Adjusted boost solenoid actuator

[sidejam]

As described in another thread, I decided to adjust the boost solenoid actuator.

- Loosened off the two 10 mm head bolts holding the actuator
- Backed the small allen screw out
- Tightened down the actuator so that it had spring tension on the valve when it was in the fully closed position (engine off)
- Adjusted the allen screw that sets the bypass valve position so that the valve is just resting on the allen screw when fully closed

From this 5-10 minutes of work, I gained about 1 psi of boost. I know this might seem very insignificant, but it's a quick way to gain a bit more boost, and it also helps get the boost to come on a bit sooner. This was a very quick, easy and cheap way to get my RL a tiny bit quicker!

I wish I could remember which thread I read this tip in! Whoever wrote it, thanks!

[jmc007]

Cool ! How much PSI do you get ?

[pclear9061]

you do this wrong and youll fuck up your car and you warranty if they catch you. others have said this is NOTHING to mess with. if it is slightly off it will cause hell.

[sidejam]

Originally Posted by pclear9061

you do this wrong and youll fuck up your car and you warranty if they catch you. others have said this is NOTHING to mess with. if it is slightly off it will cause hell.

Whoa!!!

Can you explain? It seemed to be a pretty basic thing to do. How could someone possibly mess it up so bad??? And what kind of hell could it cause? I'm very curious to make sure I've done it right. The rod from the actuator is still on the same axis as before. The actuator also isn't "all the way down", there is just a bit of spring tension to keep the boost bypass valve closed. Driving today, everything seemed fine and I checked for codes when I got home, none so far.

Who's done this and had problems???

Now you got me worried...


Oh, and the boost according to my Autometer gauge, went from just a bit under 10 psi to about 11 psi.

[pclear9061]

its somewhere in here i cant find it right now ill find it tomarrow im completly drained right now.

[sidejam]

Originally Posted by pclear9061

its somewhere in here i cant find it right now ill find it tomarrow im completly drained right now.

Ok, sounds good.

If I do need to put it back to stock, it'll be easy enough because you can see the marks from where the screws were set originally.

[pclear9061]

well i have just sent a message to wop if he remembers but i could swear that there was somthing not good about it.

[jmc007]

The most dangerous thing that could happen is that you will get less boost if you don't adjust it correctly. But the way sidejam adjusted it (and mine also) caused the actuator to be ajusted perfectly and fine tuned !

I think it was a Magnuson or Eaton engineer who told someone not to mess with it, because he didn't want that people without enough skills make the by-pass valve not to fonction properly.

Even on a Pontiac grand prix forum they show this very way of adjusting the by-pass actuator.

It works, specially for those who are not making their maximum stock boost. For others with smaller SC pulley, it allows achieving maximum boost.

[sidejam]

Originally Posted by jmc007

The most dangerous thing that could happen is that you will get less boost if you don't adjust it correctly. But the way sidejam adjusted it (and mine also) caused the actuator to be ajusted perfectly and fine tuned !

I think it was a Magnuson or Eaton engineer who told someone not to mess with it, because he didn't want that people without enough skills make the by-pass valve not to fonction properly.

Even on a Pontiac grand prix forum they show this very way of adjusting the by-pass actuator.

It works, specially for those who are not making their maximum stock boost. For others with smaller SC pulley, it allows achieving maximum boost.

I like your answer a whole lot better!

But, if there is harm in doing this, I would still like to know.

[Hyperion]

I think someone else did this & the car wouldn't run/run properly.