Here's the score:
I have an 87 t2 I just picked up in may. The previous owner put an exhaust system in the car and did nothing else to it. I picked it up barely running and rebuilt it. With the work I have done, I have yielded 17psi of boost, and thats on the rebuilt stock turbo.

Here's the problem:
I don't know jack about a tranny. When I start to power throught the gears at WOT, i get to second, and at the top of it around 5-7K rpm, i get a loud click or nock noise and can feel the drivetrain jerk, as well as the car decelerate briefly. This happens again in third, but not in 1,4,5. There is no boost limiter on the car, so I know it isn't boost cut. Are there any places out there offering performance trannys for the fc3s?

Also, when I got the car before rebuilding it, the compression was so low that I could put it in 1-3 gears, and push on the front of the car and watch the fan turn when the hood is up as I pushed it backwards. Now it has so much compression I have fear that I may never have to replace the brake-pads again. on a 30 degree angle at a steep bridge near my house, I can put the car in 1st or 2nd gear and have to accelerate to move faster down hill. the compression is way high now. is that normal?

 

I think your hitting fuel cut. That would be BAD

 

You shouldnt be running 17lbs of boost on a stock turbo in the first place.