X Max vs stand alone boost control
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
X Max vs stand alone boost control Right now I have a man. boost controller, kind of hit or miss where its at, I just have the Holley X Max set to kill ign @ 10#'s, back off the controller until it quits dying, lol. I know the X Max can control boost, but the setup seems to be way above my pay grade, lol. I was looking at the AEM, or one of the other stand alone controllers, are they more user friendly, have decent features. I dont need a ton of bells and drums, pretty much just something I can dial in boost to a number I can phy see.
I used an Innovate SCG-1 in my last car and it worked very well, basic, easy to use and all done through the unit itself.
My current car has a Cortex unit which I've not familiarized myself with yet but it has a ton of features but requires a laptop to setup.
My current car has a Cortex unit which I've not familiarized myself with yet but it has a ton of features but requires a laptop to setup.
Right now I have a man. boost controller, kind of hit or miss where its at, I just have the Holley X Max set to kill ign @ 10#'s, back off the controller until it quits dying, lol. I know the X Max can control boost, but the setup seems to be way above my pay grade, lol. I was looking at the AEM, or one of the other stand alone controllers, are they more user friendly, have decent features. I dont need a ton of bells and drums, pretty much just something I can dial in boost to a number I can phy see.
No "dome pressure sensor", no CO2, no whatever...
Sloppy video shows, and explains, how to do it by piggybacking off the 5v reference wire that's already wired to the MAP sensor.
Obviously, you'd still need a MAC valve.
He uses a 3 port with his TerminatorX.
I have HPTuners, and use a 4 port with my dual wastegates and Turbosmart E Boost STREET controller. A 3 port wouldn't hold boost down at 3 psi like it will with the 4 port...only reason for me using it.
I actually had a Terminator X-Max in "my cart" yesterday, and was going to cave in and order it today...except TODAY it's now like 70 bucks more, and "expected ship date" has moved yet again, LOL...
My son uses his GM MAP sensor, wired into the TerminatorX, to control boost.
No "dome pressure sensor", no CO2, no whatever...
Sloppy video shows, and explains, how to do it by piggybacking off the 5v reference wire that's already wired to the MAP sensor.
Obviously, you'd still need a MAC valve.
He uses a 3 port with his TerminatorX.
I have HPTuners, and use a 4 port with my dual wastegates and Turbosmart E Boost STREET controller. A 3 port wouldn't hold boost down at 3 psi like it will with the 4 port...only reason for me using it.
https://youtu.be/kWex1Tx80NY
I actually had a Terminator X-Max in "my cart" yesterday, and was going to cave in and order it today...except TODAY it's now like 70 bucks more, and "expected ship date" has moved yet again, LOL...
No "dome pressure sensor", no CO2, no whatever...
Sloppy video shows, and explains, how to do it by piggybacking off the 5v reference wire that's already wired to the MAP sensor.
Obviously, you'd still need a MAC valve.
He uses a 3 port with his TerminatorX.
I have HPTuners, and use a 4 port with my dual wastegates and Turbosmart E Boost STREET controller. A 3 port wouldn't hold boost down at 3 psi like it will with the 4 port...only reason for me using it.
https://youtu.be/kWex1Tx80NY
I actually had a Terminator X-Max in "my cart" yesterday, and was going to cave in and order it today...except TODAY it's now like 70 bucks more, and "expected ship date" has moved yet again, LOL...
My son uses his GM MAP sensor, wired into the TerminatorX, to control boost.
No "dome pressure sensor", no CO2, no whatever...
Sloppy video shows, and explains, how to do it by piggybacking off the 5v reference wire that's already wired to the MAP sensor.
Obviously, you'd still need a MAC valve.
He uses a 3 port with his TerminatorX.
I have HPTuners, and use a 4 port with my dual wastegates and Turbosmart E Boost STREET controller. A 3 port wouldn't hold boost down at 3 psi like it will with the 4 port...only reason for me using it.
https://youtu.be/kWex1Tx80NY
I actually had a Terminator X-Max in "my cart" yesterday, and was going to cave in and order it today...except TODAY it's now like 70 bucks more, and "expected ship date" has moved yet again, LOL...
No "dome pressure sensor", no CO2, no whatever...
Sloppy video shows, and explains, how to do it by piggybacking off the 5v reference wire that's already wired to the MAP sensor.
Obviously, you'd still need a MAC valve.
He uses a 3 port with his TerminatorX.
I have HPTuners, and use a 4 port with my dual wastegates and Turbosmart E Boost STREET controller. A 3 port wouldn't hold boost down at 3 psi like it will with the 4 port...only reason for me using it.
https://youtu.be/kWex1Tx80NY
I actually had a Terminator X-Max in "my cart" yesterday, and was going to cave in and order it today...except TODAY it's now like 70 bucks more, and "expected ship date" has moved yet again, LOL...
Starting to think really hard on looking at one of those types of systems.
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Biggest loss without some creative work is the dash cluster.
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Verdad Gallardo But...supposedly, if you splice into the crank signal wire, the cluster still functions?
I was looking into a Terminator X Max setup 2 days ago, and was actually leaning towards one...but as is the normal for me, Holley had a price increase yesterday, lol. So, now that one is just shy of $1400, plus all the miscellaneous stuff I'd still need.
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,177
Likes: 627
From: Florida
if you already have a terminatorX on a turbo car, i cant think of any good reason NOT to have the ecm do the boost control. Even if you had to add that $250 gpio extender thats still cheaper than an external ebc and will be better because its so integrated into the rest of the system.
That would be the deal killer for me.
But...supposedly, if you splice into the crank signal wire, the cluster still functions?
I was looking into a Terminator X Max setup 2 days ago, and was actually leaning towards one...but as is the normal for me, Holley had a price increase yesterday, lol. So, now that one is just shy of $1400, plus all the miscellaneous stuff I'd still need.
But...supposedly, if you splice into the crank signal wire, the cluster still functions?
I was looking into a Terminator X Max setup 2 days ago, and was actually leaning towards one...but as is the normal for me, Holley had a price increase yesterday, lol. So, now that one is just shy of $1400, plus all the miscellaneous stuff I'd still need.
The Holley Pro Dash is worlds better than the stock dash cluster. You can certainly make the stock stuff work, but why waste the time when a much better option is plug and play. Sucks the price keeps going up, guess they realized they can't keep them in stock so the demand is there. Hopefully they will have another black friday sale when they were over $200 off.
At 1100 bucks for the cheapest Pro Dash option, and $1400 for the TeminatorX Max, plus all the little nickel and dime you to death items, including who knows what, to make gas gauge work....you're talking 3 grand...and, re-doing everything that I already have, that already works.
If I sold my car as a roller, or whatever, to build something else, I'd jump on the Terminator X train in a heartbeat. Makes no sense really, IMHO, for me to do it now.
The Holley Pro Dash is worlds better than the stock dash cluster. You can certainly make the stock stuff work, but why waste the time when a much better option is plug and play. Sucks the price keeps going up, guess they realized they can't keep them in stock so the demand is there. Hopefully they will have another black friday sale when they were over $200 off.
I'd really only need the basics I think, boost control, fuel pump control, A2W pump control.
There's so many options its kinda confusing lol.
No doubt those dashes are sweet. A buddy bought an HP and a 12" dash and loves it...but mostly because he had a **** setup prior. (Fox b ody Mustang w/Pro-M standalone ECU)
At 1100 bucks for the cheapest Pro Dash option, and $1400 for the TeminatorX Max, plus all the little nickel and dime you to death items, including who knows what, to make gas gauge work....you're talking 3 grand...and, re-doing everything that I already have, that already works.
If I sold my car as a roller, or whatever, to build something else, I'd jump on the Terminator X train in a heartbeat. Makes no sense really, IMHO, for me to do it now.
At 1100 bucks for the cheapest Pro Dash option, and $1400 for the TeminatorX Max, plus all the little nickel and dime you to death items, including who knows what, to make gas gauge work....you're talking 3 grand...and, re-doing everything that I already have, that already works.
If I sold my car as a roller, or whatever, to build something else, I'd jump on the Terminator X train in a heartbeat. Makes no sense really, IMHO, for me to do it now.
I was fortunate that the previous owner of my car provided all the HP Tuners stuff and I was able to source a laptop to run it for free so I'm into the whole setup for nothing.
I'd really need to be sold on its benefits to attempt to swing that kinda cash when I could put it into something more tangible I think.
No doubt those dashes are sweet. A buddy bought an HP and a 12" dash and loves it...but mostly because he had a **** setup prior. (Fox b ody Mustang w/Pro-M standalone ECU)
At 1100 bucks for the cheapest Pro Dash option, and $1400 for the TeminatorX Max, plus all the little nickel and dime you to death items, including who knows what, to make gas gauge work....you're talking 3 grand...and, re-doing everything that I already have, that already works.
If I sold my car as a roller, or whatever, to build something else, I'd jump on the Terminator X train in a heartbeat. Makes no sense really, IMHO, for me to do it now.
At 1100 bucks for the cheapest Pro Dash option, and $1400 for the TeminatorX Max, plus all the little nickel and dime you to death items, including who knows what, to make gas gauge work....you're talking 3 grand...and, re-doing everything that I already have, that already works.
If I sold my car as a roller, or whatever, to build something else, I'd jump on the Terminator X train in a heartbeat. Makes no sense really, IMHO, for me to do it now.
dominator is your best bet. more boost control options. potted motherboard. ability to use NGK wideband sensor.
i have 2 terminators and they are really buggy with voltages, software upgrades etc. none of my friends on holley V5 have the issues I have.
my 2 cents
i have 2 terminators and they are really buggy with voltages, software upgrades etc. none of my friends on holley V5 have the issues I have.
my 2 cents
I just don't have a hard on to use a $2,400 ECM plus almost $1000 in accessories if I don't need to. Does the more expensive unit work great in some applications, of course! But the average cruiser/8 sec or slower street car owner shouldn't feel required to use it if there is an $850 solution that will work just fine for them. Same could be said for turbos, if a pair of $400 turbos run 7's does the average joe need $6000 worth of Precision on his ride? Choices have to made, hot rodding on a budget can be quite fun. If that's the essence of LS1tech so be it. Perhaps you are right as it seems more and more are posting sloppy style builds that work just fine.