Boost hits too hard. Should I solve it with a bigger turbo?

[we4Mateo]

Sounds like you're suffering from compressor surge (classic symptoms). Now, the 64 thousand dollar question is how to cure it. Hmmm good question, and I don't have a good answer except that sometimes it can be cured by changing the volume if the plumbing between the compressor output and the doghouse.
Hopefully others will have some input on compressor surge cures.

It's the alky. It makes the charge too dense for the motor to take it all at part throttle. When I turn my alky off and set max boost at 17psi or whatever, there are no surge issues at any throttle position or boost. When the alky is on, I just keep it below 12psi or above 15psi with my foot and no surge issues then either. I've tried tuning the alky controller every which way and getting the surge window down to this 3psi range is the best I could do while still having it do what I need above 15psi.

And as Bob mentioned, TE44s are surge happy anyway.

 

[TurboDave]

Have you tried turning the alky on later? I know IF I were running alky I wouldn't even have it start until at least 18# of boost since I'm able to run a safe 20# on 93 without alky anyway. Can you hold the turn on any later than you are?

 

[TT/Ameasap]

6262 Billet turbo with ported shroud is what I would recommend.
Here is a pic of my 6768 HPQ
This prevents the surge

 

[BuickMike]

I only have a 2-3 psi window where it surges too. I'd like to have alky Come on later, but its not about to happen with 91 octane E10 and 21 degrees of timing. Ive used 93 octane once. 17-18psi with 17 degrees or so timing was no problem on stock heads and cam.

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[TurboDave]

Is 91 all you can get?

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[T- Type Tim]

What rear sway bar u running just out of curiosity?

 

[we4Mateo]

Have you tried turning the alky on later? I know IF I were running alky I wouldn't even have it start until at least 18# of boost since I'm able to run a safe 20# on 93 without alky anyway. Can you hold the turn on any later than you are?

I'm in the same boat as Mike, I run 91 and to get away with the timing I run, I need to turn it on when I do. I've tried having it come on at 5psi with a low spray/longer ramp up and tried having it come on at 15psi with a harder initial spray and it ramps up too slow then for the speed with which my TE44 spools. I'm going to either a ported H or S cover on the next build and that should solve it. It's not violent surge like I had before the tornado, but it just chirps a bit between 12-15psi and is easy to drive around. If I wasn't addicted to running 25+psi, I'd have a low timing 18-20psi tune like you do. 93 octane would make it easier to tolerate the lower boost too.

 

[BuickMike]

Is 91 all you can get?

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Pump gas? Yes. Maybe one day I will go e85 if it catches on.

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[BuickMike]

What rear sway bar u running just out of curiosity?

Homemade pro touring bar. 2nd gen 2 door S10 rear bar.

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[T- Type Tim]

For what it's worth , I had/ have the same problem. I installed a DSE rear bar from Scott . It cut blowing the tires off it it down a bit , lowering tire pressure( DR) to 18 psi has got me working ok .

 

[BuickMike]

I need to drop the psi in my tires and see how that goes. It will be a week or so before I test. My powermaster went bad the other day, so I ordered up a Hydroboost setup that I need to install.

 

[TurboDave]

I need to drop the psi in my tires and see how that goes. It will be a week or so before I test. My powermaster went bad the other day, so I ordered up a Hydroboost setup that I need to install.

What happened to your Powermaster?

 

[we4Mateo]

What happened to your Powermaster?

Same thing that happens to all of them I'm guessing...

JK, I'm just not a PM fan.

 

[BuickMike]

Leaky switch plus black goo coming from accumulator into the reservoir. It was a lifetime warranty unit from Autozone, but they cannot get them anymore. They offered me $262 as a refund so I took it and spent $230 at RockAuto.com to get a new Hyrdoboost unit, master, PS hoses, 3/8 return line, and clamps. I was considering the vacuum conversion, but those who tried both seemed to be happier with the hydroboost setup. Hopefully I will be too.