New 2.2 turbo rebuild smoking

[Blacksheep]

Rebuilding an 87 Shelby. This car is a project my son and I started 5 years ago. The engine was completely redone and body stripped and sent for paint. It sat in the bodyshop for another year before being finished. When we picked it up the engine has smoked like crazy. The engine ran fine when we dropped it off no smoke and good power. Drove it 5 miles to the shop no problems. Everything was done except the turbo seals... Is this a problem common to these turbos? The turbo and engine had been sitting in the garage for a couple years before we started the project. It spins up ok and can't see any leaks all cylinders have good compression and it idles and runs ok just an oil smoke. Really hate to start pulling the engine back apart Anyone suggest anything?

[sittn86]

Blue smoke, black smoke, white smoke, severity?

How long has it been allowed to run since it was picked up?

[Blacksheep]

Driven maybe 10 miles and idled for a couple hours total just trying to diagnose. Drove it 3 miles after overhaul to body shop no windshield or windows stripped to metal. Ran perfect no smoke turbo spooling properly not run hard just checking everything. After sitting inside bodyshop for about a year, after paint, this blue oily smoke starts.

[moparfwdsleeper]

Id guess seals, turbo or valve stem seals. That is just a guess though.

[Blacksheep]

New valve seals, complete head work done. stock... I've never taken the turbo apart. After years of laying in the garage it seems it would have had the problem when first started the engine as well as later. Not trying to dismiss anything just want to address the right problem.

[rib256]

When does it smoke? At idle, under acceleration, only on deceration? And what color is the smoke. I know you said oil but we like to make sure.

[puppet]

Just a heads up ... and not sure why exactly but every turbo dodge I've seen under extended idle ... smokes some. I'd get in that puppy and run it hard a few times to seat those rings if nothing else. Change the oil and filter with a decent dino 5W30 and see what's what.

If it doesn't smoke under any other conditions but a extended idle I wouldn't sweat it.

[moparfwdsleeper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blacksheep New valve seals, complete head work done. stock... I've never taken the turbo apart. After years of laying in the garage it seems it would have had the problem when first started the engine as well as later. Not trying to dismiss anything just want to address the right problem.

sitting for years could have caused the seals dry out, hence I was guessing seals

[T2 shadow]

I rebuilt my van and it smoked. I took down pipe off and it was leaking oil backside of turbo. The seals were crap after all the years and heat. My guess is your seals are bad. I know someone here can rebuild them for around 200 bucks.

[shelbylancer454]

I would pull bottom intercooler hose off and check for oil in hose and outlet of turbo, some oil is normal but if you take hose off and oil drains out turbo seals are probably the culprit.I would also check spark plugs to see what cyl is burning oil. If all the same maybe check valve seals, lots of vacume at idle. Hope this helps.

[Blacksheep]

Thanks everybody. Head and valve seals fresh, plugs clean, compression equal and good. I am a small block Chevy guy myself. Got into this with my son and am ignorant when it come to turbo and fuel injection. I think next step is to just order a new turbo probably better than trying to rebuild this thing. It is a stock T1 no intercooler. Anytips on which one will fit in the limited space. Would be interested in some part numbers and sketch of how to upgrade to T2.

[sittn86]

Turbo I to Turbo II

Welcome to FWD Performance, Inc.

forwardmotioninc.com

Turbos Unleashed (dot) com

The earlier turbo I's are a little harder to check for oil leakage.

I'd suggest reading these pages to learn about these cars:

Donovan's Dodge Garage

www.DempseyBowling.com

Gus Mahon Homepage

Russ W. Knize's Automotive Page

[celblazer]

My daytona did the same thing when I picked it up. 1st real drive and it was a smoke screen for a mile then some right foot therapy and it went a way. Still smokes at idle once in a while but that's it not a puff when driving.