Gambit's Project

[Gambit]

Yeah i know!! i didn't realise that i could have asked for slimline plates when i registered the vehicle, will be going to vicroads to get some slimlines.
I dont like the 2 pipes either.. i have just put the engine cover back on with some black mesh.

[Gambit]

Take 2 !

Had the plates changed to slimline, added the engine cover back, and cleaned it all up. Don't even notice it now, only for the discerning lib enthusiast now

[Kekotic]

Nice.
You can double sided tape the front plate a bit higher to make it look a bit better too.

[drndrn]

I like it. The FMIC pipes protruding out a little makes it look like there's some sort of beast underneath the bonnet just waiting to burst out. Great look. How's she drive?

[MY07GT]

Nice work man!

Looks like my car. haha

You can cut that centre plastic bit so in the middle of the opening and get slimmer plates or raise em up to allow more air flow.

Otherwise nice!

Phil.

[Gambit]

Thanks guys. She drives fantastic, feels very quick by a seat of the pants impression! Especially in this cold weather. Just needs a tune now, but will wait till I get the larger turbo and injectors, but things are on hold for the time being as its not cheap and have been informed by the minister of finance to take a break. She is the boss. Haha.

[Gambit]

Hey Guys, planning my next step which will be my Christmas present, considering the current mods and where I want to go down the track ie larger turbo possibly a GTPS02 or S03 now, what should I do next:

Option A. Equal Length Headers and re-tune
Or
Option B. larger Injectors and re-tune.

[teK--]

Hey mate hope to see you at the next Melbourne meet? Nice ride, diamond grey is my favorite facelift colour

Also if your plate is stuck on by tape not sure if that is roadworthy pretty sure it has to be "secured" by means of screws.

[smythie]

Hey Guys, planning my next step which will be my Christmas present, considering the current mods and where I want to go down the track ie larger turbo possibly a GTPS02 or S03 now, what should I do next:

Option A. Equal Length Headers and re-tune
Or
Option B. larger Injectors and re-tune.

I have read opinions citing either equal or unequal as the better setup. There are some big numbers being made with both types so I wouldn't get too hung up on that. The larger injectors I think is a better preparation mod for down the track with more boost

</2c>

[Gambit]

thanks guys, will try and make it to the meet, but unsure if i am working or not, bugger..

but otherwise with either Option A or B, its much of a muchness as both need to be done as a step towards the final tuning stage. Just unsure of which to choose as the intermediate step.

[Gambit]

Recent update:

Had the windows tinted @ 20%

picture of said update



i prefer this b&w version

[Gambit]

Well on the weekend I had a chance to go ahead and install these Kando Equal Length Headers. It took 6 hours in total ! A fairly straight forward job but very time consuming as noted.


As you can see a beautifully crafted Equal Length Manifold design, with intricate welds, a nice piece of work these headers are. I wont go into a full install procedure just a few notes on the process. The first step involved spraying the headers with VHT Hi Temp Silicon coating rated at 1200-2000 degrees, purchased from the local auto store for $17, bargain. I applied 2 coats just for good measure.



As you can see the finish of the silicon coating is quite smooth and has a matt type finish to it. Next was wetting the manifold wrap in a bucket of water and then carefully wrapping the headers and up pipe.

The next few hours we spent removing the old exhaust manifold, by first unbolting the turbo heat shield, intercooler pipework, exhaust dump pipe, underbody tray. Whilst the dump pipe was off I decided to heat wrap the dump pipe as well. It’s amazing how much heat enters into the engine bay from the dump pipe, and for those running a top mount intercooler, I have no doubt that by heat wrapping your dump pipe you will reduce some amount of heat soak onto the intercooler.

After a few hours here is the newly wrapped manifold back onto the engine, looking very neat.


A clearer picture of the wrapped dump pipe and exhaust


Another angle of the new manifold


A picture of the newly wrapped dump pipe top down view.


All good to go, cranked over the engine and there was a slight hiss from the bottom of the up pipe, hinting to a slight leak, so re-tightened all the bolts again for good measure and fired it up again, and no leaks to be found, awesome! The first thing I noticed was the distinctive boxer rumble is now gone, replacing it was a smooth idle, which was just music to my ears. The equal length headers are now obviously doing what they were designed to do and you can hear it. As I had soaked the heat wrap in water to wrap the headers the whole front started to steam up pretty heavily, which was to be expected.

Next I decided to take the car for a drive to check for any leaks and the first thing I noticed was just how smooth the car was under throttle, and how responsive the turbo was coming onto boost as i was navigating back streets. I drove around fairly sedately for a few minutes before taking it onto the freeway, and wow! as I opened her up WOT it felt like the car came instantly onto boost, the rpm needle screamed upwards, whilst the boost needle violently swiped towards 1 bar and held its spot, as a rowed through the gears just delighting in the new found gusto the car had developed. The top end felt just bloody brilliant, and seat of the pants impression is that the car has definitely gained in the mid to top end. I could not stop smiling, words that kept coming to mind was smooth, smooth and smooth, a very happy camper with the equal length manifold. Next up is a dyno tune.

[Gambit]

For those that care to hear what it sounds like, here i a vid at idle and then revved to 4k rpm.

[hamish_023]

Very unique sound, i like it

[eckymosis]

It's got a similar whingeing noise to the Fujitsubo Legalis R exhaust system. Sounds excellent mate!