Since several of you are getting supercharger kits with Tone's group buy I thought I would update this thread.
First of all shipping, The kit came in a large box and appeared to be well insulated. While I was glad to see it waiting for me on the porch, saving a trip to UPS, it is a little disconserting to have a purchase of this amount delivered without a signature required and left out in the open. When I opened the box I immediately found a throttle body adaptor with a severly bent flange. Everything else appeared okay, although the fabled cruise cable bracket, CARB sticker, and as I learned later, an extended cruise cable were missing.
Second, the install. Having read several horror stories here I had a heads up on most of the problems to be encountered. The whole kit except the fuel rails and blower snout come painted an ugly flat black. I decided to copy Cyrk's and paint the blower a bright red, the intake black, and polish the fuel rails. To make this easier I took the two apart. THIS WAS MOST FORTUNATE!!!! When I got them apart, I found the intake full of metal shavings from where it had been milled and then slapped together. If these had not been cleaned out it would have been catastrophic in the long run as the aluminum shards would have slowly ground away the cylinder walls of the aluminum block.
Counting the painting and spending a quite a while to straighten that bent flange without breaking (only to later find out it was not needed) the install took about 9 hours over 3 days.
The water hose under the intake needs to run out the back up to the back side of the throttle body. None of the supplied hoses are long enough so I would get a 3' section from the store before starting. If you live in a warm climate these all could be capped of but anywhere that has cooler weather it would be a dog until fully warmed up.
The biggest problem in the install is the fuel rails. I would suggest trying to polish all the injector openings as they are poorly machined especally in the intake. I was able to get the injectors into the rails, only tearing 2 o-ring in the process, although I had to tap them in with a block of wood and hammer. The o-rings at the bottom going into the intake would not go in without tearing. I used all I had and then said hell with it and decided to see if they would leak. Before anyone jumps on this, I have probably done 50 or more GM 3100/3400 intakes, so I have plenty of expirience of installing injector o-rings in proper holes.
Other than these items, the install was fairly straight foreward. I think the kit was designed for drive by wire models as the throttle bracket looked to be an afterthought. It kind of bolts haphazardly to the back of the assembly at an awkward angle. Also the cruise control cable will not reach nr throttle body's new location. I was going to build some proper cable brackets and a close cruise mount, but Tone assured me he will get my missing parts and and an extended cruise cable. I put a one piece polished aluminum air intake on with the cone filter right at the hole in the left fender. Later in the week I built a cold air box around the MAS and filter (this was not included in the install time). As stated in earlier posts, the TPS, IAC, and depending where you put it, the IAT sensor wiring harnesses need to be extended. I would really suggest soldering the connections and using heat shrink to maintain the wiring integrity. I put the IAT near the throttle body so it would give the EMC a true reading. I should note that even though the bottom o-rings all tore going in I have not noticed any evidence of vaccum or pressure leaks.
Third, since the install. I drove it to and from work for a week before taking a small road trip of about 250 miles. Gas milage around town is about the same as before, however I was surprised that even though running 80-85 mph all the time, I got almost 20 mpg on the highway, my best ever. The power is noticable especially as RPMs go up. I have put about 1500 miles on since the install and have had no problems all all, be it leaks or codes or anything. Overall I would call it a worthwile purchase.
Footnotes: I have since installed the C/F WRX insert and mirror covers. I have no real problems with the fit or finish of the insert. I did have enlarge one of the washer holes and when in place you can barely see the water drains in the hood. Cosmetically the edges look good and intake opening is well done. I am very diappointed in the mirror covers however. They kind of snap on but do not come close to covering the whole mirror, not coming within 3/8" of the back edge of the mirror. Trying to use molding tape to secure them only makes the worse. Overall I would give the insert a thumbs up and the mirror cover a cobbled thumbs down.
Sorry to ramble on but I thought I should get the word out to check the intake for shavings and give some tips on the install.
albert
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weed vaporizer
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