1993 Toyota MR2 - Power Pages

Our first bolt-on of this session was one of the hardest to install, but the power gain was well worth the effort. The Blitz Diffuser (a.k.a. straight pipe), eliminated the restrictive primary catalytic converter and bumped power up to 185.7 hp and 193.7 lb-ft of torque. Power increased from 3800 rpm and up with the biggest gain of 12 hp found around 6500 to 7000 rpm. By eliminating the cat, we were also able to pick up additional boost pressure, maxing out at 10.2 psi.

Next on the list was the Blitz SBC-iD boost controller. Of course, if you bump up boost pressure, you are bound to make power if the turbocharger is up to the task. But our main concern is to show how well the controller can make extra power in some areas of the powerband not commonly found. This is realized through the power of the boost solenoid's ability to control the action of the wastegate. Since the boost cut kicks in at 12 psi, we decided to turn boost pressure up to 11.7 psi. The SBC was able to make a total of 190.9 hp and a whopping 203.5 lb-ft of torque by adding an extra 1.5 psi. The SBC's main function was to make more power in the mid-range, which is exactly what it did from 3000 to 5500 rpm.

Our last install is the most critical piece for exceeding 12 psi. Understanding that this device gives us the ability to create more power by eliminating the 12 psi barrier. Power isn't created from the FCD, but it gives us the ability to make power with the SBC. We decided to bump pressure up to 14.0 psi-we live on the wild side! The FCD did its job, because the ECU's boost cut did not kick in, even though pressure was at 14 psi. Adding the extra 2.3 psi bumped power to 198.9 hp and 217.7 lb-ft of torque.

Conclusion Our three installs proved that the MR2 powerplant is capable of creating substantial horsepower gains from simple mods. While the last two products increased boost, keep in mind that fuel tuning may have to be addressed. The next step would be a turbocharger designed to generate extreme levels of boost more efficiently. But that's another story.