[markcanderson]

Say I'm fitting a new uprated wastegate actuator ..

And I want to check that baseboost etc is set-up correctly.. how would I go about doing that?

What kind of calibrated gauge do I need to source?

Where do I get the necessary vacuum feed on the 2.3 lump?

How do I read it whilst the car is in motion ?

Where can I get such a gauge in NL?

 

[Eric van Spelde]

Go to the Saab dealer/specialist. They have friggin' huge (about 6"dia) calibrated boost gauge for test purpose which they hang from the inside rearview mirror.
Don't think Van Leenen has one, though - turbo system checks not being a particular forte of them anyways, as I remember from a test drive with his mechanic in a customer's car...

For a vacuum/boost feed - they normally just tee off one of the hoses on the intake manifold.

 

[SteveN]

BillJ has (you'll be really surprised to hear) a test procedure on his site. You can run the vacuum line from the blanked test nipple on the back of the inlet manifold. Any calibrated gauge going to about 1.5 or 2 bar will do (e.g. TIM, VDO &c from race parts shops (Demon Tweaks, Merlin &c). I ended taping mine to the top of the dash as a temporary measure to test boost levels.

 

[markcanderson]

I don't think I have a blanked test nipple at the back of the intake manifold. (ooh err )

 

[SteveN]

Crikey: Eric had time to post and edit while I posted that one

My comment about the test nipple wasn't meant to be sarky: it's just there is one!

[edit] I wrote that before Mark_A's comment: I must learn to type fast.

 

[SteveN]

Are you sure Mark? I didn't think they year specific or anything. Look at where the hose runs into the inlet manifold from the dump valve. Next to it there should be a nipple with a black rubber cap over it.

Hope you have one but if I'm wrong I'm wrong and go with Eric's Tee suggestion.

 

[billj]

I bought a Gunson gauge for base boost measurement. It's designed to measure manifold vacuum and fuel pressure, but it measures air pressure fine too. It goes up to 10PSI (it's also marked in bar), which is enough for base boost, and has a reasonably-sized scale. I bought it in Halfords (are there Halfords in NL?) and I think it cost about £10 or £20.

I thought all 9000s had the extra nipple (like Scaramanga? ), but I could be wrong.

If you don't already know, the figure you're shooting for is 0.40 +/- 0.03 bar. With a brand new actuator, set the adjustment so the end of the rod slips easily over the pin on the wastegate lever, then screw the end on 3.5 turns for the initial measurement. After adjustment, you must end up with at least two turns of pretensioning, even if this brings the pressure to the upper limit (which is what I always find works better anyway).

Latest info I have (not yet in my procedure) says to put the auto box in 2nd gear and take the measurement just below 3000rpm.

While you're measuring boost, maximum boost on a B234L auto should be 0.77 +/- 0.03 bar.

 

[billj]

Oops, just noticed it's an uprated one, so you'll probably be ignoring the standard boost figures?

 

[markcanderson]

The local Saab dealership (Hartveld Saab) mechanic said I should T-Piece from one of the vacuum lines on the intake manifold assembly.. is this correct..?

I tried looking for a vaccum/boost gauge today.. only place selling them was Brezan and it was really expensive (200euro) with all sorts of extra bits.. I just want a cheap calibrated gauge for this job.. is this too much to ask?

Bill, those figures you gave me.. do they hold true for my car with Abbott Motorsport ECU, Abbott Motorsport uprated wastegate actuator, and 3'' downpipe?

 

[mark e]

Mark,

Without wishing to rudely state the blindly obvious- If I were you I'd have a word with Abbott and see what base boost they recommend for their set up

 

[mark e]

PS congrats on making it to 1000 posts!

 

[markcanderson]

Mark E,

Well they state that the wastegate capsule should have a preload of 3 to 4mm on the wastegate arm locating pin. For automatic cars a figure of 0.9 bar shouldn't be exceeded above 3500rpm with a maximum of 0.70 bar at 5000rpm..

So will that hold true for the 3'' downpipe too?

 

[mark e]

The downpipe will gain you a few more hp compared to a standard one by removing some of the resistance to gas flow. Lowering the resistance will also have the added benefit of reducing spool up times. I can't see how it would specifically alter the required base boost, but I stand to be corrected...

 

[SteveN]

Originally posted by Mark E

but I stand to be corrected...[/b]

It seems to be that sort of day

.