Need some advice

[yellowdog]

All,

Got back last night to Stuttgart from Ramstein where I had been at a conference. A 2+ hour drive at higher speeds on the autobahn (to avoid getting run over by everything from Beemers to delivery trucks) was a definite strain on the engine. By the time I got back to the garage under my apartment building, the "Check engine light" was on (Codes 44 and 45) and she sounded tired.

Beyond dealing with the problems already indicated, I would like to wring more power from the engine. I know some people have gotten some enhancement from the SMEC upgrade but I was wondering if it is really that noticeable. :confused:

If the upgrade is not enough, what would be the next step? Is there something else that can be done to the 8v engine to give it more hp without risking a drastically lowered life span (on an engine that may be starting to show its age)?

Thoughts?

[Bill Reichert]

44 Fused J-2 (No CEL) Ignition On J2 not present to logic module in SMEC

45 Overboost Monitor Engine Running MAP sensor signal exceeds a predetermined amount of boost.

My first thought is the Hep in the distributor. They fail under heat or just the worst times. It's recommended to carry a spare.....Maybe that's why the screwdriver is in the tool kit? If it runs good today when you start it, that's a failing hep indication.

As for the J2, that gives me shivers since I had a bad splice in another car on that wire.

Turbo-mopar.com has someone else in Germany that has boosted his car.

Correction. There are two members in Austria.

Edited November 20, 2009 by Bill Reichert (see edit history)

[wild bill]

I have replaced the smec on my 89, now the turbo kicks in at 2500 rpm, not 3500. Have heard of great power increases going with larger exhaust pipes like to 2.5" I believe. Turbos like to breath. Can add better breathing heads, add more boost, larger turbo. These increase low end power I know. If its top end the 5 sp tranny seems to be 15 to 20 mph more. I would love my maser to do 185, but even the tc 5's don't go that fast. How much do you want to spend? Be sure and let that turbo cool down for a few minutes, replaced those fuel lines by the turbo? You'll get lots of fast help here.

[Guest David Simons]

The T-2 8 valve engine has a lot to offer in the arena of performance modifications. I just punched mine 30 over and decked the block a bit and shaved the head. I also ported and polished the head. Larger valves were installed with a triple angle seat and back cut. I also went to a larger 460 lift crane cam and offset the advance by two degrees. I also changed the smec and put larger fuel injectors in the engine. Now of course you can not do all of that without replacing and increasing the exhaust diameter and going completely through the transmission to make sure it will hold it. I made power gains from the stock 165hp to now making 300hp. Most of everything I ordered was available from mopar performance and fwd performance. Have fun ! By the way, I have a great friend that lives in Stuttgart. I just thought that I would share that with you.

Edited November 20, 2009 by David Simons (see edit history)

[wild bill]

question for you yellowdog. How does the car handle above 80 mph. thats probably the on ramp speed there!!!!

[yellowdog]

question for you yellowdog. How does the car handle above 80 mph. thats probably the on ramp speed there!!!!

Wild Bill you are so right. I punched it up to 95 and a late model Audi blew by me as if I was standing still. I have ridden with other people with late model Beemers who sail along at 110 fairly effortlessly and yet still have to make room for the Porsches.

The danger on the autobahn is not the high speeds per se, it is that there is such a wide span between the Jet pack supercars, and the family towing their camper cruising along at a stately 65 miles an hour. If that wasn't bad enough, some drivers, secure in the knowledge that the car coming up from behind is always at fault, will suddenly invade your lane when you are practically even with them. :mad:

As far as driving at the higher speed, I have not noticed any lifting or lightness in the front. My main concern is what the high revving is doing to the 20-year old seals and gaskets.

I am willing to put some money into the car so some rebuilding is OK. My preference is to get all the parts as needed from the States so that the local mechanics just have to bolt them on. Right now I have used a Chrysler dealership for some mechanical issues but I think I will want to find a specialist soon.

One idea I have batted around today is whether to have an engine modified as has been suggested and then have it shipped over and just dropped in.

[yellowdog]

The T-2 8 valve engine has a lot to offer in the arena of performance modifications. I just punched mine 30 over and decked the block a bit and shaved the head. I also ported and polished the head. Larger valves were installed with a triple angle seat and back cut. I also went to a larger 460 lift crane cam and offset the advance by two degrees. I also changed the smec and put larger fuel injectors in the engine. Now of course you can not do all of that without replacing and increasing the exhaust diameter and going completely through the transmission to make sure it will hold it. I made power gains from the stock 165hp to now making 300hp. Most of everything I ordered was available from mopar performance and fwd performance. Have fun ! By the way, I have a great friend that lives in Stuttgart. I just thought that I would share that with you.

I like the sound of your mods but was wondering how much increase the tranny can take before you need to modify it? 200? 250?

[yellowdog]

WARNING! NEOPHYTE QUESTIONS TO FOLLOW.

One thing I wanted to ask about before I head home tonight is whether anyone has replaced their 8v engine with the 16v one while keeping the auto tranny?

If I had a complete DOHC Maserati engine available and an upgraded SMEC programmed for the 16v, what would need to be changed to the rest of the car during the bolt on process? What issues or problems might there be? What would be incompatable?

[Bill Reichert]

The transmission won't take 8 valve mods very well unless modified. With mods it will take 400 hp.

[Bill Reichert]

Someone in Germany just posted on the other TC site!

Yahoo! Groups

[yellowdog]

The transmission won't take 8 valve mods very well unless modified. With mods it will take 400 hp.

Bill,

What kind of mods to the auto tranny are needed? There's a guy with a 16v engine (drop-in) for sale and I would like to use that (and an upgraded SMEC) to achieve the higher hp I'm looking for.

This could be way cool!

[yellowdog]

44 Fused J-2 (No CEL) Ignition On J2 not present to logic module in SMEC

45 Overboost Monitor Engine Running MAP sensor signal exceeds a predetermined amount of boost.

My first thought is the Hep in the distributor. They fail under heat or just the worst times. It's recommended to carry a spare.....Maybe that's why the screwdriver is in the tool kit? If it runs good today when you start it, that's a failing hep indication.

As for the J2, that gives me shivers since I had a bad splice in another car on that wire.

Finally got the dealership to take a look at the car (after a 2+ week wait as they are slammed right before Xmas) and it looks the fault is in the electrical system. Mechanical stuff all works so their best guess is that the problem is either in the SMEC itself or the wiring. Same deal with the ABS indicator light which has been on despite work done to the brakes by this same dealer and the seller.

Annoying to have this stuff all lit up even though the car is supposed to be OK.

One of the ex-military pilots I work with says that when they had an annoying warning light that wouldn't go off, the flight crew would just hide the problem behind black tape.

Any suggestions or should I get my own roll from the hardware store?

[Bill Reichert]

Join Turbo-Mopar.com and do a lot of reading there.

[Guest David Simons]

The TC carries a taller gear than does the Dayton and LeBaron GTC, couple that with the fact that the car is also heavier and the 413 transmission is pretty much at it's mechanical limits. As stated above, it will not take much modifying of the stock 8V engine. If you do not do a lot of trying to hole shot it, it may hold up for a while but it will be your weak link. If you are going to invest the money in modifying the engine, then do the transmission as well so that you can at the least enjoy it.

[Hemi Dude]

WARNING! NEOPHYTE QUESTIONS TO FOLLOW.

One thing I wanted to ask about before I head home tonight is whether anyone has replaced their 8v engine with the 16v one while keeping the auto tranny?

If I had a complete DOHC Maserati engine available and an upgraded SMEC programmed for the 16v, what would need to be changed to the rest of the car during the bolt on process? What issues or problems might there be? What would be incompatable?

One of the greatest problems with the TC with the 3 speed automatic is the final drive axle ratio. What is the highest speeds you drive, what is the RPM?

As you know, I have installed a 525 manual 5 speed in my 89 TC with the 8 valve engine. In this form it will drive at 120 easily without any engine strain at around 4,500 RPM and still have some punch left if I get on the throttle.

That transaxle is the totally wrong one to have on the autobahn.