olaHalo

First off, ive always loved zpi's kits, products, videos and reviews. this is not a rant or anything. keep in mind that both cars are not mine. i was planning on getting a stage zero before my good buddies ran into such problems.

These are the pics and a Video from FMtC_krstnmj's stage zero install. We ran into a bunch of problems. some new, some old. this is the second stage zero install we've done in 2 weeks.

*first the bad.
1. the wastegate was impossible to open. this was irregular because last time is was easy. we still havent gotten it open.
2. stripped screws. 2 of the screws that hold a flange on the turbo were stripped! we actually ended up having to find screws the same size. (we got them from an HKS BOV taken off of a Mazda Speed 3.)
3. Cheap gasket
4. Heater/AC piping was too close to the turbo manifold flange. we couldnt put the turbo on without hammering it a little.
5. cutting the coupler thingys to a correct size.

and on the kit we installed 2 weeks before
1. manifold cracked already
2. ran a 16.6 1/4 mile (best time)
3. boost cutting out at different RPM on different days.
4. WRONG MAF PIPING! ordered for an 07 tC. recieved the 06 piping. zpi has still yet to send the correct piping. been more than 3 weeks.
5. i think he was missing a coupler at first. (correct me chris)

*and the good
1. uhh, BOV sounds really cool

the before pic of FMtC_krstnmj


some pics of our cars during install. Bcnu_702 is the white one. mine is the BSP



FMtC_krstnmj cool gauge cluster. RPM in the middle


the guys


BOV, dont ask the brand, we wont tell

best plates ever


classic pic from 1st install

video link
not the best vid. has some bad editing by me. the point was to show what really goes on during "at home" installs. we apoligize for some of the language and zpi bashing.

pollup

i have a few questions. what do you mean the wastegate was impossible to open? why would you open in, the spring should already be installed. or do you mean pushing open the pressure relief end because thats not gonna happen by hand.

stripped screws on the flange? was it coated with jethot or ceramic? did you make sure that the threads were clear of coating? if not you would have had to tap out the threads because jet hot is no joke. but if that was there and you forced a bolt into it yes it will cross thread.

which gasket was cheap? the 2 turbo side gaskets? the last problem you will have will be that gasket. those turbo flanges are not known for leaking. if your gonna have leaks its most likely gonna be at the top of the manifold.

as far as the heater /ac piping being too close this is correct and almost all of the kits require you to move it back 1/4 to 1/2 inch. zpi's kit sits closer to the block instead of pretty far out. this also prevents the warping of the plastic shroud around your fans.

and the coupler. their kits are pieced together. coupler companies do not sell shortened versions to be exact fit of zpis couplers. that would not be cost efficient, so you get to do a little trimming. pretty easy stuff.

now thats crappy that the manifold cracked already.. wonder what caused that.

refer to the zpi thread on quintens install from this weekend. his is a stage zero but not much different. we had limited, and i mean limited issues. the biggest issue we had was clocking the turbo because i did not posess the tools to do so. the pin wouldnt pop out so our favorite late night performance shop helped us out. besides that no issues. even the oil pan came off smooth this time, i was amazed. keep us posted on whats going on with your kit.

2aztC

Well i installed my zpi stage 0 about a month ago, and the only problem i had was replacing the spring in the wastegate which was user error on my part. I was using the wrong size and stripped 2 bolt heads. But a trip to the hardware store and it was fixed. The wastegate comes with an 8.7 psi or so spring because it does not come from zpi directly, it is dropped shipped from another company working with zpi, that is the reason why you have to open it to put the 6psi spring in if you are stage 0. It is also recommended to get the copper wastegate gasket because, yes the one that comes with it sucks, so i ordered mine while i got my kit. Other than that the install was smooth and worry free, and the end result was me running 14.5 at the track on friday! So im am very happy with the ease of installation and performance of the kit!

malloynx

sounds like operator error to me. FYI. it's very hard to push in a wastegate and BOV by hand. with my tial and 11psi spring it's extremely hard for me to push it in..

rookies.....

Brett

its a sard, r2d2

Mr_Meaty

Hey, I didn't see any of you 3 at the meet last night.
Guess this is why, eh?
I was talking to the other guys who were at the install and they told me all the issues you all had. They also said the track was in bad shape, which is part of the cause of the bad times.
Anyway, keep us posted on how the 2 kits are running.

FMtC_krstnmj

yeah, that's right... coz i know some people that doesn't even know what the hell it is...

olaHalo

other than the cracked manifold and the wrong spring. i guess the kits are doing ok

Mr_Meaty

by the way, i LOVE your 56k warning in the title!

etsnet

iTrader: (2)

Isn't it always... most of the time.

Love the glow shift gauge.

Dakine

what is up with that SW tc? Is it just lowered in the front or is that the road!?!?

scikotictc232

were did u get those red overlays on those gauges ? is it hard to move the tach to the middle ?

aen

if i get a turbo would you guys help me put it in? i live in vegas too. woohoo.

aen

but if you won't or can't

could you tell me the exact tools i need to do this?


im always missing tools or soemthing so id rather have them all.

Mr_Meaty

The guy that does em is here in Vegas. I think the website is http://store.ledmod.com/index.php?ma...x&cPath=1_9_10

FMtC_krstnmj

i would help... what part of vegas are you from?

aen

southwest.


im not too sure when ill get it...but i know i will..

olaHalo

of course. we live on the north side of town
NOPE. its actually how it looks. it looks like a drag car or something.
he got the megan springs. the back looks higher than stock lol!
since that day they have settled a little bit, but i just dont trust megan

Mr_Meaty

What's wrong with glow shift?

olaHalo

thats what i was thinking. just hating i guess