Manual Boost Controller Installation Advice?
 

It's 2012, and I plan to get the Hallman RX manual boost controller. Does anyone have advice on an approach to install it? I hear it's a pain to get access to the wastegates.

I used Applications. You'll need a vacuum line T since you have 2 wastegates and some extra vacuum line from an autoparts store. Get access under the car and from there it's just about where you want to mount it, run lines, etc... Goodluck, don't turn the knob too much ;)

turning boost up gets addictive so be careful.

also where at in ks are you located?

Thanks guys. I just wanted to make sure it is still feasible to install an MBC post turbo install.

It will have the light spring, which is good for +5 PSI over wastegate pressure. I will try to set it to around 8 PSI at the local dyno shop (AFR is still pretty rich) and will someday take a road trip down to Dallas for a tune. With my driving habits, the engine hardly sees much boost for daily driving. I'm definitely hoping to get at least 50 additional whp with the 91 tune.

Haha, I'm not that crazy ;) I'm located in Wichita. Where in KC are you? Some of my buddies frequent KC quite a bit, but it's on the KS side.

I'm in north kc. we should meet up sometime, i would love to check out that tt setup. got to ride in towers sts 370z thats up here and that was fun. definately wanna see what a twin setup feels like

Sounds good. Let me try to get stuff out of the way, but I'll try to hit you up if my buddies and I plan to visit KC.

Very easy to install. The Hallman MBC is one of the better ones. Just be carefully as you initially start dialing in the boost. When you first start turning the knob, the boost increases very slightly. As it seats further, you will get a greater change in boost with each turn so tread lightly. Good luck. :)

Careful of boost spike as well... My buddy had a manual boost controller on his STI and the spike he would see was scary... Post up your results after!! :tup:

mbc should actually help prevent spikes

Yea my Hallman MBC works great! I can control it from the cockpit as well.

Did any of you guys have issues getting to the wastegates post turbo install? Also, is it safe to assume I'm going to need to buy extra tubing? Hehe.

A friend linked me to a site that sells them at a good price, unless a vendor can do the same by sending me a PM. :)

yes, you will need a "T" fitting (unless theres an easily accessable vac tree) and some vacuum tubing

It shouldn't be too hard to access the tubing. You can either do it from up top and remove the passenger side MAF pipe to access the vacuum line for the wastegates or do it from below.

To give you a better idea, check out page 76 of the instruction manual: http://www.gtmotorsports.com/Manuals...structions.pdf

You don't need a separate tee for this. Just plumb the mbc in line between the nipple on the turbo outlet pipe and the rest of the line that already has a tee in it going to the wastegates. You may want to use a vacuum coupler and extra 6mm vacuum line depending on where you want to mount the boost controller itself. Just make sure you account for the fact that the engine does rock around a bit and ensure that the vacuum line is routed away from any high heat sources, moving components and sharp edges. If the line ruptures, you will overboost. Keep an eye on your boost gauge.

Okay, I've got a really stupid question, but it pertains to the 91 octane tune Sam provided. My motor doesn't see max boost (6 PSI) often, but I'm debating about how much I can safely dial for daily driving and occasional boost.

Right now I'm looking at 8-9 PSI, but would love to get closer to 10 PSI. Right now it's about 400 whp on a Dyno Dynamics. It'll be sweet to get close to 475-500 whp, but that's just being optimistic.

The MBC was installed over a week ago, but poor weather prevented me from testing it until recently. Can someone confirm this setup?

The wastegates are originally teed together, and a hose connects from the tee to the barb connector of the passenger intake pipe.

The hose to the passenger intake pipe was disconnected and fed to the MBC, and the MBC connects to the connector of the intake pipe.

So far I'm at 6 full turns on the MBC and have yet to see more than 7 PSI. This is a partial to full throttle test in 3rd and 4th.

[EDIT] Will try to tap into the back of the intake plenum as a boost source, which is where the boost sensor is currently connected this weekend. Hopefully this will resolve the MBC problem.