Can't Boost over 19-20 lbs

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twstdv6

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
197
Okay! it jumps up to 20lbs of boost almost immediately, and will drop to 18-19lbs and stay there with no knock. I was running a 3.5 inch internal downpipe w/no cat. The problem is, I was running the same combo with a stock turbo and just figured it was maxed out, upgraded to a TE-60 and i still only get 19-20lbs of boost. So I just ordered a TT chip and new Cotton's 3" External gated Downpipe. I have been trouble shooting this for month's and need some help. My thought may chip or Downpipe puck not sealing correctly. The item's in my signature are correct, minus the external gated Downpipe and TT chip which I will be installing this morning. What could it be?
 
Problem==not turbo related...WG puck not sealing properly?--WG controller adjustment? WG solenoid? Have you tried tuner-style hookup?
 
Problem==not turbo related... New Turbo & HD Actuator

WG puck not sealing properly? Seemed to be alittle of from center, but not enough to not build boost, and the 3.5" was hitting the frame and making vibration, so I sold it.

WG controller adjustment? New & screwed all the way in.

WG solenoid? Could actually be the solenoid, will check that. I actually took the hose off the compressor housing and ran it under boost, which it should have spiked up, but it didn't, still only 19-20lbs.

Have you tried tuner-style hookup? Never heard of it, could you explain? Thanks!
 
"Tuner Style" hook up is when you run a vacuum line from the turbo to the wastegate actuator.
 
Well i will give you one of my problems that no one thought of. This may not be your problem, but here it go. When i first got my car the timing chain broke, and the guy i took it to to fix it tried to crank the engine, which cause all the valves to bend. After that the car never boosted the same 3years later with waste gates,DP, boost controllers ect... The valve guides were wallowed out so bad that it was lettong boost escape pass the valves, so if your valves have been bent, or alot of miles on your heads that maybe the last thing you can try! I only found this out after replacing the heads with a new set.
 
"Tuner Style" hook up is when you run a vacuum line from the turbo to the wastegate actuator.

This is substantially correct--altho it will be a "pressure line". With this set-up, the WG solenoid & in-line orifice is bypassed& spool-up will, of course, be slower

jd, sounds like the WG controller itself...How far do you have to pull the rod out (of diaphragm)to install on WG puck lever/pin? Min. boost w/ a HD controller (about 1/8" tension on rod @ rest) is usually around 17-18#). Even a regular duty adjustable WG controller will run mid 20's boost??

I would hope nothing is blocking your air flow in lines or IC!?
 
Do you have the "y" hose hooked up right? with the restricted end of the hose going to the turbo compressor? Maybe a leaky header or crossover?
What are your blm's at hot idle.
 
The wastegate Actuator was screwed all the way in, I was running 20lbs of boost with stock turbo & stock wastgate. Swithched to a TE-60 & new HD acuator and still 20lbs of boost. It may very well be the solenoid. The new external gated pipe setup, I am plumbing in right now. I am going to eliminate the solenoid all together and use a boost controller and see what happens.

Y-hose is hooked up correctly & headers were just off and are without leaks. Trying to get it put together so I can start it up and check the blms.
 
Finally got it up over 20lbs of boost, got some knock, then I added fuel and it happened. Something went wrong, it started smoking and oil was coming out of my breather under boost. Then started smoking from tailpipes under the lightest acceleration. Sounds like a blown head gasket alittle, thru the breathers, alot of blow by in valve covers. going to do a compression check in the morning. I checked the plugs and they are fine. Thinkin it must be within the heads.
 
Checked Compression and none on cylinder 4, the rest are at 100. Seems I fried the #4 piston, motor should be out by Thursday. I am going to go thru it once again, I guess detonation does kill, Never again. I am also going to do the heads this time, man this is some bull sh*t.
 
Checked Compression and none on cylinder 4, the rest are at 100. Seems I fried the #4 piston, motor should be out by Thursday. I am going to go thru it once again, I guess detonation does kill, Never again. I am also going to do the heads this time, man this is some bull sh*t.

You might want to pull the heads first; it could be just a blown head qasket into the intake valley.

How many miles on the engine?
 
You might want to pull the heads first; it could be just a blown head qasket into the intake valley. >> That's what I thought to. I will try & pull them off First and see. Is there anyway to do it without Disconnecting the tranny and tilting the motor? Because the heads are Studded. If not, I guess the new torque converter will be going in too.

How many miles on the engine? >>3-4k on it, I should have let off when I heard the detonation. I know the motor was built right, as I watched the builder put my motor together, It may very well be a blown head gasket, but it has alot of blow by, it blew the passenger breather off and shot oil everywhere. It starts fine and idles with no smoke, but when I drove it home, it smoked up the whole street under the lightest acceleration.
 
Man that BLOWS! Perhaps something happened to your alcohol you thought you were injecting??

What did you do to finally get your boost over 19-20#??

You really should come up with a REASON for your detonation before you re-boost...
 
Update! It was a blown head gasket in the valley pan, the #4 cylinder. heads are off, going to have them gone thru and freshened up. Going to check the cam & lifter tonight to make sure nothings worn. Whooo! I Really didn't feel like pulling the motor, but as much as you gotta take off it's about the same. LOL!
 
So did you switch to a manual boost controller and get it to raise the boost??

Also, what was the psi you saw or heard the knock at??

Didn't sound like your alky kit was helping you out and adding more fuel is not going to kill knock unless you add a ton of it which will mask some knock.

At least it's not the motor, might want to get some ported stockers to save some time if you want to make more power while they are off.
 
20 psi on HD wasgate tightened down ???

sounds like you should have checked your vac lines and fittings to the boost gauge , id suspect that at 20psi the boost line was leaking and you were making plenty of bost just not reading it at the gauge .
zipties and presure test the gauge to be sure it can read to 30psi before you run again . just my2
 
Up-N-Running

Hey Everybody! Finally got it put back together. Got it fired up last night and let it run for about 30 min. Sounds better than before. I'm gonna drive it Saturday to see how it does, I'll be taking it easy though. I double checked all of everything I could think of, when I was putting it back together, and some new parts to. Thanks for al the input!
 
I switched from 4" meagaflow MAf to 3" LS1, Improved idle & throttle response. I was getting about 16lbs of boost with 4" with knock, after a new PCV and switching back to 3" LS1, I can acheive 20lbs with no knock. actually feels like a new car. What's this? Is the 4" Megaaflow not good? Anyone seen this? or?
 
Good to hear you're back in business...Nope, in my rather limited experience, I've never even heard of Megaflow (except for exhaust)??
 
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