HOWTO: Make a pressure tester

sr20boston · 09-13-2004, 03:00 AM

Note: This thread originally was online, but was mistakenly deleted. Old backups were used to get it back, but it had to be manually copied-and-pasted here.

Original thread started by HotshtSR20.

buy a 2" PVC cap at home depot. it should be 2.5" OD.

buy some valve stems from Kragen, Pep Boys or Autozone (if going to Pep Boys or Autozone, make sure to pick up some ricey lights, wings and mufflers while there)

drill a hole the same size as the skinny part of the valve stem between to two rubber bumps.

add some RTV silicone to make sure its leak free.

hose clamp it onto the compressor inlet or inlet piping (try to clamp it onto something bead rolled, otherwise, it likes to shoot right off, dont ask me how i know) and pressurize until your boost gauge hits whatever max PSI you plan on hitting.

listen for leaks and fix them.

i like to unplug the BOV recirc pipe to see if the BOV is leaking.

BlkB14 · 04-24-2005, 02:53 AM

http://www.stealth316.com/2-pressuretester.htm
a site linked to me by a friend, and well in depth.
i was looking for something like this, since i had no pictures to go by, and i guess i ended buying the wrong thing but now i know what do exactly.

Toolapcfan · 05-31-2005, 11:32 AM

It's probably cheaper to build your own, but if you don't want to mess with it, just buy a plumbing pressure tester at Home Depot.

chriscar · 11-10-2007, 03:26 PM

It's THIS simple.

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nsusammyeb · 11-12-2007, 03:02 PM

this is a great tool takes like 15 mins to make... you can use any size cap also, depending on what silicone couplers you have laying around.

You can also put an air pressure reg after the ball valve to set the amount of pressure that is going into the piping.

jonwepa · 08-12-2008, 05:00 PM

Can somebody help me out with this? I don't understand the valve stem part? Wouldn't i want to buy a npt adapter? Can somebody post up some pic's? And maybe a better how to??

EDIT: I think I can figure it out looking at the linked up websites mixing and matching parts and using 2" instead of the 3" they are using in the stealth one.

chriscar · 08-12-2008, 05:02 PM

Skip the valve stem adapter. This pic is self-explanatory.

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chriscar · 01-26-2009, 09:02 PM

Bump for fixed picture. Thanks Tekkie

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Cliff · 01-27-2009, 07:58 PM

I panicked because I had this thread bookmarked, and couldn't see any pics! Thanks

TOOQIKK · 05-12-2009, 12:02 PM

gonna have to make one once i get my 2.3l gti-r motor built...hehe this is great!

97SR20DE · 06-15-2009, 04:40 AM

... Use a soapy water solution and spray on all weld beads and silicone coupler/connectors and look for bubbles forming. If you have access to a nitrogen bottle and a GOOD regulator it would be a million times better. With plain air from a compressor or pump and high ambient temps the pressure will just rise even if you have a leak. Nitrogen on the other hand is not as sensitive to the heat.