Boost Controller Install Pix
 

I've been browsing past posts in order to gain some more knowledge before installing the new boost controller I got from Dawes. Some of the posts mentioned pics but the links don't work. I have an '82 300SD. I basically have a few questions.

Where exactly is the current boost controller?

Do I just swap in this one in its place and then T into the air line off the manifold that goes to this small metal thing and into the ALDA for the pressure gauge?

Thanks,

Frank.

There is a small rubber hose that runs to the wastegate. The wastegate is the current boost controller. The aftermarket ones install inlike with the hose.

Excellent, that answers my question. The Dawes controller opens up when you set it to do so. Then the waste gate sees the pressure and as long as you set the new controller to open at a higher pressure than the wastegate, it doesn't effect at which pressure it opens since the only pressure it will see is plenty high.

I figure I'll "T" into than manifold air line for the gauge and I'm good to go.

Frank.

Nice set up. I put one of those K&N filters in the stock air filter and it seems to be running better and stronger. I like your setup though.

Frank.

How much boost does the stock wastegate allow? I plugged the wastegate once so theoretically it should allow as much boost as the turbo can produce and my 300sd was still really slow

If the wastegate is not working, you have a danger of overspeeding a turbo. Don't ask me kow I know.

dieseldiehard,

You mention that you have some type of oil separator for the valve cover vent. What is it??? I use a K&N open element on my F350 but still retain the stock style crank vent into the compressor housing inlet.

I will be ditching the stock MB air cleaner system for an open element and am looking for a way to vent the valve cover.

use the stock separator canister
 

I also have installed a cone type air filter directly to the turbo inlet. I removed the oil separator from the stock air filter housing using a small chisel (can opener action). Currently, the canister still sits above the turbo where the air filter would have been. I would eventually like to cut back the oil return line and drop the separator canister out of site.
I agree with dieseldiehard's observations relating to increased turbo whistle/whir after replacing the filter; in fact the sound is quite pleasing!

I'd just like to say thanks to Speedy and the rest of you guys. I installed the controller last night along with the gauge. Now I can just barely hear the turbo and have this 100% USDA choice Grade A brightly illuminated gauge that says "BOOST". It's cool and that car is much fast with less smoke.

I'm getting aboug 14-14.5 PSI on the gauge which I "T"d into just after that round thing which then goes to the ALDA. This is good right?

Frank.

I just returned to Encinitas (North San Diego Co) from San Francisco. To anyone who hasn't done this mod, do it. Before, climbing the mountains in LA wasn't necessarily a problem but now they aren't an issue at all. It was funny to pull away from traffic in 4th gear at 55 mph not even needing to kick her down to third and hearing all these screaming engines around me. Torque is gooooood.

Frank.

does it really make that big of a difference when going up hills? because when I tried plugging the wastegate I never went up any hills. I am going to have to go to LA this summer from Alberta and I want to know if I should bother putting on a boost controller or if I should just leave it

My answer is yes it does really make that big a difference. Maybe if you have a perfectly functioning waste gate that opens at 8-9psi, you might get some improvement. I've never heard a peep out of my turbo even with the hood popped and the engine reving. Now I can hear it loud and clear with the hood open and just a little bit if I'm driving and the radio is off. Before I could climb hills Ok but now I can really haul up 'em even better than many gas powered cars. I was really amazed and had to laugh as I pulled past people and heard 'em floor it and kick down a gear. I never thought this old car had it in it.

As for you plugging the waste gate, how did you do this? I'm not an expert compared to others on this board but as I understand it, if all was working right you were over boosting like crazy and should have felt the power increase. Maybe if you could elaborate more we could be of better assistance.

Frank.

Basically what I did was I got a vise grip put it around the wastegate hose and tightened it all the way and secured it. I then drove around for around 10 min. I then stopped on a empty road in the country and took off the vise grip, it smelled like something was burning (seemed to be the hose coming from the valve cover to the air box). That was basically what I did since I live in the praries there are not many hills so I never really had the chance to go up a steep hill. I did not notice any performance gain at all.

Hmmmmmm maybe you might try that with a pressure gauge of sorts inline on the air line to the ALDA. That way you can really see what's going on. If everything is working properly and you block the waste gate you should see a dramatic difference. I wonder if there is something else wrong, maybe the waste gate is stuck open or maybe the wrench left a small gap and enough air got through to open it? I'm not sure but here in SoCal there are lots of hills and this extra boost is much appreciated.

Frank.

What type K&N
 

What number K&N air filter are you using?

K&N filter #RU1000.

Great post! Indicated filter RU1000 is not available from K&N on their search window. What are the dimensions of this filter?

I went to a parts store near my house and looked through a bunch of the normal air filters, I found one that was sort of like a K&N one except it was all plastic.

I used another hose that i found at a auto wrecker, put the filter on the hose and this is what i got

http://www.benzworld.org/gallery/pics/W126_52217.jpg

Nice job CRX!!
 

Thats pretty much the idea I have in mind to do away with the factory air cleaner. Now if you incorporated a 240 oil separator it would work just like stock! I plan to build a "cold-air box" to house the filter so it draws cool air from outside the engine compartment. Good find on the hose too. RT

and it only costed $25 CDN

some questions:

i like CRX's filter set up. now i noticed he plugged the breather tube directly after the filter element.

what would this do? will it put oil into the engine and burn it?

will this be wasting a lot of oil?

i was thinking of removing the filter housing for quite some time now. i like the clean look of the engine without one. thxs for replies

I just noticed this thread and really like the cone air filter idea. Where did you you all get yours? Also, where did you get the plastic tubing to connect the filter to the turbo? Thanks.

Alex