Hi. I recently bought a 1989 mustang convet. it had a 2.3 turbo swapped in it. normally i dont buy other ppl work but it was dirt cheap. Ok here is the issue im having. when u fire it up it idles on 3 vac and then when u step on it u hear a loud sucking of air then at 5ps is just bogs all down to hell. i bought it for the body to drop a 5.0 in but i was told these 2.3 turbos are insanely quick and great on gas. so if it is going to be a big bothersome deal ill rip it out... btw the guy said he got it this way and just baby it. but he thinks the kid who did it used a 88t-bird motor.
I think I would start at reading up on what is needed to do a turbo swap from a t bird, and then go through step by step what is actually in the car,,,,, Sounds like someone took a shortcut. Wonder if they swapped the computer out?
The 2.3 turbo can be awesome with minor work. The lb-3 is a 87/88 turbocoupe computer for a automatic car. This computer with adjustable boost control will take you to about 18 to 22 psi boost. Now your problem. Start looking for vac leak. Also may have boost leak. Look for leaks from vam to head. Mine runs about 20 Inches at vacumn. If can post pictures of engine bay or where to look at it maybe able to help more. Sounds also need to check make sure wiring is correct. The vam has to be wired into the mustang harness. Stinger.com has a writeup on it. Can look at my 89 notchback at photobucket.com under mgman75. Also welcome. I have one video of mine at 10psi boost and one of it idling.
I pulled off the intercooler and found a few vacuum leaks.. fixed the boost gauge the line was being held on by a piece of tape that was falling off. not it is running about 20 in vac and 15-20psi.. now i found a adjustable valve i think comes off the wastegate. when i turn the knob all the way in it sounds like **** and the boost goes off the gauge so i leave it all the way out and it runs about 15psi.. We think there is a crack in the intercooler which is why we hear the loud sucking noise sounds like a bov but there isn't one. But it still runs like ****. my brothers vw fox diesel is faster then this and from what i read these are 14-15sec cars. ill post some pics of engine bay since i don't know where most this stuff is located.Always been in to VW lol
I made a test rig to test for boost leak. Take pvc caps drill and tap end for air hose fitting. Use rubber hose connector and hook to boost tube after the turbo and test to 10 psi. Do Not Go Above this safety issure and not necessary. Ps safety wire the cap on just in case blows off. I didn't and hit me in head. No harm done. You can test the intercooler buy removing it. Hook the rig up on one end. And cap the other with hose connector and another pvc cap. A picture of it is at photobucket.com under mgman 75 page 4 as boost tester. Go ahead and test the engine at 10psi. You will be surprized how many leaks there is. Just hook up at throttle body.
FPR = Fuel pressure regulator? well i checked for leaks and the intercoooler was solid and i went though looking for vacuum leaks and nothing. but i am hearing my boost exit my exhausts i think when u give it psi and then let go of the gas u hear a whoosh and it sounds like it is coming from be hide me. Im not new to cars but i am new to the turbo setups. I had a water line leak coming off the turbo so i fixed but i dunno its just so boggish. ill go and have some codes pulled up and go from there i think.
Also if anyone is near Columbus Ohio and wouldn't mind taking a look maybe the guy be hide me screwed the swap all to hell. Ive almost gotten to the point of just ripping it out and getting either another turbo motor or going 5.0.
So I got home from work and did a compression test the back 2 cylinders had a psi of 135 and the front 2 had psi of 120. Also found out the manifold had been welded to cover a crack and they did a bad job and miss half of the crack so im going to buy a new manifold. Is the psi of the cylinders ok?
have you checked fuel pump pressure? sounds like guy didn't change the fuel pump. the thunderbird fuelpump won't fit in a mustang tank...i've tried. so you either need a inline pump from a merkur or older turbocoupe or ford truck- or an aftermarket in tank pump .
I bought a new 255l pump on firday i was hoping the same thing so when i install it i will find out more. Sorry if i seem to ask alot of questions. I rather ask people who have done it then break **** figuring it out kinda limited on income lol.
If have exhaust leak will cause problems. Also check hose from vam to turbo. Should have spring in it and not crushable. If it is replace. If cat still on car. If plugged will cause problem. Drop exhaust down a little and let leak at there. If better check exhaust. What size is vam measure it if you don't already know. The person may have wired it for large vam and is small vam. There is a differance. Here is picture of test rig for testing for leaks. It is attached to a piece of my intercooler pipe I was test. Not my idea found it on net. http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w...5/100_5699.jpg
Forgot to ask what is info off computer. LA-3,LB-2 or 3, You get the idea. I am making sure previous person didn't put a bunch of mismatch parts together.
the fuel pressure regulator is supposed to increase to 90lbs pressure when it sees boost isn't it? maybe the vacuum hose isn't attached to the pressure regulator.
1989 mustang turbo 
