Tune has ALOT to do with spool. You want to get the EGT's up to that ragged edge of lean

 

that makes sense as well. i need to get my wideband on it after i patch up the bad gaskets and see what i can do about advancing timing and keeping it from being too lean. i know its not the right way to tune it, but for now im a broke college kid. i tuned my honda ecu because i understood that program, but i dont really understand the eec programs that well yet.

 

**update** vc gasket and upper intake gasket installed with a good egr gasket as well. problem really didnt go away then. i replaced some of my shitter vac. lines today and it seemed to pick up boost sooner, but then again it could be the cooler weather as well. going to check timing tomorrow. im having a hell of a time getting to that bolt on the distributor. cant find the right sized distributor wrench, nor can i find my stupid fu**ing 1/4 inch drive socket that will work there. hence why i dont loan tools anymore! will post an update after i set timing, but for now, any more bright ideas?

 

Did you do this yet?

 

no i have not done a pressure test. however i have replace ANYTHING on the intake tract that would cause a pressure loss. i dont have the tools or time to do one . also, i checked timing yesterday and it was at a solid 12* btdc. also, ive heard different stories on cam timing. some have said if its a tooth off either way its going to run like dog poo and not be driveable, others have said normal driving wont really be effected and it will be sluggish at wot. my gut tells me that the latter is not true, but im new to the 2.3t stuff. can anyone shed some light on ths?

 

If you can't figure it out you might have someone who knows what they are looking at inspect it.

The pressure test is important and a common procedure for any turbo motor that isnt running right.

Do yourself a favor on the distributer bolt. WH\hen you remove it go to ace and get a allen headed cap screw. Makes things easier.

 

i stuck a timing light on it the other day and pulled the spout, its at 12* btdc so no need to touch it. cam timing is all lined up and spot on as well. pressure test is next on the list. im gonna see if pops will let me borrow some of his tools. everyone else that drives it says its running fine, but to me its still spooling slow. im also putting another gauge on it so hopefully ill get a better reading than the stock one. perhaps that will give me a better idea as well.

 

A couple things that haven't been mentioned...

1. Check the TPS and verify it doesn't have a bad spot in it.

2. Remove the BOV and cap it to verify it isn't leaking.

3. Clean your TB... seriously. This is a common problem and will cause odd hesitations and idle issues.

4. Build a cheap pressure tester; it should cost under $15 to make and will probably show at least one obvious and common leak, the TB.

Hope this helps.

 

i cleaned the tb already. i had it off when i did the valve cover gasket. i cleaned inside AND out. i took a wire wheel to the outside just to get the nasty grime off of it, and it was spotless on the inside when i put it back on. the tps pigtail and sensor is brand new as well. just builds boost slow. heres a funny discovery though. i wanted to see how it would run in the cold, so i laid onto the loud pedal for a second, and when i let out i smelled something burning. it smelled kinda like oil. long story short, i pulled into a well lit gas station and sure as shit, large oil leak. my expensive blue rubber valve cover gasket was BLOW OUT COMPLETELY on the front half of the valve cover on the passenger side. im not a genius, but this tells me i may have a bad pcv? which may also be causing my slow turbo spool? anyone?

 

Those blue felpro VC gaskets are universally regarded as shit, and will split before any boost is seen.

Even the cork ones will work much better. The best ones to use are ones from the dual plug ranger heads with metal in the straight parts.