Power Pages: Nissan 240SX

Dyno 4: HKS EVC Boost Controller

Pros

If you've made performance upgrades, you've now afforded yourself a little room for some more boost and power without having to upgrade your fuel supply. We were able to increase the boost from 61kpa (8.8 psi) to 75kpa (10.87 psi) without exceeding the fuel injectors' capacity. There were gains of up to 20 hp between 4000 and 5000 rpm, and a solid 15 hp between 5000 and 6000 rpm. Torque numbers were also up, with the biggest jumps in torque being 24 lb-ft between 3250 and 3700 rpm and 20 lb-ft between 4250 and 4750.

Cons

No disadvantages to this boost controller other than that it's a little more expensive than other models on the market. Initial set up is a little difficult but after playing around with it, you'll have no problem changing your boost.

Notes

Boost controllers reglulate the turbo's wastegate with vacuum pressure. Electronic boost controllers use different means of adjusting the vacuum pressure. Some use electronic solenoids while HKS utilizes a stepping motor for more precise, rapid and stable boost control. Even though we only increased the boost by 2 psi, we gained significant power across the board. We used the Innovate Motorsports LM-1 wideband AFR meter to monitor the exhaust gas content as a precaution while slowly increasing boost levels. At 10.87 psi, we've pretty much maxed out the stock fuel system. Any further increases in boost will require upgrades to the fuel system, such as a fuel pump, injectors and fuel management.

Air Temperature

78 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature difference from previous run: +0 degrees Fahrenheit

Tools

Side angle cutters, Phillips screw driver, wire cutters, wire crimpers and electrical connectors

Parts

EVC boost controller display, brain box, stepping motor, vacuum hose, clamps, hardware and instructions

Installation Time

60 Minutes

Dyno 4: HKS EVC Boost Controller
Horsepower: 213.7
Torque: 208.3

Conclusion

This build up went smoothly, although the intercooler installation was more challenging. We saw the stock exhaust from the turbo back is terribly restrictive, and how larger piping can make a noticeable difference in performance (even with the catalytic converter still in place). The new intercooler gives us some room to work with bigger boost levels, and we have a boost controller to get us to those levels. We made an incredible 32.1 hp and 36.3 lb-ft of torque, all with the factory injectors and ECU.

By Richard Fong

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