Turning up the boost on a 87 TC

Do you have any supporting mods? You can turn up the boost, but without some you won't see as much gain. A 2 Stage controller of some sort can still allow full use of the fuel switch.

With the Gillis valve installed, running premium fuel, does it really matter what position the switch is in???

Originally posted by Jeffrey Daly:
With the Gillis valve installed, running premium fuel, does it really matter what position the switch is in???

Yes, the switch not only changes the boost level (which is, in fact, bypassed with an aftermarket boost valve), but the switch also controls parameters in the computer which effect timing.

Originally posted by xcrunnerbd:
Do you have any supporting mods? You can turn up the boost, but without some you won't see as much gain. A 2 Stage controller of some sort can still allow full use of the fuel switch.

Nope, bone stock.

I would install a 255 and preasure reg set at 40 psi with vacuum connected. The octane selector advances timing 4 crankshaft degreese in preamium and in reg it retards by 4 crankshaft degreese. Those numbers represent static timing.

So, from reading this thread, it seems that the only real difference that accounts for the stock 40 horsepower difference between 5speed and automatic cars is the boost controller? If that is the case, then adding a manual controller and limiting boost to around 15 or 16 should get the horsepower back, is that correct?

{wow thread revival !}

while IDK whether the boost schedule is the *only* programming difference (not likely)..
the reason the limit(s) are there is to protect the weaker auto trans.

so keep that in mind ...
if yur trans is marginal you may be killing it ;0

The A4LD tranny is a POS and often fails with the stock 150 Hp of the stock 9 psi boost level. Put on the boost controller, set it to 16 or so psi, and see what happens. If you blow the A4LD (FYI the LD in the tranny name stands for Light Duty), it is a good excuse to switch to a 5 speed. The 5 speed makes the car much much more fun to drive.

I have a 5 speed car with some good engine and exhaust mods that runs great! Seems like a good tranny guy could likely beef up the A4LD to make it be able to withstand the HP difference. Anyone ever attempted that?

A good transmission builder can get an A4LD to hold about 250HP. You'll throw a bit of cash at it to get it there.