Best way to get 10psi???

[Brad-MSP]

What is the Best way to get 10psi??

[808MP5]

boost controller
either manual or electronic...
good luck... should research more before you go BOOM

what's your setup now? if you got an external wastegate you could just put a higher pressure spring
10psi is like the limit on the stock motor(so i hear)... i've never taken that risk yet... highest i went was 9#'s and quickly turned it back down

[Brad-MSP]

Yeah i had a cheap boost controller once it did nothing... as for my setup: AEM cold air intake, FMIC... hard pipes bov is on the cold side???????? does that matter?....cat has been cut off and is has crappy small muffler im thinking about just running the downpipe

[Brad-MSP]

Oh yeah and my car messed up really bad a few months ago i had to replace the 02 sensor, and MAF the maf i got of a wreck 2002 protege lx???? it was the same part number so i figured it would work but my car keep cuttin out alot but im guessing its just the cold at least thats what everyone else seems to think

[Captain KRM P5]

its not wise to just go for 10psi on this turbo and this engine with just the modifications you have. running open downpipe, well i think a turboback exhaust is preferable for alot of reasons, but yes better exhaust flow is pretty vital to making safe power at 10psi or more.

i'd want to have a wideband and some kind of fuel control before i went up to 10psi on this car. granted, that costs real money, but having to replace a blown engine from doing this the wrong way will cost you more.

[808MP5]

^Ken knows what he's talking about


don't get a cheapo boost controler... controling boost is very important...
but more important is fuel management and wideband like the pikachu said
i've ran a search and here's what i came up with... and how
someone hooked up there boost controler
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123679286&highlight=boost+controller
10psi boom and 10psi safe is going to cost a lot of $ either way

[Brad-MSP]

I have had the spring mod on my car for about a week got 8psi but took it off.. Yeah idk what the deal with this car is the guy who had it before me had it up to 15psi but he had somemore mods on it along with intercooled nitrous but beside that i do not really know what they were it ran ok at 8psi i would be happy with 8 again but i dont want to use the rigged spring mod.. I just need to ideas im very confused about what to do

[Captain KRM P5]

I have had the spring mod on my car for about a week got 8psi but took it off.. Yeah idk what the deal with this car is the guy who had it before me had it up to 15psi but he had somemore mods on it along with intercooled nitrous but beside that i do not really know what they were it ran ok at 8psi i would be happy with 8 again but i dont want to use the rigged spring mod.. I just need to ideas im very confused about what to do

what the prior owner had done sounds like a recipe for catastrophe

[Brad-MSP]

yeah i dont want to go the route he did but i wouldn't mind making a little extra power.

[PointFive]

Bottom line: the MSP is about handling, not straight power. Forget about the drag strips and find some winding mountain roads.

[Brad-MSP]

Yeah I know all about curvy roads I live in a Small town in kentucky ...I just get tired of all the ingnorant Rednecks and thier Mustangs...

[MAZDA_SPEED]

dont worry about power to much. Just make the car look and sound good!!!

[zuku26]

Study this thread...
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123677826
When I say study I literally mean that. Take a couple days to go through it let it soak in and take notes.
You say this guy was boosting 15 psi and had nitrous?? He must have been spraying the outside of the intercooler with that cause I don't see a MSP running 15 psi, and nitrous lasting more then one pull. Do you know if this guy forged the motor or welded the LSD and for some reason didn't tell you when you bought it?

[KrayzieFox]

You wanna boost 10 psi reliably, then get your car running PERFECT under stock conditions first. Invest in a wideband and boost gauge for starters.

Make sure that your vacuum is reading 20-24 in.Hg when idling to make sure you don't have any vacuum leaks, and check what your maximum boost is currently set at. If you have a boost controller, I would suggest turning it all the way down or just removing it altogether. Stock boost is 6 psi, so make sure that's what your boost gauge reads.

Your wideband should give you a good idea of how prepared you are to crank up the boost. When idling and riding under vacuum, you should see AFRs of 14.3-15.5 or so. When boosting, they should be below 13.. preferably in the 11.2-12.5 range, but if you have the stock ECU then you might be seeing 10-11 cuz the stock tune is super rich. If you're in the orange or red under boost, you have some serious problems.. and you should not be boosting AT ALL.

Once you verify that your car is running good under STOCK conditions, THEN you can THINK about cranking up the boost. The CAI and FMIC is a good start, but you still have a few checkpoints to reach before 10 psi is safe. Make sure your exhaust is good.. you don't want any leaks here either.

Anyway, go over the thread that zuku pointed you to. It has lots of great info, but study the hell out of it. Understand the importance of every mod you do, and don't do anything before you know what it does and why you need it.

If you have further questions, ask away. Good luck (2thumbs)

[mazdaRX]

I got a replacement waste gate and now i boost about 9.7 all the time. I don't even use my Greddy profec other than as a boost gauge now. This makes me a little weary still and I am going to get my unichip tuned next weekend just to play it safe.
To echo everyone else...
I would not mess with upping the boost until i had all my support mods and my UniChip or something else simular installed. Just my .02

[slo03.5msp]

Whats the difference. Put on a boost controller if you blow it up it's not our fault. Just be careful.

[blueprotegelx]

I live in a Small town in kentucky...

Where do you live within Ky?

I agree on making sure your car is running up to terms normally first! With him running 15psi on this motor there's no telling what he has done. For some reason I have a feeling I know who you bought this car off of. Is his name Gary? May be not, but it just sounds like his car and I know he has been trying to sell it on nkyautosports.com.
Once everything is running normally I would go with supporting mods. First like Ken said get a turbo back exhaust. Airflow is important...

[zuku26]

Whats the difference. Put on a boost controller if you blow it up it's not our fault. Just be careful.


Damn Bill when are you going to realize your car is one of those enigma's. One of only a hand full of MSPs that can handle high boost and not blow up. I think for now on you need to post a caption under your posts like this and let the readers know your car is special and that theirs will not respond like yours. J/K Bro... I won't be making the meet tomarrow but my car will be at Ken's in the a.m. for that work I PM'd you about. I hope I can have that work by him, if not I'm going to have to bring it to you, or find another place.

[Brad-MSP]

I bought the car off a car lot...this guy found me at a sumernites cruise in somerset ky looked over the car had me pop the trunk and he said it was his car he showed me the hole where he had the nitrous had been hooked up and yeah it was outside the intercooler and i do remeber him saying that he did have something done with the LSD He also said this MSP is one one of the only ones that didnt blow up at 15psi there is a guy on this fourm i think his user name is SeR_Cyclops i think he knows the guy who had my car and what was done to it oh yeah and to who ever asked what part of KY i live in its Wayne Co. but i also go to college at EKU (richmond ky) but anyways i want to know if this car is one of the factory freaks i just dont want to test it out just want to know so if i up my boost just a little bit i wont worry as much...but im going to try to find out what was done to this car and let everyone know because i am really curious myself.

[CnoTataymo]

Damn, he ran nitrous? I wonder how good the motor still is then. If anything, get bolt-ons: upgrade smic or fmic, intake, intake mani, full exhaust with a tune at stock boost. Running those mods will boost you at 7.8-8.5 psi. If you want more, get the Forge WGA and set it to 10 psi then a tune.

[zuku26]

Damn, he ran nitrous?

Some people that run nitrous don't use it to spray into the motor itself. On boosted cars some run a nitrous sprayer and spray the outside of the intercooler to further cool the air inside the intercooler. It effectively freezes the outside off the intercooler. But is an expensive way to go about it. I've heard of some using water with ice cubes in the water reservior to get a similar outcome. It just helps get the air temps down.

[Wagonbacker9]

Some people that run nitrous don't use it to spray into the motor itself. On boosted cars some run a nitrous sprayer and spray the outside of the intercooler to further cool the air inside the intercooler. It effectively freezes the outside off the intercooler. But is an expensive way to go about it. I've heard of some using water with ice cubes in the water reservior to get a similar outcome. It just helps get the air temps down.

Water w/ Ice cubes is for an Air to Water IC... I've only seen one MSP with this setup... but have pondered doing it myself.

Use the stock IC location for a heat exchanger, and run a air to water in the factory intake location..

[CnoTataymo]

Interesting. I didn't know that, thanks.

[Brad-MSP]

oh yeah also my boost gauge reads no vac????????

[Brad-MSP]

You wanna boost 10 psi reliably, then get your car running PERFECT under stock conditions first. Invest in a wideband and boost gauge for starters.

Make sure that your vacuum is reading 20-24 in.Hg when idling to make sure you don't have any vacuum leaks, and check what your maximum boost is currently set at. If you have a boost controller, I would suggest turning it all the way down or just removing it altogether. Stock boost is 6 psi, so make sure that's what your boost gauge reads.

Your wideband should give you a good idea of how prepared you are to crank up the boost. When idling and riding under vacuum, you should see AFRs of 14.3-15.5 or so. When boosting, they should be below 13.. preferably in the 11.2-12.5 range, but if you have the stock ECU then you might be seeing 10-11 cuz the stock tune is super rich. If you're in the orange or red under boost, you have some serious problems.. and you should not be boosting AT ALL.

Once you verify that your car is running good under STOCK conditions, THEN you can THINK about cranking up the boost. The CAI and FMIC is a good start, but you still have a few checkpoints to reach before 10 psi is safe. Make sure your exhaust is good.. you don't want any leaks here either.

Anyway, go over the thread that zuku pointed you to. It has lots of great info, but study the hell out of it. Understand the importance of every mod you do, and don't do anything before you know what it does and why you need it.

If you have further questions, ask away. Good luck (2thumbs)

[KrayzieFox]

oh yeah also my boost gauge reads no vac????????

..what?!

[Brad-MSP]

My gauge reads 6psi but it just goes back to 0 never into the vac

[SeR_Cyclops]

I bought the car off a car lot...this guy found me at a sumernites cruise in somerset ky looked over the car had me pop the trunk and he said it was his car he showed me the hole where he had the nitrous had been hooked up and yeah it was outside the intercooler and i do remeber him saying that he did have something done with the LSD He also said this MSP is one one of the only ones that didnt blow up at 15psi there is a guy on this fourm i think his user name is SeR_Cyclops i think he knows the guy who had my car and what was done to it oh yeah and to who ever asked what part of KY i live in its Wayne Co. but i also go to college at EKU (richmond ky) but anyways i want to know if this car is one of the factory freaks i just dont want to test it out just want to know so if i up my boost just a little bit i wont worry as much...but im going to try to find out what was done to this car and let everyone know because i am really curious myself.

hahaha you have the fastest msp in ky at one time. and yeah thats me!
BTW: I dont think cass blew the evo up but i know it has been built

[SeR_Cyclops]

..what?!

your saying that your gauge is just a boost gauge no vac right? it just shows boost? because there is no way you are showing 0 inches of merc if it is suppose to red vac.

[Brad-MSP]

no it reads both boost and vac

[SeR_Cyclops]

wow it must be broke.

[Brad-MSP]

its new i have had two and they both did the read the same

[808MP5]

try a different vacuum port... something is definitely wrong there

[SeR_Cyclops]

yeah no joke, hook it up to the brake booster, but make sure that you get it on the other side of the check valve if you want i can show you where its at sometime.

[Brad-MSP]

yeah no joke, hook it up to the brake booster, but make sure that you get it on the other side of the check valve if you want i can show you where its at sometime.

yeah i defenitely need to get this fixed i need to get my car running good again and everything working right

[KrayzieFox]

My gauge reads 6psi but it just goes back to 0 never into the vac


no it reads both boost and vac

I don't get it..

Does it read vacuum or not?

[Brad-MSP]

I don't get it..

Does it read vacuum or not?

the boost gauge reads it like its can but it dont it spikes 6 and goes to 0

[Captain KRM P5]

what brand of gauge is this?

[Brad-MSP]

what brand of gauge is this?

i have an autometer and a faze they both read they both read the same

[Ricktalife]

the boost gauge reads it like its can but it dont it spikes 6 and goes to 0

i think he means that it has a vac side on the gauge (obviously) but the needle just isn't venturing down that far.

[SeR_Cyclops]

im going to look at the car today, i think he just has it in the wrong spot.

[blueprotegelx]

hahaha you have the fastest msp in ky at one time. and yeah thats me!
BTW: I dont think cass blew the evo up but i know it has been built

i know who you are talking about now. cass lives in richmond as well correct? i talk to him on occassion. from what he tells me, the most problems he's had with his evo was the alternator. isn't his evo the one running like 400 and something whp. i got a few pics he sent me if it is his...i mean he's the only cass i know with a black evo and gold wheels. from what i understand he was pretty smart about boosting. i'll try and get ahold of him cause i'm curious what all he had installed now.

[SeR_Cyclops]

yeah thats him, there was no boubt that the car was beat on but i think it will be ok i know he broke the LSD in the protege and sold it and picked up an evo. yeah that thing is freaking bad ass. i seen it at the track rolling off the starting line because he didnt want to launch and he was hitting low 14's with a trap like around 110+ i forget how fast it acutally was.

[KrayzieFox]

i think he means that it has a vac side on the gauge (obviously) but the needle just isn't venturing down that far.

So.. it other words, it doesn't read any vacuum. Just boost right?

[SeR_Cyclops]

So.. it other words, it doesn't read any vacuum. Just boost right?

the gauge does but its stopping at 0 insead of going into inches of merc. when i first installed my boost gauge it was like that but then i moved it and it worked.

[KrayzieFox]

the gauge does but its stopping at 0 insead of going into inches of merc. when i first installed my boost gauge it was like that but then i moved it and it worked.

That's what I meant.. thanks for the clarify, and good work on suggesting a solution. I would've been stumped on this one, first time I've heard of it happening..

[SeR_Cyclops]

yeah thats why i love this community they helped me out when i was in need so im going to try to do the same for people that are in the same position i was in at one time.

[zuku26]

Water w/ Ice cubes is for an Air to Water IC... I've only seen one MSP with this setup... but have pondered doing it myself.

Use the stock IC location for a heat exchanger, and run a air to water in the factory intake location..

I'm not talking about a water to air exchanger. Some literaly set-up a sprayer like a windsheild wiper nozzle spayer and spray the outside of the intercooler with cool water to further help with heat reduction of the air inside the intercooler. The STIs have this system.
http://www.streetandcircuit-shop.biz/ekmps/shops/intereuro/resources/Image/intercooler-sprayer.jpg

[Wagonbacker9]

I'm not talking about a water to air exchanger. Some literaly set-up a sprayer like a windsheild wiper nozzle spayer and spray the outside of the intercooler with cool water to further help with heat reduction of the air inside the intercooler. The STIs have this system.
http://www.streetandcircuit-shop.biz/ekmps/shops/intereuro/resources/Image/intercooler-sprayer.jpg

ah yes... the good old vegetable sprayers... gotcha

[SeR_Cyclops]

i looked at his car today and i got it fixed the boost controller was in the wrong spot and his wga is bad.

[Brad-MSP]

Well thanks to Ser Cyclops i got my boost gauge working today. and apparently i have been running a little over 10psi since ive had the car...so i guess im already there if anyone finds out any info on what has been done to this car prior to me i would really like to know...I also need a new waste gate i just hope i can still run 10psi with the new one i have had my car for about 2 years got it at 69,000 miles now it is at 113,000 i must have put a good 30,000 to 40,000 miles with it running 10psi so i guess its ok to run 10psi in these car or just some of them i dont really know i have heard many differant opinions on this topic.

[Wagonbacker9]

a forge JUST sold in the FS section. Either check out ProtegeGarage, or keep an eye on the FS section....

[Brad-MSP]

But I think once i get everything right ill just play it safe and run 8 or 9 at least untill i can find out more info on what has been done to the car.

[Wagonbacker9]

my bet is a fresh WG will make it run a lot better. the 10 psi may have been running you into fuel cut too causing further issues.

[Brad-MSP]

No none at all I thought that was happing but its just the wastegate before that messed up the car ran perfect...

[Brad-MSP]

I guess I have just been really Lucky not to ginx it or anything I dont want the engine to blow now knowing that it is 10 that would suck

[808MP5]

I'm not talking about a water to air exchanger. Some literaly set-up a sprayer like a windsheild wiper nozzle spayer and spray the outside of the intercooler with cool water to further help with heat reduction of the air inside the intercooler. The STIs have this system.
http://www.streetandcircuit-shop.biz/ekmps/shops/intereuro/resources/Image/intercooler-sprayer.jpg

i've seen these on ebay too... looks promising... i know when im in traffic my AIT get's up to over 120degF but once im moving again it goes back to ambient temps... could be because im just running the filter off a 2" pipe still in the engine bay

[SeR_Cyclops]

i would not get the forge it is rebuildable if it goes bad but it doesnt hold a steady pressure as good as the atp.

[zuku26]

i would not get the forge it is rebuildable if it goes bad but it doesnt hold a steady pressure as good as the atp.

I have noticed this as well.

[K. Soze]

10 psi?? Hmmm....

Well, make sure your wastegate is working properly. After that, here is my list. I've been running 9.5-10 psi for about year now.

GHL Turbo back exhaust
AEM cold air intake
Perrin Front mount intercooler
Protege Garage intake manifold (ported and polished)
Split Second Air Fuel Controller
Greddy EBC (set to 9.5 psi. Spikes around 10.5 psi)
AEM wideband
Autometer boost gauge
Lightened flywheel
Stage 2 clutch


Car pulls well and haven't had much problems with it all. Ask Ken. If anything ever happens to it, I usually call him to see what he thinks. The last things on my list are a tubular turbo manifold and a tune. Follow those mods and you should be somewhat safe.

[Brad-MSP]

10 psi?? Hmmm....

Well, make sure your wastegate is working properly. After that, here is my list. I've been running 9.5-10 psi for about year now.

GHL Turbo back exhaust
AEM cold air intake
Perrin Front mount intercooler
Protege Garage intake manifold (ported and polished)
Split Second Air Fuel Controller
Greddy EBC (set to 9.5 psi. Spikes around 10.5 psi)
AEM wideband
Autometer boost gauge
Lightened flywheel
Stage 2 clutch


Car pulls well and haven't had much problems with it all. Ask Ken. If anything ever happens to it, I usually call him to see what he thinks. The last things on my list are a tubular turbo manifold and a tune. Follow those mods and you should be somewhat safe.

Okay, thanks After I get my atp wastegate I think ill just run about 8psi just to be safe untill I get more mods