Finally!!

"ZPI's shipping sucks, but they rocked my world." ~Keisha

So after about a year of waiting it's finally here - and I installed it this weekend. First of all - easiest. Install. Ever. The local turbo shop guy was very skeptical, saying "no kit EVER has nor ever will fit right." Well, I was more than happy to prove him wrong. After assembly (and having Sean UPS me some missing parts all within a couple days) it installed into the car very easily. I almost had an O2 sensor disaster (yup, it was cross threaded - LOOK OUT FOR THIS!!) but after heating the crap out of it and finally twisting it out, cleaning it up and installing into the downpipe (barely had enough thread but it's on securely!) there was nothing else to worry about.

The chargepipe does need to be shortened about an inch in the back. It vibrates up against the firewall and drives me nutz0rs. I"ll probably do that tomorrow. (Then I will be able to put my strut tower bar back on!) I did manage to quiet it down with one of those scooter pads you put on the bottom of furniture feet (so you can scoot them around) but it's not quiet enough. I will also need to take apart the wastegate because there's something rattling around in there (pretty sure). Of course, little adjustments need to be made.

A few snapshots:




The driving process up until the ECU reset concerned me. It did drive a lot like crap and I think I went through 1/3 tank of gas in 60 miles. After the ECU reset it's figuring out what's going on. The gas mileage is doing better but isn't close to what it was... YET (hopefully).

As for boosting - the ECU is still figuring stuff out but tonight I think it got a hang of things. Holy @#%* that thing is quick. I might be able to con a dyno pull or two next week and get all those numbers - we'll see. I've been tearing it up the whole Minneapolis/St.Paul area. What a HUGE difference. And, I haven't been *boosting* all the time, either. It just feels that much more open.

Kenny and Keisha have been awesome - after waiting so long I'm sure I became "that guy" around there. Hopefully not, though!! It was definitely worth the wait. (After only 2 days evaluation I realize - we'll see of course!)

Performance mods: ZPI stage 0, clutchmasters stage III clutch, fidanza 8lb flywheel, KVM stage 2 short shifter.

Next up - exhaust, and stage 1!

 

How is the Stage 3 clutch? Pedal Pressure like stock?

 

Yup, just like stock - the difference is just how it's BAM right there when you engage. That's been installed about a year now and it's still like it was from day 1.

 

welcome to the family :D...your gas milage will be about the normal once the ecu finsihes learning everything itll take a tank of gas or 2. but under normal conditions i get anywhere from 250-280 miles to tank depending how hard i push it. and zpi will replace anything that goes wrong with it so dont worry ...but yes thier shipping does suck

 

ZPI baby congrats man! glad everythign worked out for you!

 

That's awesome; congrats. I'm still waiting on my stage 1 kit from them. =)

 

you ended up going with the ZPI stage 1 for your auto?
Did you also get a tranny cooler with it?

 

I didn't get one yet; I'm waiting to get the kit so I can see how much room I'll have since I'm not sure what size to get. Once ZPI releases their auto tranny parts I getting those as well.

 

nice, talk to peteyd I think he is running a tranny cooler on his stage 1 for his auto...good luck with your setup

 

that manifold is soo classy looking

 

I got a Jet Hot coating on it.

 

Hmmmm... When going fron Stage 0 to stage 1, what is change with the upgrade? FMIC, Fue management and what else? Do you have to pay for a whole Stage 1 kit when u upgrade or can u just get the componets you need?

 

Thats good to hear about the clutch. I just got my stage 3 in the mail today.

congrats on the car!

 

fmic/e manage/550cc injectors. and you can upgrade with the componets you need.

 

that's BS!!! jethot said they couldnt coat the manifold sterling silver because it gets too hot, so i opted for blue. i definitely would have gotten that. looks good though man.

 

nice, i cant wait for mine, hopefully its not going to take a year to get it though. I think they have all of the bugs worked out of the manufacturing process. We will see.

 

Ugh.... im seriously considering getting the stage zero until i can afford to go stage 1.... i want boost now How long did it take for them to ship to you, because i wont do it if i have to wait forever. UGH!!! I want booost!!!!

 

I waited a LOOOONG time. Luckly you guys won't have to wait very long at all.

 

That looks good. Nice and clean. Congrats!

 

Congrats on joining the family Steeter. I need to borrow your clutch...LOL. I toasted the Stage 1 clutch that was in our car. ZPI stage 1 is just to much for a Stage 1 clutch combined with my driving habits....LOL.