Restoring my TTA paint (finally)

[rocketman]

I'm finally getting around to having my high mileageTTA repainted (life got in the way), and it's been sitting in my garage, unstarted, for several years.

I'm seriously considering pulling all mechanicals (engine, trans, etc), but was wondering about starting the engine first because now would be a good time for me to identify any issues so I can address them while the engine is out of the car.

The car was running fine when I stopped driving it, with the exception of a slight leak that caused some driveability issues that I started troubleshooting. If I remember correctly, I was trying to assess whether it was vacuum or exhaust related.

I'm the original owner, and the car has never been abused or raced. Aside from changing all fluids and turning things over by hand a few times, should I even go to this effort, or just pull the engine and take it from that point?

Thanks advance for any suggestions.

 

[robert lee]

How many mile's? if it's over a 100k i would pull it and do a basic rebuild... i would connect a hose to the fuel rail, put a jumper on the relay and drain the gas first...any issues you may have will be sensor or vac. hose related and you need to change those anyhow along with your injectors.

 

[rocketman]

Robert Lee,

It is over 100k miles.

What's your recommended "recipe" for a basic rebuild? I don't want to do any more than I have to, because I'm hoping to get the whole project done by the end of the summer.

Thanks in advance.

 

[robert lee]

There is a guy down that way that rebuilt Mike's motor (984) not sure if it's north FL or south GA, but you don't for any reason take it to someone that's never worked on one, tell them you want a basic rebuild...

 

[8289ta]

Take it to someone who is familiar with the Buick turbo motors. There are lots of little secrets those guys know when they rebuild it. One thing that comes to mind is blueprinting the timing chain cover.

 

[tta299]

Take it to someone who is familiar with the Buick turbo motors. There are lots of little secrets those guys know when they rebuild it. One thing that comes to mind is blueprinting the timing chain cover.

don't forget the mains are a lot tighter clearances than the basic sbc!

I would go ahead an put a small roller cam in it where u wont have to worry about running special additives or whipping out a lobe

 

[WS6]

don't forget the mains are a lot tighter clearances than the basic sbc!

On a stock rebuild...that sees NO detonation and no more than 17 psi of boost.

Everytime I've done a bottom end I end up opening up the clearances with great success...I'm currently at .0025+/- .0001, up from my original .0020 which is less than half the thickness of a human hair....and only we're talking about .0005(five ten thousandths of an inch)

It's my belief that a properly spec'd oil pump allows more aggressive tolerance and much better protection for the mains.

The harder a motor is run the wider the clearances need to be....is my montra and I'm successful doing that.

 

[TTA984]

There is a guy down that way that rebuilt Mike's motor (984) not sure if it's north FL or south GA, but you don't for any reason take it to someone that's never worked on one, tell them you want a basic rebuild...

Robert, My motor was built in TN. My girlfriend Tana's father had the TTA before me and he had a GN he raced. It was blue printed and built by some guy in TN. I am sure he is the same one that built my motor.

As far as getting one built or worked on in FLA or N. GA. I took mine to a guy named Fred about 10 miles north of Valdosta GA. He is a GM world class mechanic and has a TTA, GNX and a bunch of turbobuick regals. I had the engine pulled and had headgaskets and other things done. He is really honest and knows these engines, would highly recomend him.

Julio, said I was in good hands with him. Glad I took it to him.:beach:

 

[rocketman]

I was thinking about doing it myself, but, considering I have not rebuilt one of these engines before.........

I've heard a few bad stories about one shop here in the central Florida area that was supposed to be experts at rebuilding these engines, and I don't even know if they are still in business......