Finally got my car into the shop to install the parts I have been collecting over the winter. Should be done Friday ... can't wait!

First of all, here is what I had to start with: Kleemann Stage I pulley (thanks Chiromikey!) and ECU (thanks Cory!), Evo cooling kit with PTE thermostat (thanks Patrick!), Evo center resonator delete.

Recently, I received a VRP CF airbox (thanks Victor and Vadim!) and installed that myself with some help from the board (thanks Scorcher!). It is technically for a 180mm TB (I was thinking ahead when I bought it) so I had to trim a reducer to fit nice an tite between the TB and the airbox. I'm already looking for a previously enjoyed 180mm TB and housing when one of you guys steps up the the recently released 180+ size.

Just received a set of VRP shorty's, Evo plug wires and a set of Iridium plugs. I stepped down from 6 to 7 on the heat range. While she's on the lift, I'm also getting the oil changed since I know I will be "testing" the new ignition godies and shorty's when I pick her up. Some fresh Mobile I sounded like a good idea.

I know alot of you will correctly point out that I could have found a few more ponies with a set of Kleemann headers that replace the factory collecter and primary cats or even long-tubes. But the VRPs were available at a great price and the install seems like it wil be a breeze.

All said and done, my car looks alot like what RennTech sells as the "Stage3" upgrade (pulley, ECU, shorty's) but with the CF airbox as well. All that's left is to find a 180 mm TB kit and get the ECU re-flashed to accommodate the greater intake flow, and then it will be the equivalent of a true "Stage 5" set up!

For now - provided you believe the tuner's pre and post mod dyno numbers - I am hoping that my car will put out around 525 hp and 550 tq at the flywheel. I know I will loose about 17% of the to driveline drag.

Imagian Autosport is located here in KC where I live (FAMOUS Porsche tuner)and they have an all-wheel capable Mustang Dyno (AKA: "The Heartbreaker") After I get her back, I may schedule a pull to see how she holds up! Steve Kasper (IA owner) has got more than one 911 TT that can literally make that Mustang Dyno cringe! 600hp is ALOT of power going to all 4 wheels on a car that weighs under 3500 lbs. One of these days, I think I need ot buy a clean condition 996 TT just to let him tune the bejezus out of it, but I digress.

As an total non-sequitor, I spend ALL weekend completely re-detailing my car with the full Blackfire kit. Washed with Dawn, claybar, scratch resistant clearcoat polish, gloss enhancing polish, and 2 coats of blackfire sealant. All with my Griot's Random Orbital. All I can say is absolutely unfriggin' believable! Not a swirl to be found! I did the same treatment on my wife's ML but with Zaino PC and 2 coats of Z5 polish. I am going to keep close track to see which one still looks the best after a summer of the blazing hot Kansas sun and numerous washings. Right now, they both look better than when we bought them!

I will post some pics and a performance update this weekend after I pick up the beast!

 

BTW, to those of you who PM'd, yes, the picture in my avatar is my Miniture Pinscher wearing his propeller beenie.

 

Ummmmmm, our cars already put out 500hp at flywheel. (Benz stated the number lower for whatever reasons). We have dyno after dyno of stockers putting out around 500hp.

You talking bout 500 at the rear wheels?

If you WERE talking flywheel, boy are you in for a big and pleasant surprise...even on the heartbreaker.

Kleemann tune, cooler pump, headers and pulley put my car around 585flywheel on the Klee dyno in Colorado Springs.

You are gonna turn some nice numbers with that setup. Enjoy!

 

180mm TB

 

 

PDC-

Who are you getting to install your mods??

 

My bad on the TB dimension. Stream of consciousness thinking-typing-but-not-proof-reading. Fortunately, you guys know what I meant. Isn't bigger better???

Clinton Wong's team at Aristocrat is doing my install. Just got a call from their shop foreman 10 minutes ago ... not good news. It sounds like a few of the "tig welds" around the flanges on my VRP shorty's are incomplete welds. When they hold the headers up to the light, you can actually see light peeking through the breaches in and around the welds. I bought these from a forum member who had never installed them and I believe had no reason to know about this problem. Point is, I didn't buy them from VRP myself. This was discovered after my stockers were already removed earlier today, but (thankfully) prior to install of the new pieces.

The foreman said other than a few breached weld joints, they looked to be good quality materials and well made. He suggested sending them out to the machine shop that the dealership uses to check and clean up all the welds as necessary and then proceed with the install. What do you all think? I don't know anything at all about welding, but it sounds to me like if a good machine shop can clean up the welds, there's really no sense in making a bigger deal out of this. Thoughts???

 

Props on your mods, but aren't these kinds of mods supposed to be done in the winter months so you can enjoy them in the springtime?

 

Having owned, modified, and sold wayyyyy to many cars in my storied past, I find that these mods are generally done whenever enough loose change is accumulated!