No comment on a turbo for a 292; never done it, don't know.
Have been fascinated by turbos since 1964, when a friend bought a Spyder.
In 1979, special ordered a 2.3 factory turbo (that company whose name rhymes with the last name of a well-know Tennessee country singer). Have had a chance to compare the guts of a turbo engine to the guts of the same engine (hehe) without the turbo. The only thing shared is the displacement! Different block, crank, rods, pistons, rings, valves, springs, bolts, etc.
After taking delivery of the car, called the factory, and got lucky, as the turbo project lead engineer happened to be available. Wonderful guy, lots of helpful information. Suggested using special oil in the engine, as the turbo used crankcase oil. He also suggested ALWAYS allowing the engine to idle for 30 seconds before shutdown to allow the turbo to spin down. Also told me about the adjustable wastegate that the sales department replaced with a non-adjustable wastegate. Now factory 5.25 # boost adjusted to 7.5 # boost.
How does it run? With a 5.0 litre in the same year, make, and model AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THE RPM BETWEEN 5000 AND 8000 RPM. Forget ANY torque below 2500 RPM, and very little below 3500 RPM!
Great fuel economy, but DEMANDS a minimum of 93 octane AKI. With less, severe detonation, even though the special electronic distributor is connected to a boost sensor, and retards in two stages of 6 degrees each for a total retard (from normal) of 12 degrees once the boost is over 3 #.
Would I buy another FACTORY installation? YES! Bought a second one used for the wife.
Would I try to modify any engine NOT designed for a turbo? Not only NO, but ****NO. I don't walk as well as I once did, but a whole lot better than I would if my legs were sawed off at the knees!
Would I try to talk a friend out of doing it? YES!
My only personal experiences with living with a turbo.
EDIT: I still have the original, but we traded the wife's turbo for a mini-van.
Jon.
Last edited by carbking; 09/11/2019 10:16 PM.
