i am finding all kinds of write-ups, but no two are the same. whats the proper way to install a mbc/fishtank valve on a wrx?

 

Cant you up the boost through the ecu? I did some work on an 01 or 02 WRX. I installed a new up-pipe and down-pipe and then just reflashed the map with the access port.

 

access port = $350 i dont have.

$20 valve = i do have. there is a pill restricting the airflow on the line in the first place, plus a boost solenoid restrictor thing. 9psi is wg spring, 10.5 = after solenoid

 

02 was first year of wrx in the us of a

 

unhook all the vacuum lines from the turbo to the factory boost regulator, then just run a piece of vacuum hose from the nipple on the turbo outlet to the mbc, then run another from the mbc to the wastegate.
you WILL get partial throttle-full boost that WILL blow your engine in a few thousand miles. good luck. 18psi is where the fuel cut kicks in, keep it around 17psi. going from 9psi in first gear to 17psi will "turn you out" (till it blows)

 

i was running a manual boost controller on my 02 wagon (i miss that car) i didn't really have any problems with it except at first... the boost was cutting off at a point but as a fix (which worked really well by the way) i just hooked up an HKS FCD to my ecu and it no longer cut off... yeah it was a risk but as long as you keep the boost low (unless you have internals built...) then you'll be fine... that's from personal experience... i used to drag race it a lot
http://www.oakos.com/wrx/installs/OAMBC/index.htm
that's the instructions i used on installing my turboSMART mbc.. i'm pretty sure it's the same for your year
hope it helps

 

Have you seen this thread? https://www.homemadeturbo.com/forum/...?topic=88830.0 That was really helpful to me, But i did switch to romraider.com for the software and just use ecuflash to flash the computer. Basically you can buy a 100 dollar cable and be able to tune your car and control boost. You may already know all this but I was just trying to help.

 

cumplex, what do you mean fishtank valve?

 

Its going to suck making payments on something thats broke :P

 

Trust me, go the Tactrix cable route that I have explained in my write-up. WRX's can't really deal with anything over 18psi of boost even with the reflash and run safely for too long. Stock boost should be about 15psi from the factory, your best mods to do is an up-pipe/downpipe combo and a nice 3" exhaust. That combined with a good tuned reflash will make that car feel like an entirely new machine, especially since there's like 3 different cat's on the car and the stock up pipe going into the turbo is only a 1.5" hole. My '04 WRX with an upgraded Forced Performace 16g6 and other mods is skeet skeet skeetin' all over the local turbo honda's hardcore.