If you use a manual boost controller, do you also need a boost gauge, or are the boost settings marked on the controller knob?

Just wondering...

 

You need a boost gauge. You definitely need a boost gauge and I would recommend an EGT gauge as well. A MBC will be nothing more than an adjustable knob with a cylinder that has a ball bearing and a spring inside it. Go to Mach V and look at their Hallman Boost Controler. These are about the coolest looking "basic" Manual Boost Controlers. David Buschur also sells a really nice one. Check out his website.

But in the end, you will need a Boost Gauge.

Josh

 

Thanks! I am a lazy bastard, so I would rather just pay someone to install all that aftermarket stuff...of course, if I get an electronic boost controller, it will have a boost gauge built in, right???

 

Don't go electronic. They are expensive and beleive it or not, MBC's are more reliable. These take like 5 minutes to install if you know what you are doing, then about 20 minutes to dial in. Boost gauge, maybe you should have someone install that if you are uncertain, because it actually runs from engine bay to cockpit. MBC stays in the engine bay 90% of the time, depending on what kind you buy. Even if you don't know what you are doing with installing an MBC, it should only take like 30 minutes to put in.

www.dsm.org is a great reference for most style MBC's.

On the Evo with no other mods, you want to lock the MBC at 19PSI. You start with it in the lowest setting, drive yoru car, watch the boost gauge while doing some hard pulls (2nd gear from 2000 rpm to redline) and see how high it goes. Then you dial it up from there, about a half turn at a time until you get to 19PSI under full throttle from 2000 rpm to redline. This is all going under the assumption that you are at sea level and you are using 93 octane and not 91. With 91 or at higher altitude, I would say maybe run 18PSI.

Watch for spikes. Make sure you don't overboost. It will make your air/fuel mix go really lean and running too lean will melt pistons.

The stock hardware should run 19 PSI across the board on 93 octane with no problems from full spool up to right at around redline (it might spike or fall off a LITTLE right around redline).

Oh, and a Forge BOV recirculated back to your air intake will be best to get as well. The plastic compressor bypass valve found on these cars has a tendancy to leak under sustained 19PSI boost. It will hold for a split second, but then fall off to lower pressure.

A MBC, Boost Gauge, and a good quality BOV recirculated to your air intake pipe will resolve this problem and still maintain good street drivable characteristics.

Mach V or Buschur Racing should be able to hook you up with all the parts that I have listed. They have tuned DSM's for a long time, so they are very familiar with the 4g63 motor and what simple, inexpensive bolt on parts can do for you.

Josh

 

Dude...thanks a bunch for the info...I guess a Hallman MBC, Autometer boost gauge, and Forge BOV is the way to go...I'll pay some shop to install the stuff. We have 93 octane here, so I'm good to go at 19 PSI. What kind of gains will I get on an otherwise bone-stock Evo VIII?

 

Probably right at about the same top end HP, maybe a few points higher. Perhaps around another 10 to 20 WHP gain, but it depends on how you look at it all. I would say that your peak HP won't increase as much as your powerband will widen up, making a more useable powerband. You'll see when you get it. It's kinda hard to explain, because your HP numbers will probably stay almost the same, but the car will pull a lot harder from full spool on up. If you wait till Sep, I will be in Va and I will do it for ya. We could meet up and go to Mach V which is in Falls Church, Va and buy all the parts from Dan at that time. Saves you shipping charges, saves you instalation. At the same time, I am sure there will be other Evo owners in and out of the store.

Who knows. It's up to you.

Josh

 

I was actually planning on going to Mach V while I am in Va anyway and pick up some more mods of my own.

josh

 

good luck w/ mach v everytime i go there they have nothing in stock for the evo...

anyway i run 21 lbs so...

nova evo all those mods are really easy....i've done all mine my self

 

Gotta call Dan in advance and make sure he has the goods. Might have to pay up front, but it is worth it to get the stuff you want. I have never been there in person before, but I want to change that. Everything I have ever ordered for my GSX before from them has been in stock and got to me QUICK. Now if we could only teach Dan how to launch the Evo, maybe he would be alright (see the MachV forums).

Hehehe.

Josh

 

Oh, and 21 psi.......

What do your EGT readings look like? What mods do you have done?

Josh

 

Sounds like a deal...we can even get a afterwards if ya want...