I agree with Xshieldsx - just push 5psi to start with. It's going to be a great boost (guesstimate at LEAST 50whp), and it should be a safe amount to keep your pistons and rods from melting (which does not happen NEARLY as often as amby keeps saying... ).

 

And that way in the future if I wanna bump my boost up a bit for more power I will be set. My problem is that I don't really know of a shop that tuned nearby but then again I havent been looking. I live out in a small town about 30 miles from the nearest bigger city so thats a little difficult. I know a mechanic here that would help me out with the forged internals if I go that route.

Thanks. I appreciate all the input so far.

 

It doesn't need to be a nearby thing. Get everything installed, and then do what you have to do for tuning. Heck, some folks drive 2 states to get to a shop they trust.

And RRM is a great resource. They will spend time with you on the phone troubleshooting and helping you work things out. Don't forget that.

 

Hahaha true it's a relatively rare event but it's still something a paranoid freak like myself would defend against.

 

Yeah, well half the WRXs in my local club have gotten rod knock from bearings dying prematurely (even a stock one). Have fun worrying about that.

 

New WRXs or the old slow ones?

 

Ah well that was one thing I was worried about is if I'm going to be able to drive it after I install the turbo since it isnt just your average bolt on. I know the RRM kit comes with a base map in the form of a piggyback i belive but what about if i piece my own kit together? could I use that same piggyback?

 

No you'd have to get a custom tune since the parameters wouldn't be exactly the same.

 

ah gotcha. well as I posed in another topic, my linkage end bushing is busted so im going to pick a new one up right now and install it tomorrow so thats my top priority now.

 

seens how ive been pondering what to do about turbo as well. Ill tell you my plans. you can use some info or ideas or mabey this will help.

used evo VIII 16g6 turbo.
used 02 housing
used evo VIII IC with pipes (pipes need to be fabbed/customized)
get a wastegate actuator with 5 psi spring or use a 2'nd gen rx7 actuator and fab it on (5.5 psi). Get a boost controller to up it to 7 psi or w/e.
RRM piggyback and a wideband to tune with laptop software.
Megan SS evo manifold, SS 4g94 flange. Move runners on evo mani to weld on 4g94 mani.
stock evo DP, add about 1 foot.

Thats basically most of the kit....Some customizing needed but really. fairly easy kit to build. Been done a few times for under 2 grand. Of course they didnt have a boost controller and some other things. Custom is an option.

 

You should at least have something runnable when you're done with install. Maybe you don't rev above 3k rpm, avoid boost, etc. But you should at least be able to do basic driving to get to a tuner. Or you can get a turbo-tuned piggyback from RRM and have a solid starting point (and then go to a tuner for a tune specific to your car/modifications).

 

Thanks for all the opinions. Keep them coming guys. I really appreciate all the help.

 

After a lot of research I found out that the best thing I can do to the engine in this car is NOTHING. The way I will go about that is when something breaks I will replace it with a better part. For example, if my exhaust rusts out I will think about replacing it with a Magnaflow catback. For now I will just make it look clean and upgrade the stereo.

 

I support this decision 100%.

As I was discussing with a friend tonight: if you want a fast car, buy a different one. If you want a nice Lancer, then make it how you like it.

 

I will say that is the approach I have taken since I got my lancer and I will say I am quite pleased with the turn out. I just put on my sway bar so Ive pretty much done everything I planned for it. Ive rallycrossed it which is something no one seems to give enough credit to lancers for but now Im in a dilemma because I could sell the car and get a 2.5 RS which would get the job done or I could just keep working on the lancer and start working on internals