Yo! Brian here!

[ChopstickHero]

join www.moccforums.com since you live in San Diego. there are a bunch of MOCC members there.

Oh OF COURSE I'm not going to boost 12psi on stock internals! I plan on doing all my preventative maintenance before I touch the boost! Fuel management and gauges first of course.

Then...???

I think biggest restriction on MSP is exhaust. It's tiny. Free that up and then worry about supporting mods like engine/fuel management. It takes A LOT to get power out of these engines reliably. It's more of a handling car than one for lots of power.

 

[domino760]

join www.moccforums.com since you live in San Diego. there are a bunch of MOCC members there.



I think biggest restriction on MSP is exhaust. It's tiny. Free that up and then worry about supporting mods like engine/fuel management. It takes A LOT to get power out of these engines reliably. It's more of a handling car than one for lots of power.

Thanks for the tips. Joined Mocc under same user name.

 

[slo03.5msp]

Seriousl has anyone tried boosting over 12lbs on stock internals? I had been doing pretty much since i owned the car. My engine still hasn't blown up. The oil scraper ring took a crap and started blow by like a champ and thats it. If you have supporting mods and bigger injectors 12lbs is actually pretty safe on a daily basis.

 

[speed1016]

Well the thing with running that higher boost is there will be no warning when it does go. Speaking from experience I just made sure I had money set aside for a new block and head.

 

[domino760]

After having the car blow up within 24 hours of getting it, i think I'm going to baby it until I can 'bullet-proof' it.

 

[jmv]

congrats!! Good thing the dealer is taking care of you as well.

yes the wastegate is a POS in that it craps out too often, but if yours is good (check by blowing into it and hooking it up to a vac pump/sucking on it... if it holds pressure and vac, its fine) theres no need to replace it right now. Exhuast first, then intercooler (intake if you want the sound/look, but it doesn't do much for power), and then EMS, and then boost at or under 10 psi is my suggestion, and is also the general path i've followed/am following with my car.

Another thing to check out is the stock motor mounts, they suck and tear easily, thats on my short list of things to buy.

Oh and you also mentioned gauges, thats a definite good idea, make sure to get quality gauges... a good boost gauge and also a wideband O2 if you can afford it. Don't waste your money on a 'narrowband'.

 

[jmv]

another thing i forgot to mention.... when you do the intercooler stuff and presumably get hardpipes, its a good idea to look at either running a dual setup (bpv AND bov), or getting an upgraded BPV, because the stocker, and the small piping it uses, gives lots of compressor surge which over time is bad for your turbo.

 

[domino760]

Dude, that was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Great advice! Thank you!

 

[jmv]

Glad i could help!!

After those first basic steps theres plenty of things that you could do, but honestly, after doing those steps, that is the point that i would start considering an engine build, just because i'm very leary of the strength of the motors. Some people have real good luck, some don't, but most agree that exhuast, intercooler, EMS, and 10 psi is a fairly safe bet.

 

[domino760]

Well all right then. haha(2thumbs)