I just finished installing an used non-aftercooled comptech SC on my01. The car runs great but I only seem to hit 4 maybe 5 lb of boost @ higher RPM's. I was thinking that because I'm running such low boost on a 30 psi mechanical gauge it's difficult to get a accurate measurement. What do you guys normally see on your boost gauges?

 

Well what pulley size?

 

your probably fine. when i first installed my SC i had a cheap mechanical gauge reading boost and all i got was 7psi... now that i have a more accurate gauge im actually getting 8psi. I have an AP1 with 4" pulley CTSC.

FYI if your running the stock kit and have an aftercooler 5psi is probably all your going to see at redline.

 

I thought 5.5 was the stock boost for comptech kits

 

i just did the same 2 weeks ago. not sure about your gauge, but i got full boost tapping into the intake manifold on a dyno; everything else is stock. exhaust mods will cause some boost loss, i believe.

 

Not all gauges are created equal. Or you could have a boost leak somewhere, hard to say.

 

The stock boost for the CTSC is 5.5 psi on AP1. You will only get 7psi if you are using the smaller AP2 CTSC pulley.

 

Get the AP2 7psi pulley right away...you will like it.

 

I'm using stock AP1 pulley and the kit is non aftercooled. The gauge is a mechanical 30 psi autometer. I'm looking for a AP2 pulley anyone selling one or willing to trade for a 9lb pulley?

 

5-5.5psi After cooled

6-6.5 Non After cooled

So it appears you could be down as much as 2.5psi. Likely not a boost leak since the only place it could leak from is the one fitting at the TB and the other one at the SC, this would be pretty obvious, you can check your clamps/boots just to make sure. Yes the gauge could be slightly off, but I find the cheap dial/mechanical ones to be the most accurate.

Its common for the belts to start slipping on these kits, and where you make the most power is where you will see the slipping, such as towards redline and if its real loose could be right at vtec. If you just put this kit on, you may need to re tighten the belt. You can floor it and watch your boost gauge and see if it quits climbing before your rpms do, if so then it is the belt. If your boost climbs right with your rpms to redline, then refer back to checking the other two less likely possibilities I mentioned.