The time is approaching to turn up the boost a little bit on my T25. Right now I'm running at 8psi. I want to bump it up to the 10-12psi range. From the research I've done, I figure that I can either get the HKS actuator, or a boost controller. I'm leaning toward the Profec-B because a buddy of mine can get me a great deal on one.
If I were to get the actuator, can I use that on whatever turbo I eventually upgrade to in the future (probably a GT25R)?
What are the benefits of an actuator over a boost controller, other than cost? I've heard that the actuator would actually offer better boost characteristics than an EBC.
Help! I don't want to make the wrong decision. :help
HKS Actuator or Greddy Profec-B
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Hijacker
- Posts: 14373
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
- Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150 - Location: Fredericksburg, VA
boost controllers can tend to be "off" on their calculations due to the hose length and if it uses fuzzy logic or not. The actuator would offer a more consistent boost since it's not having it's line intercepted. For a real boost controller, go with an electronic controller. They will open the wastegate at the penultimate moment allowing for a bit more response whereas a traditional controller leaks into place (as the boost goes up, the WG slowly opens allowing some gasses by that could be used to spool up faster).
I would personally go with the Profec over the HKS unit just because it's less of a hassle to change boost settings. With the HKS unit, I have to drive the car, find its peak boost, get out, wait for the engine to cool, change the WG arm length, drive the car, repeat.
Both types of boost controll can transfer to other turbos. as long as the bracket on the HKS unit lines up to the mounting holes, you're golden
I would personally go with the Profec over the HKS unit just because it's less of a hassle to change boost settings. With the HKS unit, I have to drive the car, find its peak boost, get out, wait for the engine to cool, change the WG arm length, drive the car, repeat.
Both types of boost controll can transfer to other turbos. as long as the bracket on the HKS unit lines up to the mounting holes, you're golden
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SkylineDriven
- Posts: 112
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:47 pm
The EBC allows you t fine tune/adjust your boost and is VERY effective in adjusting boost and KEEPING it at whatever level you set it to. It is very responsive.
With the HKS adjustable actuator, you can pretty much set it at a boost level and leave it there. As soon as a certain pressure is detected, it opens up the wastegate. You can just run a line directly to the actuator instead of through some sort of boost controller. The HKS actuator can be adjusted to about 1 bar before you will need a boost controller to control it beyond that.
I have run with the HKS actuator hooked up directly, bypassing the boost controller. It seemed to work fine. The actuator was made so that people running off of the stock turbo solenoid could cheaply raise the boost without removing the solenoid and using an external boost controller.
With the HKS adjustable actuator, you can pretty much set it at a boost level and leave it there. As soon as a certain pressure is detected, it opens up the wastegate. You can just run a line directly to the actuator instead of through some sort of boost controller. The HKS actuator can be adjusted to about 1 bar before you will need a boost controller to control it beyond that.
I have run with the HKS actuator hooked up directly, bypassing the boost controller. It seemed to work fine. The actuator was made so that people running off of the stock turbo solenoid could cheaply raise the boost without removing the solenoid and using an external boost controller.