which is best, adjusting or removing..
 

the ALDA? I have read alot about doing both, just wanted to know what the concensus is for this. Are there any negative effects of removing it completely? And is there any benefit to simply adjusting it and leaving it on?

What?
 

The way I understand it, if you remove the alda, you effectively eliminate the turbo and you might as well remove it also.

Not in the least. The ALDA limits the amount of fuel the ip injects until their is a sufficient quantity of air being supplied to the engine to burn the higher amounts of fuel. It also limits black smoke, which is caused by too much fuel being burned without enough air. If you eliminate the ALDA, you basically have full fuel all the time. The car will be much more responsive off the line. I can't speak from personal experience, just what I've read. I haven't taken the alda off the '84, but when I get the '85 put back together, the ALDA is not going back on.

My suggestion on the 617 is to leave it in place and adjust it as necessary.

My suggestion on the 603 is to remove it, however, understand the risk that you have no overboost protection if you do so.

And the result of an overboost would be?

I suggest you remove the ALDA only if you have boost and EGT (Pyrometer) gauges.

I have been without an ALDA for a few months now and I love the results.

bad

Depends on how bad.

The turbo has the capability of sending the boost well up over 25 psi. Damage to the head gasket is nearly a certainty at these levels.

The boost gauge that Lance mentioned is admirable, however, will you be watching it 24/7? It would only take a few seconds at 25 psi to do some damage, IMHO.

I run the '86 without an ALDA or a boost gauge and understand the risk that I've assumed. I rarely run the engine at maximum boost so I'm not all that concerned about it.

The existing boost pressure switch on the intake manifold wired to a very loud radio shack buzzer under the dash could get your attention quick enough though...........

That's an excellent idea.:thumbsup:

alda
 

Ditch that power robbing piece of s--t!!! I run my 86 with nitrous, stock turbo and mods in my sig with no problems.

A good thing would be to torque the head bolts to yield before going too far :D

I think brandon314 used to run boost around 22 psi and never had issues. That being said I wouldn’t want that much pressure on my engine. I think the turbo would start to make a serious howl if an overboost begins to occur which would cause you to take a look at the boost gauge (if you have one installed)

Brandon314 has run his engine up to 26psi boost and 5500rpm plenty of times.

The damage won't be instant, at least, it wasn't in my case. I ran my KKK turbo (Described by the manufacturer as a heat pump above 18psi) at 20+psi for minutes at a time when my boost gauge's line got cracked. I was adjusting the boost level and it would not get past 10psi no matter how I adjusted it. Found the cracked line, fixed it and the 20psi gauge promptly pegged during the next test run.

That engine is still running to this day. It's probably one of the top 5 fastest W123 diesels on this forum right now.

Well, I consider him damn lucky. You really have to have prayer to allow the head gasket to survive that abuse.

Did he, by chance, recently replace the gasket...........I'd think a new gasket has a much better chance than the factory gasket.