Details of Stage 1??

[Patrick78]

Hello,
I have an 05 GT Convertible that is a 5 speed manual. I am looking into upgrading to the Stage 1 and I was wondering if someone that already has one could explain more specific what the Stage 1 gives you.
Yes I know it upgrades to the 235hp, but what else? Does it increase the stock boost levels? And what other supporting add-ons can be purchased to use with the stage 1? Blow off valve? Wastegate?

Thanks for the info guys.

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by Patrick78

Hello,
I have an 05 GT Convertible that is a 5 speed manual. I am looking into upgrading to the Stage 1 and I was wondering if someone that already has one could explain more specific what the Stage 1 gives you.
Yes I know it upgrades to the 235hp, but what else? Does it increase the stock boost levels? And what other supporting add-ons can be purchased to use with the stage 1? Blow off valve? Wastegate?

Thanks for the info guys.

Stock boost on the GT spikes to 13 psi. Stage 1 spikes to 15. Where do you want to take this, what power level?

[Patrick78]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Stock boost on the GT spikes to 13 psi. Stage 1 spikes to 15. Where do you want to take this, what power level?

I'm not really sure to be honest with you. I guess it all depends on how much more power can be made on the stock turbo and injectors.
I remember reading a thread a while back that mentioned having the Stage 1, the Mopar Blow off valve, and the SRT-4 stage 2 wastegate would give you a steady 18psi.
I don't know if this is true or not and I don't really know what the range of power is that can be made with minimal modification. With my last car (2001 Passat 1.8L Turbo) I knew that I could put a manual boost controller on a push the boost from 8 to 13 and not have to worry about any fuel issues. But that took alots of forum reading to find that info out from people that actually tested it, and I think that the Passat / Audi 1.8 Turbo probably has more of a following then the PT Cruiser. So I haven't been able to come across as much information.
So.. to give you an idea of how far I'd like to go, I'm not really interested in purchasing a larger turbo or larger injectors and when the time comes for an exhaust upgrade, it will probably be a custom job done by a shop instead of a pre-fabricated unit. With that in mind.... what are my options?

BTW I've seen youtube videos of a PT making 600hp on the dyno... so I know how far it can go... unfortunately, I'm not in an "unlimited money" situation. So I'd like something reliable and cost conscience.

[Patrick78]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Stock boost on the GT spikes to 13 psi. Stage 1 spikes to 15. Where do you want to take this, what power level?

BTW... I don't think I've ever gotten a 13psi spike. I usually hold at 10psi if I'm on it hard, but I don't recall seeing it go past that.

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by Patrick78

BTW... I don't think I've ever gotten a 13psi spike. I usually hold at 10psi if I'm on it hard, but I don't recall seeing it go past that.

Temperature has a lot to do with what you spike because of the pcm control. The colder the weather, the less you'll spike. Have you zip tied all vacuum hoses and put T bolts on the intercooler hoses? Boost leaks will hurt performance.

If you are looking for a fun ride then the Stage 1 and Stage 2 wga spiking to 18 is a lot of fun. The Mopar bov is a noisemaker, but if you like the sound it sounds great with the 5 speed. If you've played with a boost controller before and you want a bit more adventure then go with the Stage 1, the AGP wga and a dual stage boost controller. The AGP wga will give you PTB (part throttle boost), but you can control it with the dual stage boost controller.

You saw Total Sleeper on YouTube with his 600 hp PT. That car is a one of the kind and a monster. Breaking axles is a problem, though. I think he is on the road to curing that.

[Patrick78]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Temperature has a lot to do with what you spike because of the pcm control. The colder the weather, the less you'll spike. Have you zip tied all vacuum hoses and put T bolts on the intercooler hoses? Boost leaks will hurt performance.

I have not zip tied any vacuum hoses or the intercooler hoses. Thats actually the first time I've ever heard of doing that before. So that reduces the chance of boost pressure dropping from air leaking at the connections? I'll have to give that a try.

If you are looking for a fun ride then the Stage 1 and Stage 2 wga spiking to 18 is a lot of fun. The Mopar bov is a noisemaker, but if you like the sound it sounds great with the 5 speed. If you've played with a boost controller before and you want a bit more adventure then go with the Stage 1, the AGP wga and a dual stage boost controller. The AGP wga will give you PTB (part throttle boost), but you can control it with the dual stage boost controller.

Im not really keen on the sound of the bov. I was under the impression that it was needed when raising the boost. I prefer attention not be drawn to me because of a noise like that while driving. I'll look into the AGP wga and dual stage controller because I'm not familiar with them as of now. I'm not sure how a dual stage controller works. But I'll see what I can dig up. Maybe you can explain why you would need a dual stage opposed to a single?

You saw Total Sleeper on YouTube with his 600 hp PT. That car is a one of the kind and a monster. Breaking axles is a problem, though. I think he is on the road to curing that.

And yes I saw that PT do a few runs on the dyno and that thing was unbelievable. I couldn't even imagine what that would be like to drive. When I had the 1.8 Turbo there were all kinds of kits and Big Turbo applications out there to use and some of those make some serious power. But its cool to see something like a PT make that kind of power.

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by Patrick78

And yes I saw that PT do a few runs on the dyno and that thing was unbelievable. I couldn't even imagine what that would be like to drive. When I had the 1.8 Turbo there were all kinds of kits and Big Turbo applications out there to use and some of those make some serious power. But its cool to see something like a PT make that kind of power.

If you go with the Stage 1 and the Stage 2 wga you will not need any boost controller. Driveability is excellent. No PTB. I had this on my Neon SRT-4 and loved it.
If you go with Stage 1 and the AGP wga driveability will suck without a dual stage bc. In first and second gears PTB is terrible. When giving it gas the boost spikes immediately. You have to baby the gas to prevent PTB or you punch it and go like hell. There is no PTB from third gear on, though. With this set up you first set the AGP boost to 13 psi (If I haven't mentioned it a boost gauge is mandatory if you don't want to blow your motor). Then you set the boost on the first stage of the bc to 15 psi. You'll get no PTB in the first two gears. Then you set the second stage of the bc to spike to 18 psi. To defeat PTB you start out on the first stage of the bc (You can drive all day on the first stage and never get PTB) through the first two gears. Before going to third gear you switch to the second stage of the bc and then go through the rest of the gears. You'll take off like a bat out of hell when going to the second stage of the bc. I used to have to warn my wife when doing this because it snapped her head back. I had this combination on my '03 PT GT.

[Patrick78]

I think it would probably be easier for me to just go with the stage 1 and stage 2 wga. I don't really like the idea of dealing with adjustments of boost controllers or the wga. Plus, I'm not looking for a ton of power so I'm guessing i'll be happy with the first setup. And you're saying the bov isn't needed? What would you suggest in the form of air filter? Is just a drop in K&N sufficient?
And yes I do already have a boost gauge. Actually I was driving fairly spirited on the way home from work today and I wasn't able to get the gauge to read much past 5psi at all. Do you think that could be related to vacuum leakage? At idle or even off throttle while driving my gauge doesn't go lower then -16psi. Infact it never has dropped below that since I got the gauge. I was assuming vacuum leak would show if the gauge dropped lower. But if the system is air tight while not under load, then the gauge wouldn't go lower, it would just not boost as high in pressure from the leakage. Does that make sense?

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by Patrick78

I think it would probably be easier for me to just go with the stage 1 and stage 2 wga. I don't really like the idea of dealing with adjustments of boost controllers or the wga. Plus, I'm not looking for a ton of power so I'm guessing i'll be happy with the first setup. And you're saying the bov isn't needed? What would you suggest in the form of air filter? Is just a drop in K&N sufficient?
And yes I do already have a boost gauge. Actually I was driving fairly spirited on the way home from work today and I wasn't able to get the gauge to read much past 5psi at all. Do you think that could be related to vacuum leakage? At idle or even off throttle while driving my gauge doesn't go lower then -16psi. Infact it never has dropped below that since I got the gauge. I was assuming vacuum leak would show if the gauge dropped lower. But if the system is air tight while not under load, then the gauge wouldn't go lower, it would just not boost as high in pressure from the leakage. Does that make sense?

I liked the stage 1 and stage 2 wga setup myself. I liked the driveability. Bov not needed. I'm running 351 hp on my neon srt-4 and still have the stock surge valve. You really only need a real bov (the Mopar is not really a bov) if you are boosting over 20 psi.
Does your boost gauge sit on zero when the car is off? You'd have to have a hellatious boost leak(s) to not boost past 5 psi. Is it a boost/vacuum gauge? If also a vac gauge when the car is running what does the vac read? If you haven't any boost leak(s) maybe the gauge is broken. This is a boost leak checker.

You take the intake hose off from the turbo and put this puppy on the end of the turbo. Fill your system with 15 psi of pressure and go around the engine compartment listening for leaks. I had boost leaks on both my brand new '03 PT GT and my new neon srt-4 straight from the factory.

[Patrick78]

I do have a boost gauge. It is actually a SRT-4 gauge that i got off ebay. I wanted the gauge face to match the stock ones, so thats why i went with it.
Driving home it was spiking at like 7 and holding at 5 til i shifted. And I've definitely seen it spike past 10 before so not sure why thats all i'm getting. When the car is off the gauge does rest at 0 and when the car is just idling or i remove my foot from the gas while driving, the gauge will drop down to the -16 mark (or 16 on the left side of the 0).
I do actually have something very similiar to your picture. I used it on my Passat, except on that car, I pulled the hose off the air filter box and stuffed my pipe into that hose and clapped it down. If i'm going to be attaching mine directly to the turbo, I'll need to get a rubber grommet to secure it. But it could be done.
So you think my gauge could be broken?