Help/Question About Boost gauge

[Silverbullet91]

I need some guidance from all you turbo guys. I'm putting the finishing touches on my SR swap. Please keep in my mind this is my first turbo'd engine. Today I put on an autometer boost gauge and tested it in the driveway. At idle the needle held steady at -20 and when I hit the throttle it would jump up to 0 for a second and then quickly fall back down to -20. Is this normal and the motor just has to be under a load (driving down the road) to see boost show on the gauge, or is something wrong. I tee'd into the fuel pressure regulator. Thanks.

[D1 guy]

yeah the car has to be under a load....road...dyno...etc. Fuel line? You Td off of the fuel line?

[Silverbullet91]

That kinda makes sense. I guess the motor can breathe a lot easier without being under a load so it doesn't make any boost. I didn't tee of the fuel line itself but the vaccum hose going from the throttle body to the fuel pressure regulator. It might be kinda of hard to drive with gas shooting all over the place coming from the gauge. Thanks man.

[Nismo_Freak]

Thats normal.

Sounds like your engine is pretty healthy too, it's pulling full vacuum at idle.

Typically the engine has to be under load to produce boost, the BOV will open if you rev it high enough, but it won't really vent much.

[slide240wayz]

So where is the proper place to tee it into, a vacuum line? My car at idle stays at 0, and when I give it gas, it goes down into the vacuum section of the boost gauge. I tee'd it into the wastegate hose running to the vacuum, which is how a friend of mine has his.

[9240sx]

Tee it off the FPR vaccum line.

[Silverbullet91]

Yeah, everything I ever read said to tee the boost gauge into the vaccum line going from the top left of the throttle body to the FPR.

[rudee023]

Just a sidenote, autometer are known to be some of the least accurate boost guages. Your motor seems fine though.

[Nismo_Freak]

Just a sidenote, autometer are known to be some of the least accurate boost guages. Your motor seems fine though.

They work alright for the price.

[slide240wayz]

The vacuum lines run differently on the S14 sr's though. Com someone point out which one it is specifically on the S14. Thank you.

[Silverbullet91]

My boost gauge is fine. I was able to test drive the car this weekend. The gauge shot right up to the stock 7 psi. Thanks.