Sand-Blasting

[nitroman]

March 5th the ENTIRE exhaust cast-iron-lump including the J-pipe will be sandblasted back to its original glory, then shortly after shipped off to JetHot for coating. Luckily I found someone who can do the job while I'm right there watching on a Sunday. He'll use duct-tape to mask-off the aluminium compressor-housing so it won't be pitted. He actually is in favor of blasting the whole piece as a unit as that almost entirely eliminates the possibility that any blasting-material might make its way into the turbo.

Now I'm beginning to see why they do frame-off restorations! You can get to so many more parts.

BTW the 9 nuts holding on the exhaust manifold are M10 x 1.25 fine-pitch, and I have found an internet site which stocks them. Thanks to Metro Bolt & Supply who were able to tell me the pitch, as there is also a really fine 1.00 pitch, which made ordering a crap-shoot for me! Now I can get the polished stainless grade 8 ones and be a happy man as all 9 nuts are clearly visible when you open the bonnet.

[Doug]

dude, why keep the cast j-pipe? surely a "stiffy" or custom fab part would flow better and be better for creep and keeping the stock ECU . . .

it's just that blasting and Jet-Hot will cost enough to consider the alternatives.

[stevo]

[nitroman]

Read other posts about possible upgrade to "disco-potato" turbo in future for reason behind this decision.

[Houdini]

If you're thinking about a possible upgrade to a "Disco Potato" you won't be using the "J" pipe or the turbo. Also, with an upgrade you will need to machine your stock exhaust manifold for a transition from a round port to a rectangular port to match the adapter that you'll need for the turbo. Why not make the adapter, get it all machined up, and then do your Jet Hot coating? Maybe I'm missing something? Just trying to help out here.

[nitroman]

Well, if I do go that route it really won't matter much about coating the little bit of ported area on the exhaust manifold, which is not visible externally anyway. Otherwise I am investigating the cheaper and more straightforward T-Bird compressor upgrade.

[nitroman]

BTW I got a quote of $450 to do a complete turbo rebuild including replacement of the compressor side with the larger Ford T-bird RHB5 wheel & other parts. I'll let you know how it turns out. He said he could even put on a compressor cover which has the same inlet/outlet measurements as my existing turbo so I won't have to get & use silicone reducer couplings.

BTW that price is $250 LESS than IsuzuPerformance used to do the same thing for back in 2002, when Bill Luton bowed-out. My God time flys! Good thing I bought all his parts so quickly while I could. I only owned the car 1-year when he still supported Isuzus... he just made the time seem longer than that!

[Doc Fizzix]

This sounds GREAT!!!!

Can you email me the info? I might have mine done also

[nitroman]

I can upgrade your turbo and remachine the compressor housing to fit the t-bird wheel. If you do it that way you get more flow and it still bolts up with the factory hoses. You can call me for more details at 909-824-1020

I just found the old IsuzuPerformance page I printed for this upgrade & the price was $799 4-years ago! He called it the "Evergreen" turbo. I have no idea why. Any turbo upgrade beyond this required larger injectors and Bill would only do that in-house including tuning for $4,999.

[nitroman]

Example of a Ford T-bird compressor wheel with larger housing and how to install it into our Elan turbine-side...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=8049340421&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3APIC

http://www.mx6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102559

On my earlier post the guy claims he can machine my existing (stock Elan) compressor-housing to accept the larger T-bird compressor-wheel... but I'd have to actually unbolt the housing to make sure he'd machined it. I guess I just don't trust people anymore.