Manual Boost controlling a 850 Turbo wagon
 

what would be the maximum safe boost for a 850 Turbo not a t5r?

I am running at 15psi with a manual boost controller on an IPD ECU. But, on a factory ECU you will hit fuel cut off about there so you would be safer around 13-14. There is very little difference at 15psi, the turbo is literally maxed out. No more umph.

Agreed I would not go past like 13 or 14.
Also remember due to temp change if you are closer to like 14.5 and it gets cold I will bet you will hit fuel cut.

I would aim for more like 13.

This is like a 95 isn't it?
If so then it is basically a T5.

Yes its a 95 i want to put a manual boost controller on my wagon. what does it run stock? also which vaccum line would i attach the boost controller to

cars vary in boost. My Yellow was supposed to be 10 from the factory and was only at 7.

Make sure you have an aftermarket gauge in there first.

Basically the MBC goes between the compressor side of the turbo and the waste gate.

will the headgasket be good up to that on a regular basis?

My wifes car (White one in sig) has 250K on it and runs 14 PSI everyday.

sweet, bow big a difference does it make feel wise while driving?

:) ...thats what your face will look like.

I will take a picture of my MBC tomorrow so you can see the lines.

I dug everything out so you can see it. Basically you take the two outer vacuum lines off the stock controller and put them on the MBC. Pay attention to the flow direction of your MBC. The output should be going to the wastegate actuator.

I ran my 94 850 at 13 PSI with just a MBC and it was night and day. It is so worth it, just make sure you have a good boost gauge so you know how much post the car is getting.

Oh, and my 850 had 195K on it when I threw the MBC on it.

sweet thanks for the pics that makes a big difference the car has 189k it so i should definitly be good :)

Don't worry about your headgasket, that will be fine, unless the car has been neglected before you got it, I wouldn't worry about it. I'll be running 15-17 PSI on a 19T, and I have no concerns what so ever about the head gasket holding up.

Is there a specific MBC I should be getting for my car? Any particular brands or models?
What else do I need, just some vacuum hosesand the Controller + a Boost Gauge? Where does the guage go hooked up? (sorry im a real noob when it comes to turbos)

not really im looking for a grainger mbc to put on my 850. a boost gauge is a boost gauge. autolite make some decent ones. i just bout one for my car. i wish the factory gauge had a psi reading on it like my turbo dodges do lol. the gauge hooked up goes in where ever you wanna put it in the cabin, i have a pod for mine. though i might mount it in the center somewhere. you just have to run a vacuum line to it from a somewhat major vacuum source

I see, simple enough :)
Last question, when setting the amount of boost, for example 12PSI, the car has to be on, you turn the little knob on the MBC, then what? Engine has to be rev'd to full boost to see it on the gauge right? Does the engine need a load on it (like does it have to be moving or just rev the engine in neutral?)

You have to adjust it by driving it and adjusting a little at a time.

I would fully disagree with that. First off, a boost gauge is not just a boost gauge. There are electronic and mechanical boost gauges, electronic boost gauges are the best the vacuum line goes to a diaphragm and then the readings are sent to the gauge electronically. Mechanical gauges the boost line gets hooked up directly onto the gauge. And if you get a cheap gauge, they can become uncalibrated over time. Manual boost gauges are different too, IMO I wouldn't spend less than 50 bucks on a MBC, but a lot of cars that I have looked at that have a MBC spend around 100. With a cheap MBC the probably of getting boost spikes is higher, boost coming it at unpredictable times, boost fade, etc etc. So don't cheap it, do it once and do it right.

You got a point there for sure. :) how do the electrical ones work? Also What you think of the Autometer Pro comp ultra lite gauges? please forgive my naive answer:o
also what MBC would you recommend?

Haha, it's fine, here to help.

Instead of the the vacuum hose plugging into the back of the gauge, they plug into a little diaphragm that sends a signal to the gauge via an electrical signal (I guess that's the best way to put it), they are better and more precise and will last longer. My friend runs an autometer electrical boost gauge in is stg 2+ S4, and that's what he recommends. I'm going to get Auto Meter.

I've heard nothing but good things from this MBC:

http://www.boostcontroller.com/index.php?category=5

It's a little pricey, but you pay for what you get. Also, Forge is a reputable MBC company as well and besides that Hallman Pro, a lot of people recommend those. I had a Forge MBC that I was going to use, but then decided to use an EBC instead. For your set up, since you're pretty much stock, I would say you'd be perfectly fine with a Forge, a good $50 MBC will work without a problem.