90AWDTalon
20+ Year Contributor
- 877
- 3
- Jan 5, 2003
-
Everett,
Washington
I installed this 2.5" upper intercooler pipe I bought off ebay, cost $125. The guy also has a web site he sells them from but they cost more there than they do off ebay. http://www.straightlinespecialties.com
When I recieved it I was really impressed with the build quality. I realized it wasn't going to fit with my cruise, so I ordered a non cruise throttle cable. I never used cruise anyways so this was no big deal. When I installed it I was a little dispointed in the fitment, but I got it to work. First, when I went to reinstall the BOV on the new pipe I realized the flange wasn't threaded like the stock flange. I went in the house and found a couple of bolts and nuts to use, but it would have been nice if the hardware came with the pipe or there was a warning that I needed to buy some. Second the flange on the throttle body elbow is smaller than the stock flange. At first this really worried me, but since I had already removed all the stock stuff and was so close to being done with the install. I decided to see if the mounting bracket attached to the throttle body elbow and cas would suck up and not cause a leak. I did get it installed, so I next went for a test drive.
Before this install I had the boost set to 17psi, I left it there for the test drive. First thing I noticed was the throttle response was incredible, it felt like a whole new car. Next I noticed the boost response was greatly increased, in lower gears I was hitting full boost by 2600 rpm's, previous to this pipe it was about 2900 rpm's, and in higher gears I was at full boost by 2500 rpm's. This should really help me with autocross, the slow boost response was my major complaint while auto Xing. Next was a full pull through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. It was pulling a little harder, not quite what I was expecting but I was still really happy with the improvements in throttle response and boost response. When I got home and looked at my log I realized why it was only alittle stronger. I was getting about 20 counts of knock and the timing was being pulled. I was now pretty impressed with how it excellerated with the timing being pulled as much as it was. I new I needed to turn the boost down to get the knock under control. I reset the boost to 15psi, pulled hard as hell and almost no knock, just alittle bit of tip in knock from being a little rich. Next I'm going to turn the boost up to 16psi see if its a good middle ground.
Over all I'm really pleased with this pipe, a thicker flange on the t-body elbow and some mounting hardware for the BOV would be nice, but I'm happy with it.
Here's some pics
When I recieved it I was really impressed with the build quality. I realized it wasn't going to fit with my cruise, so I ordered a non cruise throttle cable. I never used cruise anyways so this was no big deal. When I installed it I was a little dispointed in the fitment, but I got it to work. First, when I went to reinstall the BOV on the new pipe I realized the flange wasn't threaded like the stock flange. I went in the house and found a couple of bolts and nuts to use, but it would have been nice if the hardware came with the pipe or there was a warning that I needed to buy some. Second the flange on the throttle body elbow is smaller than the stock flange. At first this really worried me, but since I had already removed all the stock stuff and was so close to being done with the install. I decided to see if the mounting bracket attached to the throttle body elbow and cas would suck up and not cause a leak. I did get it installed, so I next went for a test drive.
Before this install I had the boost set to 17psi, I left it there for the test drive. First thing I noticed was the throttle response was incredible, it felt like a whole new car. Next I noticed the boost response was greatly increased, in lower gears I was hitting full boost by 2600 rpm's, previous to this pipe it was about 2900 rpm's, and in higher gears I was at full boost by 2500 rpm's. This should really help me with autocross, the slow boost response was my major complaint while auto Xing. Next was a full pull through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. It was pulling a little harder, not quite what I was expecting but I was still really happy with the improvements in throttle response and boost response. When I got home and looked at my log I realized why it was only alittle stronger. I was getting about 20 counts of knock and the timing was being pulled. I was now pretty impressed with how it excellerated with the timing being pulled as much as it was. I new I needed to turn the boost down to get the knock under control. I reset the boost to 15psi, pulled hard as hell and almost no knock, just alittle bit of tip in knock from being a little rich. Next I'm going to turn the boost up to 16psi see if its a good middle ground.
Over all I'm really pleased with this pipe, a thicker flange on the t-body elbow and some mounting hardware for the BOV would be nice, but I'm happy with it.
Here's some pics
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