1999 lexus is200 V8 turbo (508BHP!!!!) For sale!!

 so can we guess how today's test went   (that's an excessive amount of emojis, but I feel there justified)

So today. Screamer pipe welded shut. Limitless boost now a possibility, realistically 35/40psi not beyond the realms of possible (it would run out of fuel and Conrods before then).. Mrs up from her night shift. Kids handed over. Time to go and send it. Even contemplating gaffer taping the phone to the window for another shonky video. 

Crept out of village toward the lanes, made sure the "private" road was clear. Wound it up to full throttle and....... 3psi indicated on the gauge. That's your lot. No more than before. No less.. just 3. To say I was miffed is an understatement. I contemplated burning it out there and then. I really really hoped that would have sorted it (or proved the chinagate to be at fault if nowt else)..  kicked it's head in for a good 15 min and although the running hot is fixed. The boost is still MIA. I even tried taking the air filter off clutching at straws an although it crept to an indicated 4psi on the £5 Chinese gauge it certainly isn't fixed.. (that may have been coincide, everything may have got hot and expanded, intrigued... Read on) Haha

Took it home, went via the shop to get a beer to drown my sorrows, then remembered Mrs was doing an extra shift tonight so no beer (plus there were 3 police cars on the shop carpark and although I'm "legal" all declared and above board. The exhaust is asking for a pull if nowt else...so aborted that mission. 

Back home mood was not good haha. And it showed. There's so many bits I've "figured out" myself any number of things could be at fault. Were do I even start. It also looks like I've probably ruined a chinagate jumping in and blaming that (I know it was leaking a bit, but not enough to cause this issue).. since welding it shut has made zero difference.. nil, nada, nothing, zilch.

Soon as kids were down went and started pulling bits off. Starting with the turbo blanket. Now my mate suggested that "could I not have an exhaust blow pre turbo".. and although it's possible. You cant hear if it's blowing cus it's so loud (did I ever mention it's loud) .. the link pipe I made is fully heat wrapped but there's no signs of it burning through but what about the turbo to manifold flange.

If you remember what seems an age back, I had the holes brought out on the turbo to match the manifold.. looking at the turbo to manifold there is what looks to be a "gap" the gasket won't move as such. But it just doesn't look right. The bolts won't tighten down any more but it doesn't seem right.







Now the only thing I can think is the holes weren't brought out perfectly vertical, was only done with a little die grinder not on a mill or anything. And the bolts are tightening down against the sides of the hole before they fully clamp the turbo down.. least that's a theory.. maybe... And the edging up to 4psi theory, that was probably longest and hardest it's ever been run. I'm just wondering if the manifold expanding when hot helped close the gap a smidge (unlikely I know but a theory all the same)

All I can do is start it tomorrow and waft some tissue round the general area. See if it's leaking. As much as I hope it is (so I've found summat) I'm half hoping it's not as all the front of the car has to come off to get to it. Oh and I've probably wrecked a perfectly good wastegate getting to this stage. Happy days.

Fingers crossed I've found summat. If not I'm going to have to get a smoke tester of some kind and dig deeper

cheers