what is better at making more boost?

running a boost controller or shortening the wastegate rod on the wastegate? I know the best thing to do is get the ECU upgrade but want and funds to do so are 2 totally seperate things.

I currently have the wastgate rod shortened to try to get it to 12psi. What the car does is boost to about 8-9psi and then when I get to 4500rpm the boost finally jumps to 12-13

the ramp-up to 12-13psi takes too long. I want it to go to 12-13psi and hold? whats everyone thoughts?

 

Did you watch the video on ipd's site? I would guess that a boost controller is best.

 

the boost is not supposed to come in at low RPM.
Low RPM boosting is a great way to destroy your engine, bent rods!

its supposed to hit its peak boost at 4-5000 RPM.

 

well if thats the case that BLOW's! It's not even very usable in those higher RPM's!! So what about all these ECU upgrades then. Does it bump the 15psi at 4500rpm's? If that is the case that BLOW's as well. According to RICA the 98's have the ability to compensate for the additional air flow. I was contemplating getting one of their tunes. The sales guy said it is supposed to produce 310 (I'm sure flywheel HP) on a stock motor with just an exhaust. I told him I wanted to jump straight to the ECU and get the other stuff later (CAI, Down pipe, cat-back, silicone intercooler hoses). He then proceeded to tell me that I would not have to send back my ECU when I do these things as the 98 have the ability to compensate. It was not needed for a retune until I upped my turbo...what do you think?

I watched some of those video's but not one on a boost controller...maybe I need to creep over to the site and check it out.

 

When I am at a dead stop and punch it my car does not lunge forward, it pulls and within 2 seconds the boost kicks in and the car keeps pulling. Then it shifts which drops the tach down to about 4,200 rpms which is still in strong boost, I feel more pulling. This goes on until I hit third at about 80. By then I'm still picking up speed but don't feel the pulling as much. So, I almost never spin tire until I go pass about 15 to 20 mph. Sometimes I break tread between 1st and 2nd. I can see how immediate torque could cause damage to motor, suspension, etc. I don't think you want that off the line jerk as much as you'd want the continued pull.

 

for example if you had a manual and you left it in 1st gear rolling at 4000 rpm and you hit the pedal to the floor the turbo should boost as fast as it can right to its maximum.

a boost controller works like this
lets say your rolling at 20mph at 2000rpm boosting at 2 psi (stock no boost controller) and while you gain RPM you will gain boost till its max proportionally.
with boost controller at 20mph at 2000rpm it will be boosting at 4 psi (or whatever depending on adjustment.. just an example) instead of 2 and will gain boost till its max. Here is where the danger starts, stock volvo feels that at 2000rpm that 2 psi is just right, and now your boosting at 4.. it will continue to boost till its stock max and continue to the max of the boost controller.