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Contemplating Dawes Manual Boost Controller 850 1995

The Dawes manual boost controller is sounding really appealing to me. For under $100 (including VPO guage) I can get alot more power out of my 850 Turbo and get that instant off the line power, instead of waiting for the turbo to spool up. Should really help if I want to overtake someone from a stoplight.

I'm thinking going to 12 psi MAX, just because I don't want any problems. My question is how hard is the install? I have never done anything to my Volvo, except for a K&N air filter in the stock air box. How hard is this to do? Do I run a risk of messing up my Volvo?

Thanks!

BTW, why didn't our cars come from the factory with the manual boost controller for that extra power? Or, why didn't they turn the wastegate a few turns?
--
'95 Volvo 854 Turbo: Gold Edition
K&N Air Filter, Leather, 6 disc CD-changer, Rear Spoiler
tinted windows








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    Contemplating Dawes Manual Boost Controller 850 1995

    I am installing mine this weekend. it takes about 5 minutes to install and an hour to tune.

    there are more detailed instructions in a previous post but there are the hoses on the side of the airbox going into a switch. remove the line to the wastgate actuater (RED) and put a plug where you remove it from the switch. then take the line into the switch (BLUE) i think, it is the one that is not real short and does not connect to the airintake pipe. put a T in this line and put hte dawes device on the new T fitting and then put the (RED) watstgate hose on the G-Valve-- (vented end with small hole)-- VERY IMPORTANT TO PUT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.. then adjust the valve to the desired boost setting. drive and adjust, drive and adjust, etc.

    there is a small spike of 1-2 psi so set the valve to 12 psi for HPT and 11 psi for LPT engine.

    100.00 for the added boost sure beats a ECU upgrade for 800.00$$$$..

    Dan








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    Contemplating Dawes Manual Boost Controller 850 1995

    > and get that instant off the line power, instead of waiting for the turbo to spool up.

    And how do you intend to do that? Especially from a standstill will the turbo still need to spin up and start to produce boost pressure. It will never be 'instant' and can never be. Simple physics.

    If you're looking for that then you either need a big V8 equipped car or a supercharged one.

    > My question is how hard is the install?

    Should be easy. Remove the ECU controlled pressure-valve from the hose between the wastgate actuator and the compressed air feed and install the dawes device in there.

    Then start tweaking it.

    > Do I run a risk of messing up my Volvo?

    Yes. Short and simple.

    Before going o do this you *must* buy and install a calibrated boost gague (eg. one from IPD or similar) or you will be 'flying blind' and that can get expensive very, very quickly!

    Another good tool is an A/F meter so you can see when the mixture is going lean. A lean mixture under boost will melt through pistons like they are butter.

    If you increase the boost this way you also remove the ECU control over the boost level, so it can't lower pressure anymore when it detects knocking. This means you will need to run 92 octane or better to keep the engine happy!

    > BTW, why didn't our cars come from the factory with the manual boost controller for that extra power? Or, why didn't they turn the wastegate a few turns?

    Simple: Cars need to be dumbo-proof and need mechanical reliability for several 100k miles.

    Devices like this are way too dangerous unless the user knows exactly what (s)he is doing and is aware of the risks. You *can* blow your engine this way.

    Also: 'drivability' is a major issue. A high-strung car is perceived as too 'nervous' by the majority of drivers and as such not a good commercial idea unless it's a real sportscar (and lets's face it.. No Volvo can really be called that).

    Bye, Arno.








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      Contemplating Dawes Manual Boost Controller 850 1995

      The t5uk.com web site has a good pictorial instruction set in addition to what Darrell Dawes has on his site. The installation is pretty straight forward. To repeat what Arno said, You really need a reliable\calibrated boost gauge as well as an air\fuel meter before you start increasing boost pressure.








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        Why go with manual? 850 1995

        Before my current 850 I had a 1990 300ZX Twin Turbo with a ton of mods putting 320HP to the rear wheels (Dyno'ed).

        Among the mods I did was install an HKS boost controller after the Stillen ECU. With the electronic boost controller, you simply dial in the desired level of boost and the controller will compensate for boost spikes, lean mixture, etc.

        Why doesn't anyone install one of these? A controller is a controller, on the wiring is the tricky part if a plug-in harness is not available.

        -w-








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          um... Money? 850 1995

          a dawes device is $35 and takes 10 minutes to install, no wiring...

          and HKS EVC IV is what, $500? and there's a "tricky part" to in the install...

          like you say, a controller is a controller...

          -Paul Demeo
          1990 780T (dawes-device installed)








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            um... Money? 850 1995

            Yes, The various contollers on the market are pricey (Apex-i, Blitz, HKS), but if you're serious about improving the performance of your car, there really is no substitute for doing it the "right" way. Not to start a war on the subject, but most people do not know how to properly tune a manual boost controller. An electronic one is much safer to use in that it will compensate for variations in gasoline, air temp, elevation, boost spikes, etc., which can allow even a properly tuned manual controller to let a car run lean @ full boost. If that happens, I think the extra $300 one could have spent on an EBC is going to seem alot cheaper then a full rebuild :)

            Then again, if you're only looking to add a point or two of boost, then the Dawes deal might work for you. I just assume that you're like me, in that if there's any fraction of boost left (> 14/15 psi) that your car can handle safely, you want it but you'd rather not blow your motor trying to find it!

            Just my .02,

            -w-







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