What PSI does a TE-44 turbo become effective?

["Turbo-T"]

I had a guy tell me a TE-44 turbo needs to be set at lest 18 PSI or otherwise even a stock turbo would be producing more power than it (TE-44) would.

Any truth to this? Do TE-44's really need to be set at 18 PSI to really start to shine?

 

[bison]

There would be little gain running under 18psi in most instances. Depends on the combo. If its got heads and cam the 44 will make a lot more power than a stock turbo at 18psi.

 

[scojack_2001]

Turn up the boost. A MAGNA member recently went 11.35 on a TE-44 on pump gas and alchy. I might add that was a USED TE-44 and my own 2800 stall modified D5 out of my wrecked WH-1. He is also running a stock cam on a stock rebuilt engine.

A TE-44 will take you well into the 11s.

 

[84BuickGNYorkPA]

I also run a TE-44 and before alky I would run 16psi, after installing Razor's Alky Control I set the boost at 25-26 psi. Now it drives like a different car, I see that you already have alky in your signature. Like Scott said and this is assuming that you have no issues, I would turn the boost up....
As far as your question, I have no idea where the sweet spot is, but when I crank the boost up while at WOT from 16 to 25psi, you can feel the car pull stronger the whole way up the boost range.

Chuck

 

["Turbo-T"]

Thanks.

Yes the boost is currently set at 22-23.

Before it was at 14, and that was because there was no alky, and no TT chip.

I believe my heads are stock but the cam is a Poston's GN110T. The stall is stock.

 

[UNGN]

With ported heads, a TE44/TA49 will be faster than a stock Turbo at lower boost. With stock heads, it won't be.

I had my stock turbo running low 12's (high 7's in the 1/8th) at 18-20 psi and I bolted on a TA49 thinking my car was going to pick up .3 seconds like every said I would and the car slowed down .1.

I was like WTF

I added a pound of Boost to 19 psi and I was back to where I was with the stock turbo. At 20 psi, it was maybe about .1 faster.

It really wasn't until I raised the boost to 22-23 psi that it was .3 seconds faster than the stock turbo.

 

[scojack_2001]

Thanks.

Yes the boost is currently set at 22-23.

Before it was at 14, and that was because there was no alky, and no TT chip.

I believe my heads are stock but the cam is a Poston's GN110T. The stall is stock.

Put a 2800 stall in the car and it'll be an easy 11.50 car when its tuned in right.

Trust me, Ive seen it done.

 

[ReaL99]

Put a 2800 stall in the car and it'll be an easy 11.50 car when its tuned in right.

Trust me, Ive seen it done.

I run exactly 18lbs of Boost on the street with 93 Octane with my TE-44.It has 0 knock and my o2 Volt's are like 800 to 810.I gotta a 2800 stall converter in my Turbo Regal but I am looking at a 3200 PI 9.5 L/u single disc or 5 disc Stall Converter.It spools ok with the 2800 and still is a blast to drive but I think a 3200 L/U will help with the spooling and get me into Boost faster.Driving around town and immediately hitting the throttle doesn't make my car feel anywhere as fast as a stock turbo would.I don't plan on running higher then 18lbs of Boost until I get Alky.:wink: