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Waste Gate Adjustment


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Mike C.

 

the wastegate actuator arm is supposed to have some preload. If you can pull on the arm by hand and connect it to the wastegate flapper by hand then you are either a bodybuilder or more likely don't have anywhere near enough preload. Abut 1/8th to 3/16ths of an inch mismatch between the hole in theactuator arm and the pin it's supposed to fit over is a good starting point.

 

The way I install the wastegate is to use an air compressor with a quality regulator. With the regulator dialed to zero pounds of output I SLOWLY raise it towards 8 psi. Somewhere around 5 to 8 psi the arm should start extending. The correct pressure (=boost level) depends on the model year car - get the compressor making that much PSI. Then adjust the turnbuckle-end of the actuator rod to half or one turn PAST the wastegate flapper pin. You want the wastegate flapper to be open just a little bit at the desired pressure. Otherwise you'll have boost overshoot which can lead to other problems. Dial the compressor pressure down 1 or 2 psi so the arm and pin align and install.

 

Note: don't put excess pressure into the wastegate actuator - 12 psi is pretty much the limit. Anything more than that and you risk damaging it, especially if it's several years old.

 

When doing the compressor trick with the 3-port style wastegate actuators, use the port closest to the arm and use 7 to 8 psi on the compressor - not the 10.5 psi that 88-later cars (the ones that came with the 3-port actuator) are spec'ed to. This port of the 3-port actuator is supposed to be 7.5 psi. It's the 2-port side that implements the 10.5 psi boost limit.

 

mike c.

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