i will be joining the dark side in the near future and i have one question at this point. is it safe to say that on stock internals you dont want to boost anymore than 3-5psi? or are there to many other variables to consider to be able to say that?
thanks

most say you can boost 5-7 lbs on stock internals with an intercooler
I wouldnt go over 5 lbs w/o intercooler
Some have been boosting 10lbs intercooled on stock internals with no problems so far.

But the general concensus is 5-7 on stock internals intercooled

Just avoid getting a lean condition and you've already won half the battle right there. Getting an EGT and accurate A\F gauge is a MUST for tuning.

Oh yeah, how long your motor will last largely depends, not always, on how its condition was before boosting. Do a compression test....good luck!!!

I went a year and 20,000 miles at 8 psi untill it blew.

u could use the tti head gasket to gain more room(less compression) use higher octane fuel when bumping up the boost say 5-7 in town maybe 9 at the track on114?

Well it's a never ending cycle really. 5-7psi on stock junk is ok, some have done it for a LONG time and some for a very sort time. But once you boost all you want is more and more and more. You know your fucked when 18psi isn’t fun anymore. :-)

I think you can boost 5-7 for a long long time if you really pay attention to everything.

Brian

I'm at 4-5psi for 17,000 with really no problems, but I drive like a sedated 85 year old woman. I'm gunna get a built motor before I have to deal with a blown motor.

On stock internals, you should be able to boost safely up to 8 psi, intercooled, as long as you don't tune too aggressively (leaning out fuel system too much) and if you could avoid the temptation to turn it up the boost juuust a little bit ;)

Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel

is the key to maintaining long life on stock internals. If you have the proper fuel and watch intake/egt temps, you can boost much more on a daily basis.

I say run it rich and keep your egt between 1500-1550. Get rid of the stock injectors, even if you only upgrade to 24LB Accel injectors with the fuel system that comes with your turbo kit. I do not trust our stock injectors and they have caused many problems with others blowing their motors.

With the cooler temps outside my egt has gone down to 1580 at 10.5 psi(star kit) on 93 octane. In the 100 degree heat of summer, 9 psi is all I could run and maintain 1580 degrees. The hotter intake temps caused my ecu to retard timing and then my egt would go up. The only way to maintain a constant egt, was to turn the boost down to 9 psi with my same fuel system settings.

I did counter this when I wanted to boost more at the track or long highway pulls. Lots of VP racing C16 race gas mixed with 93 octane. Who needs to retard timing when you can just raise the octane to slow fuel burn/ignition.

Just some thoughts early this morning.