I have three things to add to Mysphit before RR at the end of the month. High/Low pressure intake, 3" down pipe, and a torque arm insert.
Today I did the torque arm insert and the down pipe........
The torque arm inserts add to the OEM torque arm mount that is set in rubber to reduce vibration and harmonics, however, in theory, it is too pliable and sloppy for performance. The Torque Arm Mount Insert is made of polyurethane and reduces engine movement allowing for quicker and more direct transfer of power from the engine to the wheels. 15 minute job.....can I tell a difference? Maybe if I had not have done the larger downpipe at the same time.
The new Exhaust Depot down pipe is a 3" vs a 2" catted pipe. It is finished off in a ceramic coating to help with heat. This is the pipe that feeds directly off of the exhaust side of the turbo. Install time should take a shop about an hour...me, half a day. Installing the new pipe wasn't the issue. Getting the OEM stuff off sucked monkey balls. Between the two heat shields and the lower engine brace, it took me about three hours to get the old stuff off. After fighting a dozen well hidden bolts, sensor wires, and locked down exhaust clamps the old one came off.
The new pipe is bigger so the lower heat shield will not go back on. So for the sake of safety I wrapped the new pipe in manifold heat wrap from JEGS. Almost 50 feet of the stuff. The new pipe fit well the hardest part of getting it back on was the lower exhaust clamp....that took a while. I double bolted the upper connection to the turbo due to some issues that folks have seen with bolts backing out from the lack of an engine brace that the OEM pipe has. I replaced the upper heat shield, and off on a test drive I went.
It's immediately apparent I'm gonna have to do something to get power to the ground better. From a standard easy rolling start, I can light up the car all the way through first gear. Haven't even tried to see what second will do. According to dyno sheets folks have posted from this down pipe, I should expect to see 4-8 horsepower at the wheel. Not feeling that at this point. I should also be seeing 12-18 pounds of torque as well. THAT, I am seeing...and feeling. Mysphit has also gained a louder voice under load.
So....I'm on my test drive....at the end of the two mile road I'm on, I stop. Mysphit is smoking. Jalapeno induced dragon farts don't smoke this much. Holy shit, I'm on fire.......did I forgot to connect/cover/wrap something? Traffic stops all around me. I pull into a parking lot....jump out and open the hood. It's not an oil smell, and because there is soooooo much smoke, I can't tell where it's coming from but there is no flame. I shut the car off and let it cool down. Still smoking a little, I fire up and head back home. I get home and open the hood again. Less smoke this time but still smoke. I tear the heat shields off and nothing is undone, come loose, on fire, etc. Just for grins I go back and pull the documentation for the heat wrap out of the garbage. Line 13:
PLEASE NOTE: Your wrap will smoke after installation, it will eventually stop. Smoke is a normal by product of the curing process; your wrap will NOT burst into flames. It is not advised to wash the wrap after installation.
OK, this should have been in GIANT LETTERS AT THE TOP OF THE INSTRUCTIONS, IN RED, AND MAYBE FLASHING!! WTF?? Holy crap!!! Knowing that up front would have been nice.
The High/Low pressure intake should be here mid week.......I'll keep ya posted!
What a day....beer time.....
