Write-Up: Installing Boost Gauge

No silicone on my ride. It's all original equipment.

(I'd still use it, though. Silicone has a higher melt point than most plastics.)

boost gauge is hooked up... just need to know where to splice the power for the LED :/

finished.. i'll post some pics tonight...

how much psi should a basically stock riv be making, i'm only reading around 5-6 psi

I was at like 6-7 when I was completely stock. I did that in the heat though.

6 in summer, 8 in winter is normal. Every car is a little different. FWI will give up to 1 PSI increase, but the 3 in exhaust probably drops it back down. I'd say your 5-6 PSI is correct.

10 psi here...spikin to 12 at the top of second in the winter!!

On the 3.4", right?

and on vacuum, is 21-23 a normal number at idle? how much of a gain did you guys pull when you dropped pulley sizes?

I never looked at idle numbers, I'll check a scan, but In/Hg in the 25ish range seems good. Idle numbers shouldn't change much with pulley swap, but at WOT you'll see about 1 PSI increase for each .1" of drop. And that really depends on your set-up, it's approximate at best.

oh no no, I didn't mean idle numbers, just boost psi in general, but 1 psi for each .1 in. drop answers it.. would 3.4 be too drastic of a drop for my setup, should I go to 3.6?

I'm thinking a 3.4 is too small for your mods. Still running stock unported exh manifolds, stock PCM, and 195 t-stat? That front manifold really sucks. Not only is it a very small diameter, but the openings are partly blocked by casting flash. 3.6 or 3.5 would be the safe way to go.

i've got mine tapped into the fitting under the nose cone of the supercharger, is that not right? i'm showing appx 15psi @ WOT with a 3.6. but also my diognostic scanner show some code on my boost solonoid. could that effect anything? the car runs great.

15 psi? really? with only a 3.6 pulley and your intake? damn

after reading that write up i'm gonna go with a 3.5" modular system, and a 180 t-stat

I tapped mine to the first hose here, but ours doesn't have the 3 hoses like this, just two, so I tapped into the top line on this part, is that fine?

15 PSI isn't possible with a 3.6" unless you've got something clogging your exhaust pipe. I max at 14 PSI with a 3.2", and that's when it's really cool outside.

Have you verified this with a MAP reading from a scanner?

Ryan, where'd that fuel rail come from? Is that a Gen V blower... is that your engine?

no no, that's a 3800 in a bonneville SSE I believe, from a boost gauge write up..

I gotta buy batteries for my camera, but i'll take pictures of where I tapped it, and my A-pod gauge when I do

this is where mine is installed, it goes to the MAP sensor. will that not work?

the 96 series II rivs have the vac lines routed like the bonnevilles. i dont have a boost gauge but with my scanner i see a max psi of about 11 with my 3.4" on a cold day.
your gauge isnt reading right if it shows 15psi on a M90 with 3.6".
our efficiency max is like 17psi with IC, P&P and 2.8" :lol:

most people tap into the vac line under the snout/alt b/c there is a T there and it is hidden behind everything.

THAT SHOULD WORK, just make sure its not going to be damaged by any heat sources!!!! very important. other wise, you'll be wondering why you s/c is whining but ur only seeing 0 lbs of boost, and then its walking time.

haha.. yeah, i'm going to buy some plastic or rubber conduit for the line, but it should be fine

Is there anything special I need to do to put the gauge in the vent on the drivers door? Any write up?

Is it as simple as popping out the vent and putting in the gauge or do I have to block the vent path or something?

Got my aeroforce today would like to put it in .

I blocked the vent path to that side when I did mine. It's not too tough, I just used Duct tape. You will have to dissasemble it and make the opening slightly larger to fit the gauge inside.

-Rob

Installed the aeroforce gauge I bought into the vent on the drivers side. I like having it there instead of a pillar gauge.

I put the wires through the rubber piece that the other crap goes through. Drilled a hole in the vent piece and ran the wires up through there. I had to drill the vent piece a little so the gauge would fit but it looks great. Can't tell anything was even put there no wires exposed.

Looks great! Do you get enough cold air through the one bottom vent?