My '88 Conquest

[ZoskalonMPI]

My friend, when he saw my Daytona, is like, "wow my uncle has a car just like that! its been sitting in his garage for years now." So I tell the guy to ask his uncle about it, maybe I could get a turbo motor for mine for cheap. Turns out it was a Conquest, and I was blown away, cuz I had admired the car a while back. And the uncle right away told my friend saying that if I wanted it, I could get it for $200, but that the car was crashed. So I thought it was a horrible crash, but nah, its not too bad, and it was red with the black and tan interior, which was my IDEAL interior and exterior for that car. So $60 I get a battery, hand the guy $200, and drive the car home!

The car has 157K miles and it runs like crap. After the crash, he didn't pass emissions, so it sat for 5 years. I don't know whats up with the car yet, I can't get it past 3K RPM and its burning oil like crazy. So its due for a total rebuild. The shaft in the turbo is solid and spins freely, the guy did baby the car (believe it or not) and he would always cool the turbo after every drive with the turbo timer.







If anyone wants to know anything else, or has any advice for me, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks for checking out my car!

[cm961]

Great find buddy! Good luck with it.

Pete

[Benjy]

oh man what a find i've always loved those cars! I'am however not a fan of the 2.6 but anyhow great find congrats!

[rfb6435]

Dude,

Don't rebuild the G54 it is a major POS engine. The starquests were awesome but the engines just suck!

If you dig around you can get a truck G63/G64 block and make it into a RWD 4g63 or 4g64 engine that will bolt to the existing tranny with all of the aftermarket from the eclipse/talon world behind you!

Note that it has to be a truck block with 4g63 pistons and head swapped into it because the belhousings are different than the FWD blocks.

It will take some work but that is totally the way to go.

-Rich

[2.216vturbo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfb6435 Dude, Don't rebuild the G54 it is a major POS engine. The starquests were awesome but the engines just suck! If you dig around you can get a truck G63/G64 block and make it into a RWD 4g63 or 4g64 engine that will bolt to the existing tranny with all of the aftermarket from the eclipse/talon world behind you! Note that it has to be a truck block with 4g63 pistons and head swapped into it because the belhousings are different than the FWD blocks. It will take some work but that is totally the way to go. -Rich

Agreed that it's 'the way to go' in a perfect world, but he may have to work with what he has... Pull the head, $hitcan the stupid oil using jet valves and screw the jet valve elimintor kit (some fancy plugs) from Goodson Machine in there. Replace the valve seals, you may not even need a valve job on the head if the valves are still sealing. Then check to make sure 90% of your oil leaks aren't coming from your rubber fabric coated turbo oil return line, the rubber cracks and you cant see it because of the fabric hides the crack. Get the two injectors cleaned and flowed, they are likely flow comprimised after all these years. Open up the exhaust some and spin that tiny little 12g turbo to about 13 psi, more than that is diminishing returns. Once you fall in love with the way the car drives and handles, you'll want to do more mods. I had a very satisfying 150K miles with my Starion.

Alan

[ZoskalonMPI]

I mean, I do not want to pour ANY money into this car. I was thinking of just taking the motor out, taking it all apart, cleaning everything, and that buildup, and getting the block honed and some new rings, if the pistons aren't too worn. Cleaning out the entire throttle body, and rebuilding the turbo. Basically taking all the buildup out and making sure everything's nice and sealed. And I'd be happy even if it ran a little less hp than stock. I just want a car I can drive around for when I'd be doing something to my Daytona.

I should ask somewhere else, but if anyone can just comment on what I just said, heh heh, kind of a noob over here

But I mean, its an engine that I can take apart and rebuild and not have it be a big waste if anything goes wrong. But like, what would be some other areas I should look into, to make the car run reliable and run for that matter.

Thanks for the deep input guys lol

[Omnibus]

http://www.starquestclub.com
Check it out! - Andy

[ZoskalonMPI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnibus http://www.starquestclub.com Check it out! - Andy

Ha, I've been on there. I was just looking for some general areas of inspection for any motor, that's all.

[crazymadbastard]

Either car craft or Hot Rod put a SB Chrysler in one of those. I always liked those conquests and starions.

[2.216vturbo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoskalonMPI I mean, I do not want to pour ANY money into this car. I was thinking of just taking the motor out, taking it all apart, cleaning everything, and that buildup, and getting the block honed and some new rings, if the pistons aren't too worn. Cleaning out the entire throttle body, and rebuilding the turbo. Basically taking all the buildup out and making sure everything's nice and sealed. And I'd be happy even if it ran a little less hp than stock. I just want a car I can drive around for when I'd be doing something to my Daytona. I should ask somewhere else, but if anyone can just comment on what I just said, heh heh, kind of a noob over here But I mean, its an engine that I can take apart and rebuild and not have it be a big waste if anything goes wrong. But like, what would be some other areas I should look into, to make the car run reliable and run for that matter. Thanks for the deep input guys lol

Um, I only had you spending $125. for the JVEK and valve seals and a Napa HG, plus whatever you could get a cheapy exhaust done for,if that's too much for you to spend, you really HAVE found the right list

Your pistons will be fine but the rings are totally worn out with huge end gaps, a quick ball hone (if you even want to pull the bottom end apart,( a quick check of my above post has you only pulling the head) and new rings should get you back into the .025 range (I've done two of these motors they were both consistant). I wouldn't mess with the turbo unless there is a puddle of oil in the IC, greasy IC tubing is fine IMO.

Drive the car you will like it, everyone who has ever owned one does Lots to love about the StarQuest twins...

[ZoskalonMPI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2.216vturbo Um, I only had you spending $125. for the JVEK and valve seals and a Napa HG, plus whatever you could get a cheapy exhaust done for,if that's too much for you to spend, you really HAVE found the right list Your pistons will be fine but the rings are totally worn out with huge end gaps, a quick ball hone (if you even want to pull the bottom end apart,( a quick check of my above post has you only pulling the head) and new rings should get you back into the .025 range (I've done two of these motors they were both consistant). I wouldn't mess with the turbo unless there is a puddle of oil in the IC, greasy IC tubing is fine IMO. Drive the car you will like it, everyone who has ever owned one does Lots to love about the StarQuest twins...

You're right. But I WOULD have to pull the bottom end in order to replace the rings and hone the block, no?