know it has the turbo cams in it

 

[spooling 1g]

Yes heads are the same aside from the cams.

 

[shaggyslaser]

sure but all its good for is scrap metal...

 

[shaggyslaser]

So far it looks like things on the list to check are boost leaks, and timing. Any answers on the 4g63 in the colt?

 

[spooling 1g]

Im pretty sure the turbo colts where a 1.6 liter?And i dont think theres really anything worth using off of it.

I would also add a GOOD tune up to your list of things to do.

 

[shaggyslaser]

yeah well when mike had it, the items he replaced were all oem, not aftermarket. stuff like the thermostat, head gasket, timing belt, knock sensor. oh, and valve seals.