Boost by gage value

[rodpaslow]

I've been on the form a short while and just completed my 96 1.6 td over my holidays.  I drove it a while, much faster than the n/a. 
I do have one question - I've never had a turbo car, when accelerating boost increases nicely.  Once at speed boost drops off to 0 on my gage. (running about 2700 - 2800 RPM with a t3 turbo- 110 kph [69 mph]).  Is this normal?  I always thought there would be some boost at speed or do I have a problem with leakage?

[Rabbit on Roids]

do you have an over boost valve? (most call it a blow off valve) what psi are you boosting to? around 15 psi then it drops to nothing? then you shift and it makes boost again till it hits around 15 psi? then nothing?

[rodpaslow]

I thought to break in the engine and make sure the head gasket is okay (it is a metal one) I'd start out stock boost.  I don't have the gauge pulling the pressure right off the turbo, so all I see when I put my foot into it is 5-7 psi, but the car pulls hard so I'm assuming it's okay for now.  I have a cap where the overboost valve used to be (bought from Giles and a Giles injector pump & injectors).  This is in a 96 golf and I have a couple issues to fix with the exhaust and leaking fuel from one return line - that's for another day. 

One question - since there was a gasket available between the manifold and turbo, I bought it and used it, this gasket wasn't used by VW when the engine was new.  Can this cause a problem leaking boost?  The cold side of the turbo is pretty strong (silicone hoses with proper clamps - T not worm style) so I don't think air going into the intake is leaking.