newly swapped SR: wastegate functionality question

[maxima278]

First off, I'm new to the turbo world. I test drove my car last night without any vacuum lines hooked up and as soon as I started boosting my hotpipe blew clean off the intercooler. I've since learned that vacuum lines are not just for emissions any more...

I've since hooked up vacuum hoses; one from the right side nipple on the throttle body directly to the BOV, or recirc valve, whatever you have on a stock setup, and one from the cold pipe directly to the wastegate. I haven't been brave enough to get on the gas pedal since...

My question is; when I try to move the wastegate actuator with my hand it is very hard to move, should it be this way or is it actually working? I think it should work, but the car is still not running very smoothly yet (idling around 1500 rpm) and I really do not want to over boost.thanks

[ser2102]

well not hooking up any lines at all is a very bad idea. you need one for the fuel pressure regulator, or run the risk of running lean. you definately need the line for the actuator or you'll end up boosting way too much, and you need a line for the recirculating valve to prevent turbo surge. i got rid of all the other ones.

[inertiadrft]

you say its very hard to move the wastegate valve open, but as long as you can open it by hand even if its hard it means its probably good, also if you dont hook up the wastegate it should not boost outa control, if the wastegate spring is 7psi then it will open at around 7.5 to 8psi when not hooked up, I drove my car for a couple of months with the wastegate not hooked up and the only times It ever spiked was on the freeway and it only spiked up to about 10.5-11psi...im not saying to drive it like that but I dought your car overboosted...maybe the hot pipe was not tight enough.....oh and you should hook up your fuel regulator for shure...

[maxima278]

the fuel pressure regulator was already hooked up, but the BOV and wastegate were not hooked up, but they are now. It still seems to be running rough and idling around 1500 rpm, could any of that have something to do with vacuum lines? Timing?

[S13FASTBACKSR]

it is nearly impossible to move the wastegate actuator open by hand..i had mine completely out of the car and had the actuator drumlike part standing up on the table and i pused down on the rod and it didnt move..it takes a lot of pressure..atleast more than i could do..once i hooked a compressor up to it worked fine. also you should relocate that nipple for your wastegate which you have on your coldpipe over to your hotpipe..the closer it is to the wastegate the better. as far as your idling problem it could be many things...check your timing first and also did you mess with your idle adjustment screw? check your ecu for codes thats the easiest thing to do.

[maxima278]

thanks, that puts my mind at ease a little. I've solved a lot of issues between when I created this thread and now, and the car is running great. Onto cooling issues now...