did a couple searches...

[Pauly No Van]

Hi All,
I am picking up a 1989 Turbo Caravan, Auto, with 180k miles on Thursday.
Can you elders tell me what to look out for with this?
They want $1000 for it, which seems to be average price-wise from what I have seen.
What problems are going to be less than obvious?
I expect to get 5-6 months out of it before anything major needs doing.
Is this wrong?
ALSO
What are the 'right away mods' for this vehicle?
That is, what can I do to it with regard to performance that does not involve much (if any) $?
Thank you and I appreciate any help!

paul

[turbovanman]

Look to see if the head gasket has been done, you can see part of it when looking at the engine. HOws the state of tune, pull the plugs and look for oil, coolant. Does it miss when running, does it boost. Theres not really anything common that fails except the turbo can break apart, or the fittings break off and of course, head gaskets. Look at the oil, is it brown? look at the tranny oil, is it red or?

Do the basics, compression test and a full tune-up with BR9ES plugs, good wires, not cheap shit, change oil-run synthetic 10w40 or 5w40/50, check and fix brakes, worn out shocks/struts, install poly bushings and check the motormounts, coolant flush and install a 180 thermostat with the bleed hole drilled, tranny service and adjust the bands, install an MBC and turn up the boost, install a IC etc.

Good place to read up is www.thedodgegarage.com turbo database section.

[Pauly No Van]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbovanman Look to see if the head gasket has been done, you can see part of it when looking at the engine. HOws the state of tune, pull the plugs and look for oil, coolant. Does it miss when running, does it boost. Theres not really anything common that fails except the turbo can break apart, or the fittings break off and of course, head gaskets. Look at the oil, is it brown? look at the tranny oil, is it red or? Do the basics, compression test and a full tune-up with BR9ES plugs, good wires, not cheap shit, change oil-run synthetic 10w40 or 5w40/50, check and fix brakes, worn out shocks/struts, install poly bushings and check the motormounts, coolant flush and install a 180 thermostat with the bleed hole drilled, tranny service and adjust the bands, install an MBC and turn up the boost, install a IC etc. Good place to read up is www.thedodgegarage.com turbo database section.

Thank you!
I actually started that after my post, been poking around Donovan's a little bit. I'm from CT too.
I have an 89 thunderbird SC, so I know all about HG woes, this van can't be more than 1/3 the work of my bird!(head gasket wise, I mean)

Yours is the highest post count i've seen on any board, and you are never rude to anybody that I can tell, many props to you!

paul

DUMB QUESTION:
How do I tell if it boosts when there is NO guage?
does it make a noise accompanied by evident acceleration?
My first experience with a Turbo this will be...
Rode in a Turbo 9000 ionce when I was a kid, but that was a long time ago....I remember it having a boose guage tho....

[turbovanman]

Thanks, I post alot,

You will hear the turbo spool and you will take off very quickly.

I forgot to add, bare minimum for guages is a boost guage and I highly recommend the Dawes air fuel guage. It has 4 LED,s and its idiot proof, You can get it at www.******************** or www.dawesdevices.com

[Pauly No Van]

Drove it home from Lynwood today......
Body and Interior are IMMACULATE.
Engine runs pretty horribly, blows blue smoke @ startup, and randomly during runing.
Also I am getting less than 5psi....~3 maybe, there is a boost guage in it already, but i dunno if its all that accurate.
there is a 'tick' coming from (i think) the valvetrain. it runs and accelerates well enough for daily driving, but it gets out of no way other than its own.....I guess I should have expected it to run bad given the price and body/paint/interior being so sweet.... Power everything, 2 of the 3 doorlocks don't work, all the glass works. No AC belt, prolly not working even with belt.... Front end is in need of some balljoints for sure.
ended up paying $950 for it BTW.
I have alot of questions regarding this motor, and whether it would be sensible to seek a replacement.
I know new stock turbos are only $300, i'm pretty sure mine is toast. It spools, but there is no 'kick'.
Havent gone through and washed the motor or anything yet, but if there was a vaccum leak, it woud not idle smoothly as it does...
Maybe boost leak/wastegate trouble/rotor bushing whipped?
Any thoughts?
thanks,

pauly

[shadow t2]

If you have access to a guage, run a leakdown test in conjuction with a compression test. This will give you a good idea of the conditon of the ring seal & valve seal. Check the trans fluid as Simon stated & drop the pan & change the filter. Run a temp guage as well, my mini only has the dummy light & it comes on @ like 230 (ouch). Check the timing & plugs, I run champion RN9YC, 2 stages colder @.03 gap. Pitch the mitsu in favor of a Garrett (stock for a budget) it will run 20 psi reliably. Run an intercooler of ANY kind with boost above 12 or so. Good motor & trans mounts help save the axles. Good luck.

Coy

[Pauly No Van]

Thanks Coy...
Had it a week now it seems to run a little smoother....
I think for the leakdown/compression im gonna have to find the time and a mechanic. Although it has 180k + on it so its fair to assume the pistons are slappin like Rick James. It makes a horrible metal on metal rattly grinding noise during closed throttle decel @2k+rpm...???
its lessened since I drove it home, but still does it.
Also noticed that it bounces between running on alt and running on batt. Did search, got alot of info, but nothing conclusive. I was going to start with the engine grounding, the ground connections on this thing are miserably inadequate! Alt and batt recently replaced, ignition lock too....AHH Dodge...

[speeduphoria]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauly No Van I was going to start with the engine grounding, the ground connections on this thing are miserably inadequate!

Yeah it is a good Idea to locate all of the gorunds you can find and take them off, inspect, and clean or replace them because they can lead to strange problems on occassion
Good Luck

[Pauly No Van]

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeduphoria Yeah it is a good Idea to locate all of the gorunds you can find and take them off, inspect, and clean or replace them because they can lead to strange problems on occassion Good Luck

UPDATE:
I Figured out it was a bad connection to the brain.(ive got a couple of those ) While running I moved it one way it charged moved it the other way it diddnt charge. took it out cleaned it and the plugs as well re installed with dielectric grease-problem gone battery gets charged great now very strong electrical power compared to before. Does not seem to be mounted to the body anywhere other than being inline with the intake..Going to take care of the grounds too anyway...

paul