a buddy of mine just put on a hallman manual boost controller on his evo 8 and he said to me that i shud do it for my 02 wrx cuz i can quite a bit of power from it. I was reading the requirements for the mbc and they require a cone filter {removal of stock airbox} and a boost gauge...is this mod worth the 100 bucks plus the cost of a cone which is like 15 and a boost gauge? wat r the advantages and disadavantages to running a mbc, and lastly will this b street legal/ smog legal?

 

You should get a up and downpipe before getting any boost controller. Atleast your pipes can handle the boost.

- Mark

 

Bad advice for a Subaru. There is a fair chance that you will overboost and cause engine damage. A boost gauge alone is not a good tuning tool. The car will feel stronger but will not have additional fuel and proper ignition advance to match the boost settings. Save your money and get professional engine management like Cobb AccessPORT or an EcuTek reflash. See Reviews section from link near top of page.

In California, there are almost no aftermarket performance bolt-ons for a Subaru that can legally pass the bi-annual smog inspection, although some will squeak by the visual part of the inspection and not affect emissions significantly enough to fail inspection. There are a number of parts that pass the visual part of the inspection and don't raise warning flags. These include some upgraded turbos like the IHI VF30 and VF34, performance turbo back exhaust systems if they retain at least one catalytic converter, and engine management.

Each inspection station is independently owned and therefore your chances of passing the bi-annual inspection will vary from location to location, depending on how carefully the technician scrutinizes your engine compartment.

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