So, I have done some additional troubleshooting and am making some progress after some advice from gsxr.

My wastegate is at the least sticky. I took it into my indy to chat and he tried to move the wastegate with pliers and was not able to get it to budge. He recommended blasting the connection on the turbo side with WD40 overnight, which I did. Later I disconnected the wastegate hose and put some pressure on it. 16 psi would not actuate the wastegate (and was all my mityvac would do) but with the pressure sitting behind it I was able to move the wastegate with pliers. Removing pressure would cause it to return, but re-application of pressure would not cause it to move -- only mechanical force plus pressure. My air compressor is on loan right now or I would put a little more pressure behind it.

I took it for a spin around the block w/o the wastegate hose and the boost pressure topped out higher but there was no significant difference. I was not able to push it though.

-- Looks like it is at least partially a wastegate issue and if the wastegate is not seating closed completely I could be dumping boost prematurely causing boost to build slowly... does that sound right? Dieseldiehard has mentioned a few times that the wastegate seat can get junked up and can be cleaned. Does anyone know if that area can be exposed and cleaned up without removing the turbo? I had a #22 head put on 18 months ago so my manifold bolts should not be too frozen, but the turbo housing itself might be. I asked my indy about removing the turbo but they usually ship out turbos to a shop in Eugene for work did not seem too eager. I guess his boat payments are not falling behind.

Thanks for any advice.

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1987 300TD 231,000
#22, afterglow, plastic fan, euro lights, alternator upgrade, cluster housing update