Originally Posted by meilers

This proves my point exactly. You added two full PSI of boost and got only 10hp -- yet I was able to add over 70hp to my 02 WRX by moving peak boost from 14.7psi to 16.1psi. Once you push past 16 you get heavily diminished returns. Did you measure your EGTs? What was your degree of knock correction? Of timing advance? Did you ever run this setup with 91 octane? 18 or 20 PSI with the stock intercooler is just asking for 1600-degree EGTs, knock and pulled timing.

Ride5000, you are exactly right -- I don't believe you. There has to be a reason (besides making money) that Cobb, Vishnu, Dyno-Comp, Turbonetics and many other well-respected tuners all advise moving to a bigger turbo past 16psi or at least doing a complete port and polish on the stock turbo. 20psi? Sure, if you like an engine rebuild four times a year. Go to the Aftermarket Turbo forum and tell everyone how they are wasting their money on those 16gs, VF22 and VF34s, I'm sure they will be sympathetic.

Originally Posted by curbait

Hey ride 5000, I always wondered about getting a stock turbo into the 12s. aside from the 20 psi what else did you have to do to get it there?