O.K., am I completely clueless here? I went to go adjust the waste gate today on my car, a 1984 300D California version *with* the recirculation valve on the turbo. It is a Garrett turbo, not a KKK. (Man, that is a politically incorrect name if there ever was one – maybe someone should clue in the guys at the factory :) )

I carefully examined it visually everywhere that I could actually get a line of sight to see, and then I used a dental probe all around the retaining spring/clip/ring. I felt all around the circumference of the retaining spring for the cover, and I could not find a gap anywhere. And I mean Anywhere. What is going on here? Incompetence? Or is there a possibility that this type of turbo is actually somehow *sealed* and cannot be adjusted? Being that it has the recirculation valve, it probably is the same turbo used on the 1985 Federal cars.

Has anyone else come across this problem? Or was I just having a brain-dead sort of day?

Thanks everyone!

It's a real pain. I might try a manual boost controller instead. Sounds tempting, especially because it's only 50 bucks.

http://www.turbologic.com/joepmbc/

Supposedly the best manual boost controller.

It can be done, the spring is flat, about 2 wraps, and there is a gap at the end that you can get a small screwdriver or knife blade into. It looks like a short slinky toy. You almost have to feel the spot, it has a bit of taper at the end to get a blade into and then you unwind it.

Jerry's right. You need a dental mirror and a flashlight in order to find the end of the spring. If and when you finally remove it, take a file and file at the end a little bit, so that its shine will make it more discernible the next time. After two or three removals, you'll be a pro.

Once the cover is removed, you may encounter a little trouble removing the locknut. You'll need a 13mm (I think) wrench that has been filed to less than 1/8" thickness, in order to prevent the entire bolt assembly from turning as you loosen the locknut. It helps also to have a slight bend near the head of the wrench.

Remember also that a resultant ALDA adjustment may be in order once you complete the wastegate tweak.

A-hah! Enlightenment from those in the know….
 

Thank you for the information. I did not know that the retaining spring was “Like a short Slinky toy”. I had assumed that it was just like a regular circlip, but without the rings on the ends for circlip pliers to grab onto. See what sort of trouble assumptions can get one into? :)

And Speedy300 must have been reading my mind. Here is what I found: http://www.turbocity.com/Turbos/turbochargers.html#Dial%20-%20A%20-%20Boost At the bottom of the page is a unit they call “dial a boost”.

However, when I called them I was told that it is simply a bleeder type device, while apparently the other one is not (so how *does* it work?). Anyone can devise a bleeder valve…

It sounds & looks like a MAJOR pain in the butt to remove the retainer spring, especially for someone with large hands & little patience :). An adjustable override seems the way to go. I’ll post a follow up when I install or make one.

Thanks again everyone!

I'm also looking to use the manual boost controller. It sounds like a great alternative to the "pain in the butt" wastegate cover removal. Plus, when you want to do future adjustments, all you do is pop the hood and turn a knob. I'll post my results when the time comes.

Hey, Speedy:

Hang tight on that purchase – I’m coming up with some really good information while researching the subject. I’ll be posting some info within a few days.