Need advice on rebuild/turbo decision.

[nova]

Ok, heres my deal. I have a 1994 Camaro with 3.4L with 137K miles on it.

I'm currently trying to design a turbo setup for it. I'm barely into it and have yet to fabricate anything.

My problem is this. I'm beginning to worry that with the amount of miles on my engine and the way my car has felt lately it may not be able to stand up to the stress of boost.

It doesn't have the "punch" that it had even just a month or so ago. It almost feels as as if its suffering a slight loss of compression which could be a serious problem under boost.

Given the info I've provided (which isn't much I'll admit) should I continue with the turbo and rebuild later or should I postpone the turbo, acquire another engine and begin rebuilding it so I make sure and not destroy anything.

I'm leaning more towards rebuilding first but I want some other opinions. I just can't decide at this point.

[Backfire]

I will be the first to admit I have little experience with anything like this, but aren't there compression testers that can be used to give you an actual number instead of a "feeling"? That way you would know for sure what kind of shape your cylinders are in. Probably cost a few bucks to have a shop do it, but atleast you will know if you need a new motor or not.

[ June 05, 2002: Message edited by: Backfire ]</p>

[nova]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Backfire:
I will be the first to admit I have little experience with anything like this, but aren't there compression testers that can be used to give you an actual number instead of a "feeling"? That way you would know for sure what kind of shape your cylinders are in. Probably cost a few bucks to have a shop do it, but atleast you will know if you need a new motor or not.

[ June 05, 2002: Message edited by: Backfire ]<hr></blockquote>

You can do a compression test with a guage and shop air. I don't know how hard it is or how much engine disassembly there is though.

[Shadly]

I would concentrate on your turbo setup. If you blow something with turbo, you found a weak point and can improve upon it. Face it, you're going to break something. Might as well be an older, aging part. You'd feel pretty bad if you had to tear down a recent rebuild to replace something. Good luck! (and hurry up, dammit! I want some turbo!) :D

[nova]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Shadly:
I would concentrate on your turbo setup. If you blow something with turbo, you found a weak point and can improve upon it. Face it, you're going to break something. Might as well be an older, aging part. You'd feel pretty bad if you had to tear down a recent rebuild to replace something. Good luck! (and hurry up, dammit! I want some turbo!) :D <hr></blockquote>

The only thing is if I blow something up, I'm completely screwed because I have no other way of getting around.

With a rebuild I can continue driving with no problem and myself and a friend can swap the engine over a three day holiday weekend.

If I wasn't at school it wouldn't be a problem because I could use one of my parents vehicles if I had to. The fact is though, that I'm 4 hours away from them.

I think it will be easier to design my turbo setup if I have an engine outside the vehicle too. I think I could figure out how to run the oil and coolant lines along the engine a lot eaiser.

Plus if I rebuild the engine, there ain't gonna be no d*mn weak spot. :D Its gonna be built as tough as possible from the ground up so I can run a lot of boost. Maybe 12 psi.

I still havn't decided though. I was hoping I could get some more input in here.