Running a dp, hiflo cat, & cat back, you do NOT get boost creep correct? it is only the midpipe that gives that problem. Also, do all three of those count towards the 3mod myth/fact? meaning the next step is a ECU upgrade like a power FC. Can I add an intercooler before I do the ECU? Thanks.

 

How many times do we have to say this? The 3-mod rule is false. If you keep your boost to 10 psi, you can run all the bolt-ons just fine on the stock ecu.

You will need a boost controller with that setup to maintain 10 psi but you won't boost creep.

 

Boost creep varies from car to car. But I would expect you to be okay on boost creep with the stock intake + dp/hi-flo/cat-back.

I had trouble with running lean with intake/IC/dp/cat-back. It detonated like mad at 11 psi or so. I do think the 3 mod rule is (overly) conservative, but you should watch out if you go beyond it.

-Max

 

Max, my car was still below 11:1 a/f ratio with those same mods at 10 psi. Wade's tests are also very informative. Did you ever run a wideband with that setup to see where you were a/f wise?

I agree that the 3-mod rule is a good rule of thumb for newbies to learn though. I think it has reduced the number of apex seals shredding turbines....

 

Well being a newb I will stick to the conservative end of it. I have a boost gauge so I can keep an eye on it. Would your advice be to get a boost controller next in order to make sure that boost stays where it is suppose to?

Money is not an issue for this buildup (I guess if that were true I could buy everything at once, but you get the my drift). I have read alot of threads and know the mods that I want in order to get to 300+RWHP, but just wanna make sure I do them in the safest order possible. I have done all the "reliability" mods except for the DP(which is gonna go in now) I guess aside from the boost creep question my next question is what should the next mod be? will a boost controller let me add an intake & intercooler without blowing up the car as long as I don't turn up the boost beyond 10psi?

I know these threads irritate the "gurus" but everyone was a newbie at one point or another and trust me I have killed the search button over the past month. So I would appreciate any help you guys can give me.

 

You may want to get the Power FC next. That way you will have time to learn to tune it before getting into "dangerous" territory. It absolutely transforms the car, even stock. The Commander will be ok for tuning until you get greedy for power.

As for staying at 10 PSI, if you stay there with no serious spikes, the stock ECU will give you enough fuel to protect the engine. A boost controller will keep you there if you learn how to use it. You can also stay at 10 PSI with pills, again, learning how to do it.

Practise practise practise.

 

thanks.

 

What mods do you have? stock intake?

 

While 10psi is a good rule of thumb, it IS NOT actually the truth

The stock (POS) ECU does a injector duty cycle fuel cut, not a boost fuel cut. This is why you can spike to 15psi w/o it fuel cutting.

The reason I know this is before my PFC with only a drop in air filter, gutted pre cat, high flow cat, borla catback and pulleys I COULD NOT run 10psi without fuel cut. I had to run my car at 9psi to keep it from fuel cutting.

Just a word to the wise.

Jon
'93 TGM base

P.S. (just read all of the posts) AAAAHHHHHH!!!! Jesus F@#(*^&@^$ Christ, dont waste your money on a boost controller, just get the needle valves and learn how to tune them. $10 from home depot. Then when you get your PFC you can change boost on the fly with it. And if you go to a single you can buy the boost controller kit from Apexi which is just the solinoid part of one of their boost controllers that the PFC controls. Wow, isn't that easy!

Personally, I don't want a space shuttle cockpit in my car, I try to minimize gauges and buttons and gizmos, I try to keep the rice out. All I have visible is a boost gauge on the steering column, the PFC velcro'ed by the ignition, a turbo timer installed in the "crotch vent", and a top secret high boost switch that works with the datalogit and PFC to switch to my high boost setting.

 

yea I have a stock intake. that and an intercooler are next on my list, but I guess I may be looking at into a PFC before that.