Bradsma

So I'm looking into getting a manual boost controller and was wonder what brand you guys recommend?

What have you guys used and liked?
What have you used and hated?

I was looking at getting a Turbosmart Boost Tee.

TURBOSMART: Gated Boost Controllers

Seems simple and what I'm looking for. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

zeeman

iTrader: (1)

i've used just about every manual boost controller out there (even home-made ones) and i've yet to find one that I would use on my own car.

A lot of the time manual boost controllers don't provide the level of adjustment required to really dial in the boost pressure to your desired level.

A manual boost controller will also ONLY turn the boost up to a specific level, it will not aid in holding the boost level steady or compensate for dropping boost pressures in the top end (like an electronic boost controller can help do). Meaning, if you're boost level on the wastegate goes up to lets say 7psi then tapers down to about 4-5psi up past 7000rpms, when you turn the boost up with a manual boost controller it will only go up to lets say 10psi then still taper down to about 7-8psi in the top end.

Electronic boost controllers have much more precise level of adjustment and can help keep the boost steady if its tapering down up top.

Bradsma

Thanks for the response.

I do realize that electronic is the way to go. However, I don't think I'm going to have the coin to drop on an electronic boost controller right now.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't there a way to use a manual boost controller and tune with neptune and get ride of the boost "drop off" in the higher RPM.

If you HAD to use a manual controller what would you pick Zeeman?

zeeman

iTrader: (1)

actually, Neptune has an electronic boost controller feature. All you need is a little boost solenoid and to add the EGR components to the ecu and you can have Neptune control the boost electronically.

For what a manual boost controller costs, the little extra cost of using Neptunes EBC is completely worth it. Want a low-high boost switch? Or boost by gear? Use Neptunes EBC.

Bradsma

Thanks for the info. Figured this would be better discussed via PM.

MPR

I also discourage the use of mbc's. They are not very accurate at keeping the boost stable and at the level you want.

Depending on what engine management you're using you can buy an electronic boost controller solenoid (from a gmc cyclone pickup) for about $30 and it's an over the counter part you can order from any GM dealership. All you have to do is wire it up and control it through the ecu as zeeman mentioned. $30 is a lot cheaper than a lot of mbc's and gives WAY more control. It operates on a percentage duty cycle and can be controlled by many different parameters depending on the management you're running.

We are currently using this as a boost controller on our MR2 with megasquirt standalone ecu and it works very well.

zeeman

iTrader: (1)

I don't like the GM solenoids b/c they're very sensative to heat, I like to use the MAC solenoids, they're more expensive, but higher quality IMO.

For what it costs to use the EBC feature built into the Neptune software, I don't know why more people don't take advantage of its capabilities.

Bradsma

Thanks for all you help guys. Zeeman has been PM'd and a plan of attack has been figured out.

MPR

The GM solenoid from our experience is slightly affected by temperature, I'll agree with you there, but as long as you mount it where it won't be overly exposed to severe temp changes (kinda hard to do when you need to keep it as close to the waste-gate/turbo as possible), it is still very consistant. For $30 it gives us very good control over boost levels according to gear, rpm, psi...etc, and works very well with the megasquirt system.

If there is an ebc feature built into the neptune software (as it is in megasquirt) then by all means. But people, unfortunately, cheap out and use mbc's, or spend way more then they need on other ebc's or they just don't know about it.

How much does a MAC solenoid cost?

zeeman

iTrader: (1)

the mac solenoids vary from $50-80 depending on where you get them.

They're a stout solenoid similar to ones that come with EBC's like the apex-i AVCR and greddy pro-spec.

F8i

iTrader: (10)

I got one you can have. It's purple, not sure the brand. I switched to the AEM Truboost setup.
PM if you want a buy.
Look in my album, crx photos... should be a close up of the controller.

D.T.P

I got 2in1 electric boost controller and turbo timer. Was gonna use it but no more turbo for me so..its just laying around. Pm me ill send you some more info about it. Ill sell cheap

Bradsma

I have talked to Zeeman and I'm just going to use the built in EBC while getting my car tuned.