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First off, a huge thanks to Dave Kennedy (900aero) for all the help and advice along the way, and not to mention building this work of an art turbo for me.
Yesterday I did an 18t and KC intake pipe install and my initial response is HOLY SH*T! I think Gary Moore said somewhere that it should have come this way from the factory (regarding the 18t).
It's hard to say what improvement you would gain from doing just the KC pipe, but I don't see how it couldn't be a huge help. I would recommend it to anyone replacing/upgrading their turbo. It's NOT something I would just do if I weren't swapping the turbo to begin with, as it involves swapping at least the compressor housing (might as well do the whole turbo since it has to be removed anyway). The difference in size vs. the stock pipe is incredible, and therefore makes it a VERY tight fit. I actually had to remove the top bolt holding the wastegate actuator on in order to snake the pipe down in there. It is a serious squeeze, but once it's down there everything lines up fine. I did leave the hard line for the EGR system that goes into the top of the pipe loose and not clipped to the VC. I think with some elbow grease it can be coaxed to line back up and get screwed down.
My thoughts on the pipe: It's so big it's got to greatly improve airflow to the turbo. I can definitely hear a much deeper growl from the intake (stock box, 06 snorkel, GS drop in filter). There is a lot more noise from the turbo now as well, but that could just be the larger wheel, and the Forge BPV (with intermediate box bypassed) sounds really crisp. Would be curious to see dyno results with the stock pipe vs. the KC.
So, about that turbo... The 18t is absolutely awesome. I liked the 15t and how quick it was to make boost, but wasn't such a fan of the initial torque spike and then the feeling of it quickly falling flat and then being out of breath around 4500 rpms. The 18t still build boost quickly down low, but comes on sooooo smoothly, it's amazing. It just keeps pulling and pulling, and by the time you get to 4000 rpms it's really in its prime. Again, I just can't get over how smoothly the boost and power come on. After easing into it for the first little bit, I finally gave it the beans and the boost pulls well into the red now (I know it's not an accurate boost gauge) whereas the 15t would just kind of nudge in there. I'm debating whether to have a retune done on it now, or just wait a few weeks until I get the 3" dp and BSR exhaust along with a 3.5 FPR.
All and all the install was pretty straight forward. The only two hiccups we had were getting the exhaust manifold off. A quick search on saabnet revealed that we needed to take out the stud closest to the serp belt side of the engine. Other than that there was just a little detail with the clamp holding the turbo together blocking the inlet for the oil supply. We just loosened it and carefully nudged it out of the way a few degrees, being really careful not to twist the center section or turbine housing.
I've got to say I'm extremely happy with this setup, and definitely looking forward to seeing some dyno results, either with or without the exhaust. And just to clarify why I did the turbo BEFORE the exhaust, is because my stock turbo was on its way out, consuming oil and puffing smoke.
Thanks to GS for getting my parts here quickly and especially to Linda for rushing in a KC pipe just for me.
Also thanks to eEuroparts. Always great service. I ordered parts at 4pm Tuesday and the arrived (in central NH) at 7:55AM Wednesday!!! Just incredible.
posted by 65.175.23...
, Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:45:00
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