12 Psi At 45 Degress F - Decent?

[jdlc]

NOTE: For your comments and encouraging words

So, I finally had the chance to play with my MBC today after I removed my leaky BOV and installed a new CBV. It's getting cold here in the NE, and today was about 45 degress F. No spiking, boost holds, but the most I can do is 12psi without the engine bogging down after several adjustments.

My set-up (will mention what is commonly discussed as boost factors)

My wastegate rod setting looks 'stock' because it ligns up when I unhook it, and I have no gap in the actuator arm so no hammering needed . I have stock ecu as stated, have paper air filter, not sure about the plug gap. Almost certain I have no leak because I fashioned a home-made boost leak tester, and even put teflon on my MBC, which is hooked up properly with as short as possible hoses, and with BCS disconnected in the loop (except the mandatory electrical connection). Previous owner recently replaced the turbo with a used but 'newer' one, and I can only hope it has no significant shaft play. Turbo seems to use oil but not that excessive and is normal per this forum. Coil is stock, as well as the injectors (orange). Car has dual 2-1/2 exhaust, 'home-made' rip-kit, 'newer' 16T turbo (so I'm told by previous owner), and a 'newer' AT from '98 that requires tapping into one of the front ABS sensors for speedometer (rewired it good already and applied liquid tape protection because it was acting up since crimps were exposed to elements when I got the car).

Works done.

Staged 0+ the car (used 94 855 Turbo AT with 162k engine), minus O2 sensors. Serviced PCV (no more smoky!), replaced all vacuum hoses save the big one that goes to the power assist, took care of all leaks (waterpump, cam seals, axle seals), did seafoam thru vac, did seafoam in the crank case followed by pan drop and changed the sump o-rings, used synth oil, replaced turbo return line o-ring and gasket, flushed tranny with 12 qts Mobil1, replaced fuel filter, cleaned MAF, replaced thermostat and CTS and rad hoses and flushed the coolant with Volvo anti-freeze, and replaced passenger side axle with remanufactured axle. Oem air filter is fairly new, cap and rotor are fairly new too, as well as the plugs as they were recently replaced by previous owner, although I have not really checked them out as far as gap is concerned. I can tell the plugs are new when I replaced the wires with oem Bougicord, but at the time, I didn't have a compressor available and thought I would remove the plugs once I do (didn't want craps to get to the chamber - imagined or real). Suspension upgraded, front-end fixed, brakes serviced and calipers painted, AC charged, cabin lights fixed, and cleaned the car (interior was filthy so it's worth mentioning that ) Also installed a set of newer V70 tails, clear corners, and the headlight lenses are recently replaced with e-code and silverstar bulbs are pretty decent with them.

At this point, what I think could do even before ecu upgrade are:

. get K & N drop-in filter

. pull the spark plugs and gap them accordingly (or get a set of Volvo turbo plugs)

. get rid of rip-kit and do samco and probably clean the intercooler

Still thinking about it but probably would not do the following based on what I learned searching (my aim being only 18psi)

. mess with the actuator rod

. install CAI (not a big fan of exposed air filter)

. get better injectors

I'm done with the car for the season, will probably pursue next step comes summer.

Was told a little over 14psi is all one can attain with stock ecu. Also learned here that the outside temp is a big factor in boost pressure one can attain. So, is my 12 psi a decent boost at this point? My goal for this car is to boost at 18psi with ecu upgrade as required. What I was trying to do up to this point is to 'base-line' the car so all issues will be out of the way before upgrading the ecu. That seems to be the way to go based on tips I found here.

Thanks for all comments

And thank you for all vs members who sold me some of the parts I needed, you know who you all are

OrleeC

[TorqueSteer]

Funny you mention this, I disconnected my piggyback ecu to see what the stock ecu feels like. On my super16g turbo, which flows significantly more than the stock 16t and 15g's, I can run up to 16 psi with water injection before I experience misfires. I am running Green 475 cc R injectors and air fuel is right at 11.8 at that boost level.

[JHEIII874T5M]

Orlee, that 12 PSI should be perfectly fine, sounds like you're happy and it's running well. :)

[jdlc]

Orlee, that 12 PSI should be perfectly fine, sounds like you're happy and it's running well.

Yeah, with all those five smileys in my long post, you could tell I am.

Hey, forgot to thank you in my original post, so thanks Joseph, for answering all my Turbo newbie q's, both in pm and in the public forum.

- OrleeC