I have a 95 Civic with a junkyard turbo set up. Saab turbo w/internal wastegate, turbonetics BOV, Vortech FMU and a missing link. When I first put this together I could only get 3 PSI (on 2 separate boost guages), but it had pretty good pull when I stepped on the gas. I was thinking this is going to be incredible if I get 6-8 psi.

I tried tightening the wastegate actuator bolt, so it wouldn't open too soon, but I have no way of varifying if the wastegate even opens up. When I rev the engine from under the hood the wastegate actuator doesn't move at all. I'm sure there is not much boost going, b/c the bov doesn't make noise unless I'm driving it.

Anyone experience this? How can I get more boost? What's wrong?

Thanks!!!

 

the bov wont make much noise unless your moving no matter what. the moving car keeps the vacuum going that keeps it open. did it make a difference on the gauge after you messed with it?

 

Wastegate seat or turbo housing cracked, maybe? Sounds like a leak of some sort. Maybe it's not the boost, maybe it's just a vacuum leak in the line to the gauge.

 

hmm whats the wastegate set at? Get a boost controller......that mite help.......or hurt lol.

 

The wastegate is factory from Saab, so it is set at 6-8psi, I'm guessing.

After tightening the bov the boost did not go up and the bov did not blow.

I think Street Sniper maybe right about a leak. The guy I bought the manifold from welded a bead near the o2 sensor (possible leak). I think I'm going put on another HF manifold I have lying around.

How can I check for leaks in the system?

 

you would hear it... it would sound like crap. like a slight phhh phhh phhh sound to a 4 wheeler allmost

 

you might have a boost leak too. you can build a tester for it, you would not believe how many leaks Leviii had in his EVO. but now it holds nicely at 18psi. and its faster than it was stock at 19.5 peak. (tapered to about 16)

 

Holy crap. That kid is running 18 pounds?

 

It's an Evo...

Anything less than 18 lbs, and I'd be wondering where he drilled extra holes...

 

yeah, stock peaks at 19.5, then tapers off to about 16. if you use a manual boost controller, you can set it to about 18-20, even 22 safely, and it will hold that boost through redline. pulls like a banshee at 18.