now a turbo sounds worth it...i spent $5k back in the day for my mods with no added hp..the turbo is the way to go

 

I am joining the FI group I saw the post from vivid and am sending my car to VF for an install, I am very excited about getting 475 hp and 370 torque for far less money than a GT3 would cost me. If I add a set of bilsteins and some heavier sway bars I should have more power and the same handling of a GT3 Thanks to Catman for talking me into it. Is there anything that I should be afraid of( I know my engine warranty will be toast)

Randy

 

Marrathon Bob thanks for collaborating my decision, I would have used TPC but I think I like the supercharger exhaust note better. Currently I have an unplugged PSE, don't know if I could handle it being quieter. I also will be adding some fbspeed headers and pottentialy some muffler bypass pipes, the growl was incredible with the SC. Are there any owners out there who have had FI on their cars for awhile (over 20k miles?)

 

I haven't heard the supercharger sound but I don't doubt it sounds great. The TPC exhaust sound is amazing. Deep bass at idle and normal speeds and an absolute roar when I floor it. When I drive around my neighborhood people perk up from what they were doing when they hear the sound - kind of unsettling and fun at the same time.

Good idea on the upgraded suspension - I went with bilstein coilovers, TPC swaybars and toe links. The handling remains very tight at triple digit speeds - which is important. I've done coilovers and swaybars on other cars and I think that's one of the best handling investments you can make in most cars.

 

"The TPC exhaust sound is amazing. Deep bass at idle and normal speeds and an absolute roar when I floor it."

That's pretty reassuring... good news! For me, usually I find a turbo mutes the exhaust note in an unpleasing way not to mention turbo-lag issues, so I normally prefer the SC route for FI. Wow. That's another TPC satisfied customer. I'm keeping that in the back of my mind. Thanks!

 

Randy, Where are you in NOVA? I am in arlington. Please let me know if you would like to come up and see what we have to offer... Quite close!

My email is cparkin@tpcracing.net

 

I'm not an expert but I presumed the exhaust note was as much a function of your exhaust system as the engine/FI. I had a Audi A6 with twin turbos and it didn't make any different sounds than the stock natural aspirated engine. I also had a friend with a Noble (awesome British car sold under Rossion brand in the U.S.) that had a turbo and wastegate and the sound was just unbelievable! Again deep bass like my TPC but when you got on the gas it was like you were standing next to the Space Shuttle at liftoff. Not sure I could live with that as a daily driver but I didn't stop giggling for a week after I drove it!

 

With some minor tweaks to the VF-E kit you can get much more than 475hp. I am at close to 530hp.

In terms of sound, the SC makes a nice little whistle, not a whine. Combined with AWE cats, the low gurgle and hi-whistle are very exotic, and sound serious. I should try to get some vids made soon, perhaps when I am done with my custom chrono pod gauge setup, which should be shortly.

Yes, many people have over 40k miles with an SC, no issues. That's not any kind of garauntee, just other people's success. A good installation is the key, and so I decided to do it myself. Search around here, between me and Stacy (justatoy) there's enough documentation to ensure a good install.
CATTMAN

 

You are right about yours making more power... However, that is not the way the system is delivered out of the box. Ours is, and more.

 

Yep, absolutely. Not contesting that at all.
The TPC kit seems great, I'd love to test drive one to compare.
What I like about the TPC kit is that you get an integrated exhaust system with it, and that saves thousands, as my cats alone were $1,700.
CATTMAN

 

id rather try turbo than super charger...just would

 

Casey and P997S, I seriously considered the turbo, but I I've always wanted to Supercharge a car. I understand your unit builds power from a very low rpm, but it is still relatively new and I only have 6500miles on my car. Still it was a hard decision due to how close you are located to me and the article I read on your SC 997. I mat still come to see you for suspension at some point, I want to retain the stock ride quality in non sport and have it stiffen dramaticly in sport. My thought was bilstein damptronics and GT3 sway bars and only lower the car 1/2-3/4 of an inch due to the areas I drive I need close to the stock height and a cush ride for some of my bumpy back roads in Central VA. hopefully by not dropping the vehicle much I can avoid some of the camber correction devices.

Randy


In Christ

 

Catman, do you need the cats or could I get away with some fabspeed headers and leaving my pse cans on. Also what minor mods should I consider to get up to your power levels, and have you been able to retain simple operation or do you have to hook it to the laptop alot. I am sending my car to VF for install. I have the skill to do the install myself, but I can't stand trying to figure the computers out these day. Of course I probably will be learning more soon. I am planning on buying the durametric setup after this mod is installed.

Thanks for all of the advice
Randy



In Christ

 

Randy,
If this is helpful, hit with rep points!

Cats are not necessary, they just open things up a bit and change the sound nicely.

There is a used SC for sale here by Jason Ellis, "jellis". You could have VF-E install that one, and you'd save enough money to buy cats and some other nice bits, like a body kit and a new touch screen head unit!

A laptop and durametric are necessary for initial testing, but other than that, you won't need it too often. I use it from time to time, just to check things, but everything once set should be trouble-free.

At no time are you yourself tuning the ECU, that's done by VF-E and GIAC, so you needn't worry about that.

Stacy and I can help you when you need it, but we can't reveal all our secrets. This much is basic: you can spin the SC's impeller faster by using a smaller pulley. The VF-E kit comes standard with a 3.6" pulley I believe. The next smaller size is 3.48", then the one I am using which is 3.4". They make smaller ones, too.

Just know that the smaller you go the more air you force into the chamber, so you need to ensure proper AFR, or you risk running lean, etc. The VF-E/ GIAC ECU tune is based on using the larger 3.6" pulley.

My car started as a 997S, and now with the SC and the 3.4" pulley produces 6.1psi boost at redline. That, I feel, is plenty, and is within a safe tolerance range. Just my opinion.

Of course, there are a couple other tricks which you'll have to research to get the right (effective and safe) results with a smaller pulley.
CATTMAN

 

The more it takes me to learn my car the more I get to firm conclusion that I do not need any FI on my car, what I really need is GT3 RS.

I have a certain feeling it will most likely end up this way.