Affordable Boost Controller Recomendations?

Nixlimited

Without a boost controller, the boost level is set roughly by the wastegate(s) spring(s). This is a fine way to do it if you are going to stay at lower boost levels and don't want to ramp boost hard, but it's not really ideal. A boost controller will give you finer control and the ability to ramp boost harder by preventing the wastegates from cracking gradually as the boost pressure rises.

Also, a turbo car is rarely at the same boost pressure. The boost pressure is driven by things like RPM and load (which changes with gear selection) and is constantly moving around. The only situations where you will see fairly consistent boost is while cruising where you are making very little boost and under WOT when the boost controller is regulating the max boost.

Electronic boost controllers do measure pressure, otherwise they would not be able to do their job. I guess you could say that manual boost controllers also respond to pressure in a manner of speaking, but there is no kind of digital output. Not all electronic boost controllers are meant to be used as gauges. Some, like the AEM TruBoost fill both roles nicely. The HKS EVC like I am using is too bulky in my opinion to be exposed and used like a regular gauge. As such, you should definitely get a standalone gauge unless going with a special application like the AEM.

Yeah, this is definitely not the place to cut cost in a TT build.

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Car Sold! Pleasure being a part of the Z community.
New ride: 2015 GT-R - 647 WHP / 641 WTQ (e85) & 543 WHP / 519 WTQ (91)