I'm just curious how much of a restriction the current piping and inter cooler i have is giving me. I did not install or paint this piping the previous owner did all that. I have a 2.3 fp black stock cams SD 92 octane. Here are the pictures of the current piping and inter cooler it seems like its really small by the turbo and bigger on top is that just how it is anyways i'm just trying to see if it would make sense to upgrade these parts or should i put the money toward something else and how bad is it thanks in advance.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...t/IMG_7673.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...t/IMG_7674.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...t/IMG_7675.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...t/IMG_7676.jpg

 

I am pretty sure you have a 3" FMIC. For your power levels you should be ok. Your UICP doesn't make a difference because that will barley change the performance of the car. Your LICP looks restrictive and I would recommend an ETS V2 LICP because it will fit your stock frame turbo. The area where you can make the most power would be upgrading your stock cams and valve train to gsc s2 or similar. You would certainly net a substantial amount of whp with cams and a retune.

 

intercooler is fine, looks like a 3.5 in from the pics, the licp is def a restriction, looks like it tapers down just like the stock one does, and the uicp looks fine, i cant tell tho for sure, but tbh the stock uicp is perfectly fine, only downside is the coupler's expand under boost, so buyin silicone ones would do the job and save alot of money, i just bought a new licp from MAP, great fitment, plus they send t-bolt clamps instead of the crap worm clamps most vendors send, o and the MAP licp is made from the same material as the stock uicp which is good if u like to tighten things waaaaaaaaaayyyy to much like myself

 

GReddy, good stuff. Strip that paint off and polish it.

 

thanks for all the advice I think i will upgrade that lower inter cooler piping that connects to the turbo , and as far as polishing goes any recommendations on how to strip the paint and how to polish. I have a little sand blaster but i dono about sand encase i missed a few grains after washing it out sand and engine just doesn't sound good lol. Or am i just paranoid was also thinking of some kinda paint remover i dono i guess that's why i'm asking and is there some kinda buffing compound or such to polish how would i apply it do i need a air gun of some sort thanks again really appreciate the advice

 

yes you need a better LICP id recommend muse or ets O0 looks like you might have injen UICP/LICP piping, the uicp is fine but injen licp sucks. Also the greddy intercooler was shown to not make gains over stock so id recommend swapping that out for an ets 3.5" fmic esp with the mods you have.

 

You could cut it off with buffing compound, then polish it with a bench grinder if you have all the materials. Buffing it will be a lot of work. Or I'm sure you could take it somewhere locally. Youtube how to polish aluminum it's not hard to do. That's how I learned. It's definitely GReddy piping as well I have the same upper pipe, just with a bunch of welds. Excuse the ****ty picture