Is it a good idea and is it safe to the stock turbo to boost it to 17 or 18 psi.....I know of two srt-s that blew up the stock turbo bay purchasing a waste gate and boosting up...and after about 2 months the turbo blew up

 

I upgraded to the AGP Wastegate and pumped up the boost to 18 didn't have any problems but once we tried tuning it we spent over 7 1/2 hours trying to get her to run right only getting numbers around 190 hp- 215hp, I'm not an expert when it comes to cars but the guy who was helping me was saying the problem we were running into from the way it looked was that the ECU was having trouble mapping it out, so we dropped the boost back down to around 15-16 psi and we got her up to 245 before i finally ran out of gas, I'm sure there are others that may have alittle more experience than I have, but thats just what a little trial and error taught me the other day

 

Essentially yes it is ok since that is precisely what your doing when you go to stage 2. Stage 2, when done right, has larger injectors for more fuel and revised spark timimg, boost scheduling etc. via the Stage 2 computer.
Do not try to be cheap and put a higher pressure WGA on the stock computer and injectors. It can't properly deal with the added boost and will not run right. See my post "not a virgin anymore".
Just do it right and you will have no trouble. Stage 2 computers can be had cheap by people upgrading to stage 3 or beyond, but you will need at a minimum, the Map and Tip sensors, which cost about 200 bucks, a better WGA either new or used S2 or aftermarket which USED go for as little as 60 bucks and injectors which, NEW can be had for as little as around 300 bucks.
So your looking at 200+ 200+ 60+ 300=760. About 760 for a basic stage 2 using some used parts. Oh and add 60 or so to have flight systems reprogram the Comp. So really just over 800. But it will be right and you should have no troubles.
I am running all this minus the injectors at this time and it runs good, but I have the boost turned down as low as it goes w/ the S2 WGA 'till I can get the injectors and it runs fine, but not a lot faster as I am spiking only 17 and holding about 15. I can tell from driving it, it needs more fuel, so new injectors are on the way. If I could do it cheaper, I would but I don't think you can. Just get a stage 2 and be done with it.
Done that is, untill the thirst for more power has you buying a stage3 or complete aftermarket setup like AGP.

 

I already have a stage 3 and it works fine. I just know a few guys who boost up stock turbos and you are coorect they don't run correctly. They don't have a new computer only wastegate no reflash either. They don't run correctly at all. Thanks for all the input

 

Although I agree with some of what pressure cooker has to say there's some misinformation in that post. You do not have to go and purchase a stg 2 kit in order to make more boost. You can easily improve on the stock injector's and boost with minimal mods withouth affecting the turbo. Pleny are making power with the stock pcm as well. It's all about supplimenting air and fuel. Push more air, make sure you have enough fuel.

Since you have a stg 3 kit boss, you can easily run 20-21psi. I'm spiking 24 dropping to 21 but I have supporting mods to go along with it. If you want to feel a little safer, invest in a wideband & check your levels as you increase boost.

 

Yeah I make 21 psi and I have no spike at all. And my car is insanely fast....I am done with upgrading for more performance....except a few things like tires, mounts, and a few other non-expensive but important things to have.

 

haha insanely fast huh? if only you could ride in one of our shop car's. Makes my S3 car feel like a turd. :lol: