Newbie sounding question. Stock vs Upgraded turbo

[36IndexGN]

Ok, What exactly does Upgrading the turbo do?

Do you get higher boost at the same RPMs over the old?

Is the charge cooler?

How does it puch more air at higher RPMS?

 

[BLACK6PACK]

The stock turbo is out of its efficiency range at around 22 lbs of boost. So, if you want to run higher than 22 lbs of boost then you need a bigger turbo. At fairly stock settings each pound of boost added equates to 10-15 horsepower. So by turning up your boost from 15 lbs to 20 lbs you get between 50-75 more horsepower. To take advantage of higher boost you either need to run higher octane fuel or install an alky injection system.

This is a very simplified explanation.

 

[36IndexGN]

Thanks Black6pack, this was just in general and not specifically turbo buick related.

 

[OneLethal87GN]

Upgraded turbos flow more air more easily. You'll have cooler air with an upgraded turbo at, say, 15 psi then you will at 15 psi with a stock turbo. It also flows more air at that same 15 psi than a stocker. On my car I installed a TE-60 and it pulled harder at 10 psi than my stocker did at 15. Nothing else was changed. Of course with every goodie there's a baddie. Upgraded turbos spool up a little slower than stockers so a new convertor will be needed to match the spool-up of a stocker.