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I kinda omitted reference to the ECU upgrade, an important element in the package. The ECU is Zeke's old unit, modified by TAQ, and I'm achieving about a 5 PSI increase in boost to about 18 max PSI in 2nd and 19-20 in 3rd-5th. This is running 93-octane gas, but Zeke was getting 20-21 using higher octane (94?), which is not available here in Baton Rouge. First gear has reduced boost like stock on later-model 9K's, around 10 PSI max, which suits me just fine. Any more induces meaningless wheelspin and torque-steer, not to mention an extra burden on the tranny.
Driveability and fuel mileage is at least as good as stock and probably a bit better, and Zeke says that it easily passed the MA emissions tests.
Although I only had the 2¼" stock exhaust (sans resonator) on the car with the reprogrammed ECU for two days, general performance felt nearly as good as the new 3" system, although I did little more than punch it for short intervals since I was worried about EGT's escalating above an acceptable level. With the new exhaust system, the car pulls like a scalded dog all the way to 5k RPM, which is as far as I've taken it. I'm not hard on my cars and rarely accelerate above 4k anyway.
The new exhaust has a slightly deeper tone and is a tad louder at idle and on acceleration than stock sans resonator, but is quieter on the highway at speed. I also haven't noticed the droning at high speeds (80+ mph) like I noticed with the stock system sans resonator. I like the sound very much, and never is it intrusive, at least as far as I've noticed in less than one day and 50 miles of driving.
If aftermarket 3" systems are of decent quality, which I'm sure they are, they would likely be more economical for a DIY'er than getting the system fabricated like I did. My total was about $840 for the exhaust alone, including DP, cat, muffler, and fabrication. Midas charged me $380 including tax, and they were the lowest bid between them and another muffler shop.
In all, this is a meaningful upgrade for any 9KT--but it isn't cheap. I'm out around $1600 and I didn't provide a core ECU like I presume all programmers require. Add $200 for the core and you're out a good chunk more, but the performance increase is meaningful, reportedly in the range of 35hp and 35 ft/lbs of torque compared to a stock Aero. And it does feel it.
posted by 68.11.185...
, Thu, 18 Apr 2002 13:52:57, Thu, 18 Apr 2002 14:47:44, Thu, 18 Apr 2002 15:02:18
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