I have been working on 617 engines for about 4 years now but I am a newbie here. I tried searching here for an hour on my question with no results so please don't think I am being lazy with my post. I am putting a 617 engine in a jeep cherokee and don't have room for the "wastgate controller", yes I know not the correct term for it. I welded the stem of the wastgate valve to a plate to keep it closed permanently. Will this have negative long term effects on the turbo? I know people who block theirs intentionally and seem to do fine?? Thanks in advance for your help.

The side effect would not be turbo but engine related. Without any control over boost, the turbo can easily generate high levels of boost which can damage the engine. In the least, blowing a HG. If I blocked off the wastegate, I'd make sure I have a gauge to moniter boost levels.

..you might want to add a pop-off to your manifold so it releases when over pressurized. But I've heard this removes resistance on the compressor, allowing the exhaust to do more work and spin its end harder, creating more pressure.... so you'd have to use a big large volume pop off, like the opposite of a slam gate for choking intake. ....

or just put a functional wastegate on the turbo again.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Thanks for the replies. I have done some research and you guys are right. I need to put a functioning wastgate back on it to get it to perform correctly otherwise I will be facing some sort of engine failure. I have already done the trimming and structural reconfiguring to allow for it. Now if I just hadn't cut up the origonal one for the mock up! dogh!! The guy at our local turbo shop said they aren't available but I have a hard time believing that. Any advice on a vendor for such an item would help. Not the greatest with computer searching. Thanks again. This is a great forum!