RB20 boost falling

[s14Geoff]

Hey guys, hoping someone can help me with this, it should be at the stock 10 psi but
I'll be driving and when i get on it 1st gear gets to about 3 psi and falls off 2nd gets to about 8 psi then falls off and 3rd will get to 10 but falls off
I don't feel a loss in power while the needle is falling so I'm wondering if its just my boost gauge?
I have cheap glowshift ebay gauges so maybe its a bad gauge? or maybe the vacuum line to the gauge is leaking?
I've tightened all my hose clamps and replaced a few that seemed bad (Godspeed kit has kinda s*** clamps)
I'll see if it helped any next time i drive somewhere but hoping someone might have some input
really just want to get my pipes welded so boost leaks isn't even in the equation....

[s14Geoff]

so I've read around online it could be a sign of the turbo running out of life or its because the turbo can't flow enough air
could this be why?

[Yellow4g63]

sounds like a problem with the internal waste gate. I'd start my quest in that direction.

[s14Geoff]

Ok ill look into it! Is it normal not reaching full boost in first? Some places I've read that's normal

[s14Geoff]

Think I've narrowed it down to an exhaust leak. Gonna do some tests and if it is I'm gonna replace all the manifold studs and gasket. Might do the turbo gasket while the manifold is off too

[Yellow4g63]

check the turbo to manifold nuts, mine were crazy lose when I took my stock turbo off for the 1st time. Didn't have your issues tho.

[s14Geoff]

Ok ill check that out too! Is it bad to drive with exhaust leaks? I'm thinking that I'm close to done with my 5 speed swap in my other car so I might dd that when its done and pull the engine to make the process easier. How much of a pain in the a** is it to pull off the manifold with turbo connected while inside the bay?

[Yellow4g63]

if it's a the turbo it will make the car slower.

[s14Geoff]

Found my problem whoops

[Yellow4g63]

is that your intercooler piping?

[Largekid]

holy s***. Whoever ran that IC pipe needs slapped.

[s14Geoff]

Yes sir and ill admit I ran it but you learn from your mistakes right? This was my first motor swap and turbo car

[Largekid]

Yes sir and ill admit I ran it but you learn from your mistakes right? This was my first motor swap and turbo car

agreed, we all start somewhere. My first swap I had a shorty header rub through a brake line I didn't catch.

[s14Geoff]

Got my piping ran way better now. Going to either pay a guy at my work to weld them or he will show me how but idk if I can cause its aluminum and I've never welded





I have some extra pipe to fill in the places with couplings