porkchopsandwiches
New member
Hi,
I just recently purchased Ty #1852 off Bring A Trailer: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1992-gmc-typhoon-5/
Probably paid a little more than I should have, but I've wanted one of these trucks since I was 15 or so (I'm 25 now). I actually didn't see that auction until the last day when my buddy sent me a link, and I got a little impulsive and over-excited and ended up winning! The truck was local to me here in Colorado, which was convenient. The truck definitely needs work, it cuts boost and loses power if you're on it more than 3/4 throttle, but seems to run well until then. It puffs oil smoke on startup but goes away immediately and doesn't come back while driving (valve stem seals?). Idle is a little rough but I wasn't sure if these motors had balance shafts or not. Leaks oil like an absolute sieve. But the body is in good shape, no rust, the paint is fair. The aftermarket sunroof is a bummer, but oh well. I work at a small auto broker / auto shop that specializes in older BMWs, Porsches, and JDM vans, so I'm pretty familiar with older fuel injection systems / older engine management and how finicky they can be. I tend to obsess over making things right, so I intend to get this thing running as it should, might pull the motor to reseal it and do a valve job (and bottom end rebuild if it really looks like it needs it) and basically bring it to a point where everything is functioning right (a/c, locks, windows, etc). and then maybe do a few performance upgrades, but nothing too crazy. It looks like there could be some sort of aftermarket engine control stuff on it, but I haven't quite gotten as far as investigating that yet.
I am going to start by replacing the cap, rotor, wires, and plugs with OEM ACDelco stuff (unless there's better alternatives), fuel filter, oil change, replace the alternator because the lights are flickering when the engine is on, smoke test, fuel pressure test, check timing, check wastegate operation, replace O2 sensor, as well as the thermostat, as it doesn't ever seem to get up to temp. I pulled one spark plug the other day just to see which ones were in it and they were NGK copper something or other, but what surprised me is that there was almost no buildup on it, almost like the truck is running super lean. I'm not familiar with these trucks but older BMWs that run copper plugs tend to dirty them up real quick, even when they're running right! I might also pull the injectors and have a local guy rebuild / clean and flow test them (he only charges $25 a pop) since this truck has done so much sitting - if the CARFAX is to be believed, it's only done about 6,000 miles in the last 10 years.
Real stoked on this thing, I've been trying to not drive it too much since it isn't running right, but the turbo noise / horse sneeze noise when you let off makes me giggle like a giddly little schoolgirl every time! I can't wait to get it running properly!
I just recently purchased Ty #1852 off Bring A Trailer: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1992-gmc-typhoon-5/
Probably paid a little more than I should have, but I've wanted one of these trucks since I was 15 or so (I'm 25 now). I actually didn't see that auction until the last day when my buddy sent me a link, and I got a little impulsive and over-excited and ended up winning! The truck was local to me here in Colorado, which was convenient. The truck definitely needs work, it cuts boost and loses power if you're on it more than 3/4 throttle, but seems to run well until then. It puffs oil smoke on startup but goes away immediately and doesn't come back while driving (valve stem seals?). Idle is a little rough but I wasn't sure if these motors had balance shafts or not. Leaks oil like an absolute sieve. But the body is in good shape, no rust, the paint is fair. The aftermarket sunroof is a bummer, but oh well. I work at a small auto broker / auto shop that specializes in older BMWs, Porsches, and JDM vans, so I'm pretty familiar with older fuel injection systems / older engine management and how finicky they can be. I tend to obsess over making things right, so I intend to get this thing running as it should, might pull the motor to reseal it and do a valve job (and bottom end rebuild if it really looks like it needs it) and basically bring it to a point where everything is functioning right (a/c, locks, windows, etc). and then maybe do a few performance upgrades, but nothing too crazy. It looks like there could be some sort of aftermarket engine control stuff on it, but I haven't quite gotten as far as investigating that yet.
I am going to start by replacing the cap, rotor, wires, and plugs with OEM ACDelco stuff (unless there's better alternatives), fuel filter, oil change, replace the alternator because the lights are flickering when the engine is on, smoke test, fuel pressure test, check timing, check wastegate operation, replace O2 sensor, as well as the thermostat, as it doesn't ever seem to get up to temp. I pulled one spark plug the other day just to see which ones were in it and they were NGK copper something or other, but what surprised me is that there was almost no buildup on it, almost like the truck is running super lean. I'm not familiar with these trucks but older BMWs that run copper plugs tend to dirty them up real quick, even when they're running right! I might also pull the injectors and have a local guy rebuild / clean and flow test them (he only charges $25 a pop) since this truck has done so much sitting - if the CARFAX is to be believed, it's only done about 6,000 miles in the last 10 years.
Real stoked on this thing, I've been trying to not drive it too much since it isn't running right, but the turbo noise / horse sneeze noise when you let off makes me giggle like a giddly little schoolgirl every time! I can't wait to get it running properly!
