Do I Need An Electronic Boost Controller?

[Mitcho_7]

So, im looking at getting a few mods done over the next few months to get a bit more power & I want to keep the engine bay looking as stock as possible. My r33 gtst already has a full exhaust, return flow fmic and pod filter with stock snorkel feeding into the heat shield. The car also currently has the mod which allows you to flcik an in cabin switch and select 5 or 7 psi boost.

I have decided on the hypergear Hi Kai high flow on my stock r33 gtst turbo, it comes with a heavy duty actuator and keeps the stock look of the turbo but allows more power. With the supporting gear (ecu, 555cc injectors, fuel pump, z32 afm etc) this will apparently get me about 270rwkw according to the dyno sheets in the hypergear thread. I want a safe sort of tune as the car is street driven regularly and i would probably only want about 17psi max boost.

I have decided on a NIStune with z32 ecu upgrade.

My question is, will i need to run an electronic boost controller to get the car to hold consistant boost levels or is there someway to use the nistune chip and stock boost solenoid in the r33 to hold the boost levels steady with the hypergear heavy duty actuator?

And if it is possible, can it be made to run a low (14psi or so) and high boost (17psi) setting by utilising the in cabin switch i currently have?

I would prefer not to have to run a boost controller of any sort for the obvious reason of lower cost involved, but also not to attract attention in the engine bay.

Obviously though if its needed I will run one, but i just wanted to get peoples opinions.

thanks

[Spark911]

definitely get an EBC mate.

cheap as chips these days ($200-300 for a greddy profec B second hand) and it will be worth it in the long run. it will run high and low boost at the press of a button.

the electronic solenoid and plumbing is easy to hide anyway

whats another couple of hundred bucks after buying all the other stuff

[Mitcho_7]

yeh boost controllers arent that exspensive, but id still like to know if it can be done without the need for an aftermarket boost controller

[Mick_o]

Nistune wont control your boost and my experience with the nistune in my car wasnt that crash hot could never get it to idle consistent cold start took few turns more than usual not saying they are bad dont get me wrong just always seemed to have lotsa annoying little bugs that just couldnt be sorted other than the above mentioned my car ran good and made good power just seemed that using a chipped ecu that is designed to run a 3L twin turbo V6 on a 2.5L single turbo inline 6 just aint really meant to be.

My 2c and the opinion of my tuner also

[cherring]

I have a Greddy Profec B Spec II and a Nistune and just got my car 32 tuned, that EBC helps my high flow hold boost really really well, find a good tuner and you'll be fine.

[Hanaldo]

Nistune wont control your boost and my experience with the nistune in my car wasnt that crash hot could never get it to idle consistent cold start took few turns more than usual not saying they are bad dont get me wrong just always seemed to have lotsa annoying little bugs that just couldnt be sorted other than the above mentioned my car ran good and made good power just seemed that using a chipped ecu that is designed to run a 3L twin turbo V6 on a 2.5L single turbo inline 6 just aint really meant to be.

My 2c and the opinion of my tuner also

Doesn't sound related to NIStune mate.

OP, I'd suggest not getting an EBC. I never used mine at all when I had my internally gated Hypergear, as the internal gates work better when your actuator is as close to your desired boost pressure as possible. I was running 20psi minimum, so there wasn't much point winding more boost in.

You can also adjust gain and others to get a couple hundred rpm better response, just up to you if you think the price of the EBC is worth that.

[KiwiRS4T]

The answer is no you don't need one but they have their advantages. Why do you want two boost levels? Use your right foot to control boost.

If you really want two boost levels get the Jaycar unit ( I had one it worked well) and you can have not just two boost maxima but two complete maps.Oh and you can use your stock solenoid.

[lilcrash]

No one needs an ebc. They are just for "I'm pulling my dick" factor. When you get the hypergear turbo you will never run low boost anyway.

[Bsa]

No not needed but yes can help with many things you never no you may go to a bigger turbo again one day

[cherring]

No one needs an ebc. They are just for "I'm pulling my dick" factor. When you get the hypergear turbo you will never run low boost anyway.

Well my Hypergear turbo does about 14psi with no boost controller. I wanted to be able to run 20psi as well. It helped with that.

[DVS JEZ]

All those on the control boost with ur foot bandwagon, what if u wanted to go to the circuit would u run 20psi all day with stock motors on a 35degree day, or would u prefer the safety of 14psi low boost?

As said they have there advantages, but cost money

[Mick_o]

I believe it was nistune related as i swapped to a link and my car idles perfect always and even cold starts better on E85 and nothing else was changed. I trust what my tuner says 110% as fact and seems he was right when i swapped ecu's

Doesn't sound related to NIStune mate.

OP, I'd suggest not getting an EBC. I never used mine at all when I had my internally gated Hypergear, as the internal gates work better when your actuator is as close to your desired boost pressure as possible. I was running 20psi minimum, so there wasn't much point winding more boost in.

You can also adjust gain and others to get a couple hundred rpm better response, just up to you if you think the price of the EBC is worth that.

[Hanaldo]

No one needs an ebc. They are just for "I'm pulling my dick" factor. When you get the hypergear turbo you will never run low boost anyway.

I lolled when I saw it was you who wrote this.

All those on the control boost with ur foot bandwagon, what if u wanted to go to the circuit would u run 20psi all day with stock motors on a 35degree day, or would u prefer the safety of 14psi low boost?

As said they have there advantages, but cost money

Spot on, this is the reason I kept mine and went to external gate on the larger turbo.

OP said he is worried about it as a street driven car though, so I sort of assumed he wouldn't be taking it to the track all that often...

I believe it was nistune related as i swapped to a link and my car idles perfect always and even cold starts better on E85 and nothing else was changed. I trust what my tuner says 110% as fact and seems he was right when i swapped ecu's

Well it could be the case, but I still wouldn't say it is NIStune related. Remember that NIStune only lets you tune stock parameters, if there is a problem with your setup (ie. the Z32 ecu not working properly, etc.) then it's hard to tune around it. You may have had a problem with the Z32 ECU causing trouble, but that's no fault of the NIStune.

But I'm assuming a lot here about your setup, so I am possibly incorrect. Carry on

[lilcrash]

Hanaldo - lol.

But really I had a Greddy profec for 3 years and I used low boost mayb 2 or 3 times. If you have the spare cash they can be good for when people drive you car and you don't trust them.

[Rolls]

EBC is useful for getting boost to hold to redline in a highflow pushed to its limits. Also good for running low boost on hot days or when tracking etc.

Eboost street is a great little uni that I use, about $400 new or $2-300 second hand. Very easy to use and lots of features, nice boost display as well.