I have a IX MR.

Should I get the mail in flash now or wait until spring and go get a custom tune?

Here is basically what I am planning mod wise in this order..

drop in filter
MBC - christmas present
boost gauge and pod (or do you think the stocker is sufficent?)
TBE - either Buschur or Megan Racing, probably go catless for now.
lower icp

The tune would be last if a custom, but before exhaust if a mail in. What kind of numbers (hp/tq and 1/4) would this probably net me?

Thanks for all the help guys!

Girlie

 

Al's mail-in flash is not yet ready for public release on the IX, but it will be soon. The mods you listed are very good, and you will get proven, reliable gains from them with no issues. The one thing you will have to think about is a fuel pump. On the 03-05s, we pretty much always tossed in an upgraded fuel pump before the flash in order to allow Al to get the most out of our setup. With the IXs, it appears there is already an improved fuel pump, but I'm not yet certain if it's something Al will recommend to keep or upgrade. I'd venture to say that if you are just going to be running your car on pump gas all the time, then you could probably get away with using the stock fuel pump on a Dynoflash with _0_ safety issues and no hindrance in terms of power.

As far as the boost gauge, the one in my MR works just fine, and I didn't bother installing an aftermarket one until I was regularly running more than 22psi (stock gauge goes up to 1.5bar = 21.75psi). If you are only going to use pump gas, which would mean no more than 21-22psi, then the stock gauge is sufficient. You're also lucky that your stock BOV is the OEM aluminum one that we all had to purchase as an upgrade. You can't go wrong with the Buschur or Megan TBE, you can do the Works or K&N filter, and I would recommend the Forge UNOS MBC (top-notch MBC).

Getting back to the Dynoflash, if you can wait until the Spring and get a custom flash, it would be worth your while. If you don't want to wait that long and just want a mail-in (when available), then I can personally assure you that it will still be very powerful. The times in my sig were done with a base mail-in flash. I have since been custom street tuned, but the tracks are close for now, so no further testing, although I can tell you that the car feels like a monster...incredible low-end grunt combined with smooth, linear power to redline. You can't go wrong with either decision, though. The good thing about your mods is you can do them without any negative affect from not being tuned. Likewise, if you get the mail-in flash early, you can just have Al set it for an exhaust, then install the exhaust later when you get it. The exhaust doesn't make enough of a difference with AFRs/Timing to cause any unsafe/unreliable conditions before actually having the exhaust.

Great choices on the mod list, but I am surprised that you're doing all this so soon after our finance discussion in the Newbie forum...

 

Thanks for the reply. Most all of this will be done come spring, not much point in doing it this time of year. I highly doubt I will ever run anything but pump more than 2 or 3 times a year. (probably at the shootout). I will more than likely do the mail in, as the closest shop to me is Buschur and that is still 4 hours away.

Another question. I will be getting the mbc in the next week or so, is it safe to run it now with everything else stock? Mainly to eliminate the boost taper. I am watching the Megan thread to see if it fits the IX MR. From what I have read it is still not confirmed. For 550 that is hard to beat!

As for the finances.... 401k loan, no interest, set my own terms straight deduction from pay

Girlie

 

Yeah, you can install the MBC and run 21psi with no other mods just fine.

I wish I could get a 401k loan with no interest. I've never heard of that; I didn't know it was even legal. Our standard is we can take out all sorts of loans against the 401k, but we have to pay back interest at the prime rate. We pay the interest to ourselves, so it's not wasted interest at least.

 

Girly,

I suggest you wait just alittle bit anf get it custom tune by Al. My boyfriend had his Evo8 MR road tuned twice by Al, definately worth the wait.

The custom road tunning will get you right were you want it, the mail flash is more like a "generic" tune. I am taking mine to Al the next time.

Good luck!!

 

Since I made that post I have spoken to Warrtalon and came to the same conclusion. If all goes as planned, I am going to try to get a custom tune in mid January down in DC/NoVA.

It seems the Megan Racing downpipe for the IX MR will not be released until mid January, so that is a hold up now. I am also waiting on my check which takes a couple of weeks to proccess.

Right now I am planning a flash, MBC, TBE, filter, LICP. I have also been flirting with the idea of getting my mani/o2 ported and coated and maybe a 20g.

Girlie

 

I think that's a great mod list. Just remember that LICPs made for the VIII won't fit the IX due to the new turbo (compressor side). I believe only Buschur has an LICP for IXs, because he had one fabricated to fit the 20g-IXs, so you may want to go that route. Also, since the IX turbo uses the same hotside as the 05s (10.5), you can get a stock 10.5/exhaust mani/o2 housing ported/coated at Buschur and slap it all on with no changes to the system like I just did. If you want to send in spare parts like I did instead of your car being down for a week or more waiting on everything to be done, then you could potentially buy the parts that are coming off my 05 when I install my ported/coated stuff. It would allow you to just forward my removed parts to Buschur who would then send you back a set of pre-coated/pro-ported parts right back the same day. Think about it, because I could hand these to you when Al comes down to tune on Jan 21/22.

 

I will def. consider it Warrtalon. Thanks! That was my biggest hold up on the porting/coating, the down time.

Girlie

 

Cool, then if you buy the set from me, you will have no downtime, and won't even have to pay for shipping to receive these parts. Also, remember that after you get your ported/coated parts back from Bushcur, you can turn around and sell yours again to someone else like I'm doing.

 

So Al is coming Jan 21st? I should def. have the finances squared away by then, but according to Zeus the MR downpipe will not fit the IX mr? A new one is being released mid-January. Have you guys tried the MR downpipe on a IX mr yet or could you add anything to this?

Also, could you PM me a price on the mani/o2/hotside? Just want to work them into my finances.

Thanks,,,

Girlie

 

Yes indeed, I have something to add, there are at least 3 downpipes confirmed that will fit the Evo 9 MR that I am aware off:

Works 3"
RSR 3" with cat delete
HKS 2.65"

 

Yes, Al will be here on Sat/Sun the 21st/22nd for tuning. I will be setting up the sign-up sheet very soon and will make sure you see the link. I don't know of any "MR downpipe." I also haven't yet tried any of the current Megan TBE parts on a IX - we are trying to find someone to try it on. Like you said, the Megan folks told us one was being developed and released soon, but I think mid-January is a bit optimistic when you include shipping time from the manufacturer and then shipping to the individual dealers.

PM'd.

 

I was intersted in the road tune or mail in where are you all saying al is going to be Jan21 Thanks.

 

In the DC Area - not Alabama.

You can get a mail-in whenever you want, though. If you send your ECU now, you can get the current price of $199 for your VIII.