what upgraded intercooler piping to get?
Originally posted by RENN-ART
go with ams lower ic piping.. that's where the hp lies.. unless it's bling you're looking for..
go with ams lower ic piping.. that's where the hp lies.. unless it's bling you're looking for..
I have the RMR IC pipes. They have been phenomenal for over 17,000 miles now. The bling is nice, but having consistent pressure is better.
For those that doubt, I guess you haven't seen the stock garbage swell and bulge on the dyno... I can only guess what it's doing under high boost on the street.
For those that doubt, I guess you haven't seen the stock garbage swell and bulge on the dyno... I can only guess what it's doing under high boost on the street.
Here is a crappy picture of the Buschur UICP with mini battery. Just get the Odyssey mini battery
and trim the stock battery tray if you want, for looks. Total cost 100 bucks. Opens up tons of room.
The pipe is a clean tight fit. Good quality and comes with the 1G BOV, which I swapped out.
and trim the stock battery tray if you want, for looks. Total cost 100 bucks. Opens up tons of room.
The pipe is a clean tight fit. Good quality and comes with the 1G BOV, which I swapped out.
Last edited by stvbreal; Apr 12, 2004 at 09:26 PM.
Originally posted by RENN-ART
go with ams lower ic piping.. that's where the hp lies.. unless it's bling you're looking for..
go with ams lower ic piping.. that's where the hp lies.. unless it's bling you're looking for..
Have you done any dyno testing? As I understand it, the lower piping is rather restrictive...
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AMS said on their site that UICP wasn't worth the money. That is why they don't sell it. They couldn't see it being worth making or selling to us for just the 2 whp difference they experienced. I like their honesty. 
If I upgrade the FMIC, I'll probably get a intercooler that has the LICP with the kit just to make sure it works.
If I upgrade the FMIC, I'll probably get a intercooler that has the LICP with the kit just to make sure it works.
Although the upper ic pipe may not yield much overall hp gain, I'm curious about how it helps with throttle response. Anyone upgrade just the upper ic pipe alone and notice any throttle response improvements?
the Buschur UICP helps throttle response, the shorter route definitely helps that.. From a horsepower standpoint, I don't know that it helps much, but it sure looks pretty..
To answer the other question about using a combo of pipes.. as long as your running a different vender's intercooler, definitely upgrade the lower intercooler pipe (Buschur's lower pipe is integrated with their intercooler) if you look at the stock pipe, its disturbingly ineadequate, however there may be a reason, keep the charge pressure high into the intercooler, but so far drivability with the Buschur Upper pipe and Buschur FMIC upgrade has gotten better, spool is lower.. My exhaust note got a bit louder, I think its because the lower restriction in the intake tract is allowing the exhaust to spin the turbine easier even at no boost and therefore isn't acting as a silencer as much anymore.. But thats besides the point..
From a drivability standpoint, here's a few observations..
Throttle response is a bit better..
The car spools a little earlier (FMIC related and other relief of restrictions)
boost is more stable and the pipes don't swell over 1/4" like they did on the stock pipes.. Don't believe me? Wrap a bit of masking tape tightly around the flex portion of the upper stock pipe.. drive it a bit under boost, then look for it torn, or popped off..
HP Gains are definitely subjective, My car didn't feel any stronger after installing the FMIC or Pipes.. HOWEVER it did give me more room to tune since the air is cooler/denser into the engine (IE, the pipe is no longer anywhere near as hot to the touch as the stock pipes were)
Now for the not-so-good part..
You hear EVERYTHING.. the upgraded pipes revealed intake whistles and farts that you never would have heard in the stock pipes.. And yes, those are normal, our throttlebody actually whistles if you open the blades just right..
New upper and lower intercooler pipes and intercooler WILL Void your warranty
You WILL have to reroute some vacuum lines, and the stock boost control solenoid (if you intend to keep it connected, for example if you want to use it for boost control on an AEM EMS, UTEC, or XEDE. Good news its easy to do.. just a bit confusing for some to figure out.
The buschur pipes, and some other short route or alternate routed pipes will likely necessitate replacing the MAF pipe with their aftermarket pipe.. With the good comes the bad.. MAF pipes and aftermarket filters tend to foul around with the MAF sensor and could result in occasional stalling (Same symptom as the stalls users of VTA BOV's get) and you absolutely need to tune for these things.. Plus you'd want to tune for more power that the upgrades offer you anyway..
With all that said.. I wholeheartedly recommend upgrading the upper pipe, lower pipes, and intercooler as a system.. from an individual component standpoint, there's not much difference other than appearance, but as a whole.. doing the entire thing is worthwhile if you can deal with the few minor issues.
To answer the other question about using a combo of pipes.. as long as your running a different vender's intercooler, definitely upgrade the lower intercooler pipe (Buschur's lower pipe is integrated with their intercooler) if you look at the stock pipe, its disturbingly ineadequate, however there may be a reason, keep the charge pressure high into the intercooler, but so far drivability with the Buschur Upper pipe and Buschur FMIC upgrade has gotten better, spool is lower.. My exhaust note got a bit louder, I think its because the lower restriction in the intake tract is allowing the exhaust to spin the turbine easier even at no boost and therefore isn't acting as a silencer as much anymore.. But thats besides the point..
From a drivability standpoint, here's a few observations..
Throttle response is a bit better..
The car spools a little earlier (FMIC related and other relief of restrictions)
boost is more stable and the pipes don't swell over 1/4" like they did on the stock pipes.. Don't believe me? Wrap a bit of masking tape tightly around the flex portion of the upper stock pipe.. drive it a bit under boost, then look for it torn, or popped off..
HP Gains are definitely subjective, My car didn't feel any stronger after installing the FMIC or Pipes.. HOWEVER it did give me more room to tune since the air is cooler/denser into the engine (IE, the pipe is no longer anywhere near as hot to the touch as the stock pipes were)
Now for the not-so-good part..
You hear EVERYTHING.. the upgraded pipes revealed intake whistles and farts that you never would have heard in the stock pipes.. And yes, those are normal, our throttlebody actually whistles if you open the blades just right..
New upper and lower intercooler pipes and intercooler WILL Void your warranty
You WILL have to reroute some vacuum lines, and the stock boost control solenoid (if you intend to keep it connected, for example if you want to use it for boost control on an AEM EMS, UTEC, or XEDE. Good news its easy to do.. just a bit confusing for some to figure out.
The buschur pipes, and some other short route or alternate routed pipes will likely necessitate replacing the MAF pipe with their aftermarket pipe.. With the good comes the bad.. MAF pipes and aftermarket filters tend to foul around with the MAF sensor and could result in occasional stalling (Same symptom as the stalls users of VTA BOV's get) and you absolutely need to tune for these things.. Plus you'd want to tune for more power that the upgrades offer you anyway..
With all that said.. I wholeheartedly recommend upgrading the upper pipe, lower pipes, and intercooler as a system.. from an individual component standpoint, there's not much difference other than appearance, but as a whole.. doing the entire thing is worthwhile if you can deal with the few minor issues.
