I recently installed Banks Big Head wastegate and am only getting 10-15psi. With the stock wastegate I was getting about 20psi.
What is the optimal psi reading with the Banks wastegate?

Trippin or Got Juice have them dialed in.......

Boost is related to two things, fuel that creates heat that in turn spins the turbo and also the spring tension that will or won't keep the wastegate closed......

if you don't have enough boost buy an extra turbo and some JUICE GRIPS.......

):h

Seriously though.........one of these guys will help you I am sure,

T:cool: NY

my first question is how many turns did you screw the arm in, from your numbers it looks like not many at all, as per directions, most are going in 5 to 7 turns, from a flush mount of the base, if so you should still be making the same amount as with the stock actuator, just make the boost quicker, most power boxes will increase the boost from stock in their tuning alone
what some members state, is not exceed 26lbs of boost for initial movement of the actuator arm(can be done with a regulator and compressed air fitted to the big head) any thing over can have premature wear

I followed the directions and gave the rod five turns. I was going to see what the optimal boost psi is and then adjust the rod until I get the desired psi.

Just keep adjusting until you get the desired boost. If I recall correctly I ended up at 10-12 turns.

I have had mine set for 34-36 psi for the better part of a year now, 160+ dyno runs, multiple trips to the track, sled pullin and just all around having fun. :cool:
I wouldn't go more than 34-36 psi or your turbo could -:t

Safe is 32 psig post CAC
Unsafe is beyond.... little things like RH and Elevation can make 34 dangerous.
'stoopid' fuelling, tight convertors, ported manifolds, all contribute here

I have my gate currently set to 26PSIG initial lift.... for safety.... tried for higher and.... well, there is a turbo on Ebay as we speak. Powerbarked upshifts anyone?

Boost means SQUAT! About all it does tell you is that your turbo is working..... go above surge RPM..... BOOM.... Game Over.... Nada ... Nil... Zilch.... Ishkabibble... Forked... SNAFU....
There are a few threads on it.... perform a search..
A good thread IIRC is ... lookup... 550.
That should give you an idea of what to expect

I think the boost you are getting from the six gun 20-24? is fine I think what Fred said about getting there faster is the key.

Safe is 32 psig post CAC
Unsafe is beyond.... little things like RH and Elevation can make 34 dangerous.
'stoopid' fuelling, tight convertors, ported manifolds, all contribute here

I have my gate currently set to 26PSIG initial lift.... for safety.... tried for higher and.... well, there is a turbo on Ebay as we speak. Powerbarked upshifts anyone?

Boost means SQUAT! About all it does tell you is that your turbo is working..... go above surge RPM..... BOOM.... Game Over.... Nada ... Nil... Zilch.... Ishkabibble... Forked... SNAFU....
There are a few threads on it.... perform a search..
A good thread IIRC is ... lookup... 550.
That should give you an idea of what to expect
HE KNOW SO WELL, HE SPEAK TRUTH ONLY....):h

I have yet to destroy a turbo, so I don't have that experience to speak from, but my "Banks Big Head" waste gate adjustment was done while I ran on a "Load Cell Dyno" at approx. 2500ft DA using a HJAT level 5.....1-2 turns at a time. I prefer the slow methodical way of testing. Always make one change and only one change at a time and then in small increments to observe the results. In this fashion I feel I can actually learn something about what I am testing. Every time I increased the boost I made more power, up until my current setting. At my current setting I actually lost approx. 10hp but still gained torque from the previous setting, so that's where I stopped. :D


I theorize that this is because the turbo came up to speed earlier in the run. Which is what we want right? :ro)

This was done last FEB. I have since tested every box/tuner/stack that claimed to make big power (160+ load cell runs and 20,000 miles as a daily driver) and have never again touched the adjustment on the waste gate.

My SPA gauge has a peak recall function so I have observed my boost #s on the dyno equal the ones I see at the track. I have yet to run at anything below 900ft DA and have yet to experience any turbo bark during upshifts or racing. The only time I have barked is when I have let out of the throttle to quickly at the end of a burnout/dyno run. Censored


So there you have it, still running on the virgin 2003 EGR CA engine as GM assembled it when it came down the assembly line. With the exception of 3 water pumps, a Banks Big Head, An Ex system, an AFE stage 2, and some Xtreme ECM tuning by Mr. Cole.

Non-EGR engines could have better intake manifold/cylinder head/camshaft designs that affect the turbo differently.

Your results may vary, some assembly required, side affects may include headache, nausea, caused by too much adrenaline, and an empty wallet, discontinue use if you feel the uncontrollable urge to go even faster.

I'm not disagreeing with Mr. Juice, just sharing my experiences as this is what this forum is all about. :cool:

And now back to my Nitrous install. ):h

The Larger Diaphram and more spring pressure of the Banks Gate serves the purpose of holding the wastegate closed for a longer period of time until peak boost is reached. Consequently overall EGT relief and transient turbocharger response is enhanced.... especially while towing (Huge Difference in boost buildup over time .. much quicker with Banks Installed)

Now for the 'Dark Side'.
If...... one was to crank up the boost running a hard fuelling program to... oh lets say 34 PSIG POST CAC..... it is quite possible that you can spike the boost PAST 34 PSIG (Higher spring rate bigger diaphragm remember?) and Destroy your turbo. Because the gate has a higher resistance rate of change than the stock wastegate from an initial lift standpoint.

The Banks Gate IS a quality Piece, No Doubt...... but you must be vigilant if you decide to set the gate higher...... All it takes is once in the right conditions to blow past the gate (remember there is a limit to flow on the actual WG orifice as well and when boosted too high it CAN'T flow enough volume to stop the stall over 35PSIG)

John Kennedy and Steve Cole have probably done the most repeatable 'controlled environment' testing on the subject, and are probably better equipped to answer the question.

Now for the 'Dark Side'.
If...... one was to crank up the boost running a hard fuelling program to... oh lets say 34 PSIG POST CAC..... it is quite possible that you can spike the boost PAST 34 PSIG (Higher spring rate bigger diaphragm remember?) and Destroy your turbo. Because the gate has a higher resistance rate of change than the stock wastegate from an initial lift standpoint.
Hence the reason to sneak up on the adjustment. :D
No Juice grips allowed! ):h If your not willing to sacrifice a turbo for the team.


Cranking down on the Banks Adjustment with reckless abandon could definitely put you into "Juice Grips" territory. :eek:

I'll have to see if I can find some harder fueling programs.):h

To summarize: It's too late for myself and Got Juice. We are already hopelessly addicted. Save yourself before it's too late. Step away from the waste gate, put down your Banks Big Head, and/or Juice Grips and no turbos will get hurt. :D

"The 2nd Biggest Lie I Ever Told"

:"My Truck is gonna stay STOCK":

Ya... WTF EV-ER

JMO, but I would run 26-28 for your setup. You should be burning all the fuel at those levels. If you ever switch to a more agressive program you might want to go higher. I have seen gains all the way to 38psi, but would not trust running that high. Similar to Trippin, I have settled on 34-36psi, and have been running at this level for at least 6 months, and at 28psi+ for more than a year (30,000 miles) without ptoblems. With that said, I should mention that Turbo bark was almost non-existant until I jumped above 30psi, so don't take the risk unless you have the extra fuel to burn.

Thanks for the advice.:ro)

As a matter of fact, the more fuel you have to burn, the more careful you must be not to set the gate too high.... depending on the stack or TTS, depending on porting.

Let's just say if you set your gate for 26LBS initial lift (Using compressed air on the Wastegate itself) so the arm starts moving you are safe. Safe for even 'stoopid' Programs TTS, Stack .. what have you.
Ya, I know you can go higher. I have . And Paid for it.
Set for 35 initial.... she'll blow right past it..... you'll never see it on the gauge... the stall happens that fast.
Thrust bearing.... Bye Bye... Time to go Ebaying.
I have also blown a compressor stage where the wheel disintegrated..... 39 psi.
All are not pretty.
If your truck is your main mode of transport..... take care in setting the gate.