After lots of problems and upgrades, I finally have my car back. Quick note, save the big upgrades for the winter so that the car is not down during good top down season. I will post pics later, but here's what I did:

#1 Replaced my blown 1.6 vlsd with a Torsen diff from a 95. I think the 4.1 ratio of the Torsen vs. the 4.3 ratio of the original diff makes 1st and 2nd gear more useable and lowers highway cruising rpm nicely. I haven't checked if it makes any difference in gas milage, but I'd imagine that it might.

#2 Replaced GReddy DP with Tony's DP. Very nice piece. Had to adjust the FM/Bowser heatshield to fit. Boost comes on about 500rpm sooner as evidenced by emanage MAP sensor vs. rpm logged runs on the same roads before and after. I'd have to say that 500rpm makes a world of difference, especially in a car with a 7000ish fuel cutoff. I don't remember the exact numbers, but on one run, I hit 15 psi just before 4k rpm in third gear.

#3 Clocked the turbo. Had issues with bending the oil drain return for clearance, but ordered a billet flange off ebay and added a hose barb end. Now the oil drains practically straight down to the pan. If I really wanted to go nuts, I could have used AN fittings and braided stainless hose, but it seemed like overkill.

#4 Finally, and most importantly, I was the first guinea pig for Stripes' IC kit. My kit is slightly different as my turbo is clocked, I don't have PS/AC, and I opted for a huge IC (overkill, I know) b/c I didn't have to worry about the AC dryer. I did not want to post before I had the other issues ironed out, but now that the car is running, here are my thoughts in comparison to the kits out there:

Compared to ****'s starion kit that I used to run, simply put, this kit blows it away. The IC has 2.5" in/out compared to the 1.75"/2" of the Starion. The pipes go around the radiator so there are no ground clearance issues. The t-bolt clamps and flanged ends are superior in terms of holding the pipes from blowing off. The install was much easier and better placement with the around the rad piping. The IC mounts are rock solid. Quality between the two kits are night and day.

I have seen the FM IC kit for the GReddy and would have to say Stripes' kit is at least equal if not better in terms of quality. Certainly, both the price and the amount of IC piping is much less with Stripes' kit.

Can't compete with the Trackdog kit in terms of short piping, but Stripes' kit is much better on price and ease of install.

Final verdict, if I had money coming out my ***, I'd probably get the Trackdog setup, but I have some reservations about paying more for an IC kit than I paid for my turbo kit shipped. I'd have to argue that Stripes' kit is the best bang for the buck out there and you'd have $$$ left over for other goodies. YMMV.

Now after this review, I better get a piece of the pie, Stripes....haha. :gay:

 

sounds good....but my fuel cut is at 7200rpm. Thats stock.

 

=7200

 

oh come on what a tease, how does that damn thing run?

 

I changed it after reading AndyFloyd's post realizing my mistake. It originally said, 6700....:gay:

 

Let's just say it's faster than Stripes' slow piece of #$%&@....hahaha!

It actually "feels" slower b/c the boost comes on much smoother now that I fixed an o2 clamp problem as well as adjusted my emanage maps a little bit, but I know that it is faster since on the same stretch of road where I tested out the car many times, I am reaching a much faster speed at the same point than before. Sadly enough, you start getting used to boost and it doesn't feel as "fast" as it did on day one. Only the dyno will reveal the truth....which reminds me.....

 

It's so on! Just don't blow another diff trying to keep up with me!