Bitten by the mod bug

[metalcar]

Hi everyone

After settling in to my new car I think its time to buy her some presents....

She is a MY05 GT manual.

I'm thinking

- An Exhaust.
- CAI (though without the resonator its already getting a fair bit of air from the wheel arch/front I'm not sure if its necessary)
- A bigger TMIC
- A tune using enginutiy (enginuity.org)


From the reading I've done it seems this is the best bang for buck way of getting extra performance out of a stock car. My problem is this is my first car that I've looked at modding and its all a little overwhelming with the options.

The CAI seems the easiest thing to deal with and I like the way I've seen it done going into the drivers side guard so I'll probably do that, keeping the standard airbox for the time being.

The tune is likewise an easy option given I've got a mate that will help me out with it and not paying the $1500 ecutek license on top of labour and dyno time makes sense to me.

The bigger ticket items of the TMIC and TBE are where I'm having some trouble. I've tried to look around at stuff but there seems to be way too many options around.

I'm interested in the HKS TMIC from nextmod with the carbon fibre cover, has anyone had any experience with these? Are they nice and simple to fit yourself? Are there other good options I've overlooked for TMIC?

I'm leaning towards the HKS Hi power Silent given I don't want to get too loud. But I'm not sure if this is a full turbo back exhaust. I'm also a little confussed with about the whole up pipe down pipe thing. Are they included in a full exhaust or are they extra? Does the MY 05 have a catless up pipe? (I've been told it would be a good idea to get one if it isn't already catless) also is it worth getting the up/down pipes heatwrapped to keep the engine bay temps down a bit?

So does this sound like a good plan? Any suggestions on things to look out for, or ways to improve it?

Thanks for having a read
Cheers,

[MY07GT]

Hahah Welcome across mate!

Theres a few boys here with a HKS dump pipe and a few variation of cat back systems.

They also are running hyperflow TMIC from memory. But Fish & Brendon will tell you to go FMIC!

PHAT! The PHAT signal is up for your help.

Phil.

[metalcar]

Heh thanks mate,

Just trying to tap the knowledge that is the interwebs... don't want the pipes getting blocked or somthing...

FMIC would be nice, but I'm not looking for huge gains, just enough to surprise people. So I think the TMIC will be an easier option and along with that, it will be less for the mechanics to complain about when I get it serviced for my extended warranty compliance

Cheers,

[SkoobyGT]

PM PHAT mate. He is the Man on these forums who has unreal prices for getting anything.

I have an 04, basic mods. Cat back, Apexi CAI, ecu tune, made 168kw, over the 122kw without the tune.

The tune is about $1300, that includes everything mate, licence, dyno, tune, labour etc.

Cheap, safe, the best tuner, reliable power.

[fish_boy79]

Hahah Welcome across mate!

Theres a few boys here with a HKS dump pipe and a few variation of cat back systems.

They also are running hyperflow TMIC from memory. But Fish & Brendon will tell you to go FMIC!

PHAT! The PHAT signal is up for your help.

Phil.

lol true.... i made the stupid mistake of going hyperflow tmic, when i should have just gone the fmic.

the hks silent isn't too loud and that comes in variation of cat-back system or just mufflers. talk to phatgt if you're after an exhaust. pm me if you wanna hear how loud the hks exhaust is.

[CheesyMong]

Hahah Welcome across mate!

Theres a few boys here with a HKS dump pipe and a few variation of cat back systems.

They also are running hyperflow TMIC from memory. But Fish & Brendon will tell you to go FMIC!

PHAT! The PHAT signal is up for your help.

Phil.

lol true.... i made the stupid mistake of going hyperflow tmic, when i should have just gone the fmic.

the hks silent isn't too loud and that comes in variation of cat-back system or just mufflers. talk to phatgt if you're after an exhaust. pm me if you wanna hear how loud the hks exhaust is.

Can you record it and post it up?

[metalcar]

lol true.... i made the stupid mistake of going hyperflow tmic, when i should have just gone the fmic.

Can you give a bit more detail why you think the FMIC is so much better? What level of power are you putting out?

If I can find a nice price on the hks exhaust I might just go with that, though, it sounds like I'd still have to organise up pipe and down pipe if its only at cat back system. Is that right?

Thanks,

[fish_boy79]

fmic has better air flow and efficency, boost also kicks in earlier. I'd say i'd be around the 160kw atw mark atm without a ecu tune.

you're looking at close to the 2k mark for HKS cat back. HKS dpipe is close to another 2k.

[metalcar]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

4K is probably just a little too much for my exhaust budget so either I forget about the exhaust, or look for something cheaper, no more then 2K including dpipe/upipe... Any suggstions again I don't want anything too loud, rather not be all show and no go (no go likely be my driving letting down my car )

On the tmic thing, isn't lag caused by the amount of air that has to be pressurised? And doesn't a FMIC have more pipe and therefore more air? Am I missing something?

Also I saw PERRIN Top-Mount Intercooler over at boostkits.com looks about the right price for me there. Anyone had any experience with these?

[tangcla]

fmic has better air flow and efficency, boost also kicks in earlier.

Earlier? I always thought fmic caused more turbo lag due to the length of the piping.

[fish_boy79]

fmic has better air flow and efficency, boost also kicks in earlier.

Earlier? I always thought fmic caused more turbo lag due to the length of the piping.

yeah there is more piping, but the lag is not noticeable. cause of the size of the stock turbo there shouldn't be much difference in lag between tmic and fmic. i'm on full boost at around 2500rpm which is a bit earlier than when i had tmic which was arout 2700rpm.

the perrin tmic wont fit the my05 gt.

[metalcar]

There goes that idea then, they say its for 05+ GT's guess the hyperflow might be my best choice...

[fish_boy79]

There goes that idea then, they say its for 05+ GT's guess the hyperflow might be my best choice...

the perrin is made for the MY05 US spec. they're 2.5T. the inlet to the intercooler on the 2.5T is different from the 2.0T. there are only a few options for the 2.0T and most of them are japanese.

[metalcar]

That makes sense. Thanks

So it sounds like the Hyperflow that MRT sell might be my best option, I've seen a HKS one that looks fantastic needs a new cover and everything, but its 2300 which is more then I'm prepared to spend...

[tangcla]

so on that note with the Perrin stuff - how much of USDM parts will fit our AUDM models? brake-wise, engine-wise, body-wise etc.

I was advised by someone who shall remain nameless *cough*JT*cough* that the car is very different, and brake lines, front bar, and others won't fit our cars and vice versa - it could just be a sales pitch to coerce me into buying stuff from him tough...?