Originally Posted by Kyle K
Depending on your build date and mileage you may want to replace some other things. Timing belt for starters. Every 60k for a timing belt is recommended. Also, a good prevention for boost leaks is to upgrade some hoses. The two main hoses you want to look at upgrading are the F hose and the Throttle body boot. Or you can get the full samco hose kit which includes replacements for all hoses under some sort of pressure. Oh, and check your plugs. Use your vag com to log misfires and boost(unit 115) There are in deapth instructions on how to use the Vagcom to get the most out of it on Audiworld.com. You can search the archives there for that.
Build date is 03/01 so it's a 2001.5 model with no F hose and the larger oil lines to the turbos. I'm dreading doing the timing belt man. Mainly it's getting the bumper off that scares me. Never done anything with body panels. Any hints/tips to make it easier or did you have yours done somewhere? I'll also do the snub mount while I'm at it. I plan on doing the Samco TBB as well just forgot to mention it. Figured it wasn't necessary until I chip the car. What kind of plugs would you recommend? NGK, Bosch?
Originally Posted by Kyle K
Exhust is a good and safe first upgrade. Most people do chip. But it really doesnt matter. If you do exhaust before chip you wont feel the butt hp increase as much as you would if you did chip then exhaust. Mainly because of airflow restrictions. Any exhaust would work. The branded ones online are expensive but a custom exhaust would do the job just as good. Madhatters Mufflers on Waters Ave does custom work. They have worked on my car a few times. Great guys.
Excellent! That's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks!
Originally Posted by Kyle K
AH!!.. where did you see i have APR? i did, And i didnt like it. Most companys are doing the switchable stuff nowadays. If i were to do it again at this time ii would get GIAC. They're stuff has gotten much better and faster over the years. Just Welty is local and he does GIAC.
I must have had a brain fart or something. I saw APR in your sig image and assumed that was for the chip. What didn't you like about the APR chip? Did it have reliability issues or what? I'm most concerned with a reliable chip that I'm not going to have to tweek all the time and that doesn't make my car run like ass. Plus I thought the cruise control button switch was a lot more convenient than the flash loader of the GIAC. My thought is, I'd like to be able to run the car in stock mod the majority of the time, but if some punk decides he wants to run I'd like to be able to just switch the program and go. If you think the GIAC is just that much better of a chip then I'll rock that shit this weekend up at Fixx.
One last question for now, what do you recommend for a short shifter? I get movement in my shifter when going on and off throttle. Drives me nuts and I'm hoping that'll help.
Anyways, I really appreciate all the help here. I like to know as much as possible before I start tinkering and having someone nearby that's been through it is kinda cool.