ARD Green impression and review

s70glt novice[Will] · Post by **s70glt novice[Will]** » 23 Mar 2012, 19:11

I have a 98 GLT sedan with 128k miles. I upgraded my exhaust (OBX turbo-back: http://www.sparktecmotorsports.com/ex11111.html), got an IPD CBV+TCV: http://www.ipdusa.com/products/4898/114 ... pass-valve & http://www.ipdusa.com/products/4764/113 ... -p2-models)

I have done stage 0, which include:
Fuel filter, plugs, performance wires (same as IPD's, get 8mm http://www.kingsbornewires.com/product. ... egoryId=71)
Silicon vac lines and i switched to full synthetic lately.
I also did a drain/fill of the tranny fluid.
Cleaned TB and MAF.
Unrelated: Cut a hole in my hood cowl seal to help with engine bay temps: http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/14 ... ge__st__40 Like the one by Che Moderator. Helps a lot after a drive. No real numbers.

I've had the tune for about 3-4k miles.
Okay, now for the good stuff

:

Slapped on a 16t, which Lucky (ARD) sourced and rebuilt for me for a mere 315$.
Installed that Green tune.

Let me tell you:
It surprises me every time. I often am doing 100 before i know it. It sequels tires with proper pedal modulation at 30mph. (cruising to race car). Very hard pull in the 20-60 range.
Same MPGs, but with more aggressive driving.
If you do this, realize that getting on the highway will be a blast, and still faster then it needs to be on the highway, but not as great if you were to go with an 18/19t and blue. (no experience with this).

Much better drivablity and the boost does not spike. It holds steady. It really, REALLY picks up after 10psi (3500 rpm). I imagine the delay is to save my rods, i love it.

Now the bad

:
Very little to no power before 1500. Feels like my moms merc and other new cars in which the pedal is not actual percent of throttle. Hard to explain, anyone who has driven both will know what im talking about. Kinda sucks. However, the transition from parking-lot speed to actual car is a lot smoother then the merc and i dont notice very much. I have to TRY to not chirp tires turning. If you listen to music, you will miss it. I had no idea i was burning out (albeit very quietly) until my friend said i was doing it on every turn.

Also, you will find that, for some odd reason, you will go through tires a lot quicker. And brakes.

All in all: Driveablity of the car very much increased. Better MPGs if you drive less then 80mph on the freeway. Your car actually feels fast, and you'll find yourself smiling after you push the pedal down a little.

Recommendations:
Love it. Buy a white if you want to stay stock. (Biased towards ARD a lot, ignore).
Pedal modulation: DON'T floor it. Slowly got to half way throttle and stay there for 11-13psi of boost, still quick. Then slowly go down if you want more. This gives the turbo and ecu time to think, and its actually quicker the pedal to the medal at light-speed.

Berfore (0-60)

After (0-60)

Post by **JRL** » 25 Mar 2012, 05:31

You may want to tighten your wastegate rod one turn, that should help with your 0 to 30 times and lack of off the line boost as it will come to full boost more quickly

s70glt novice[Will] · Post by **s70glt novice[Will]** » 25 Mar 2012, 20:01

JRL wrote:You may want to tighten your wastegate rod one turn, that should help with your 0 to 30 times and lack of off the line boost as it will come to full boost more quickly

Thanks! I will. I'll even post another video of after that too! (my pleasure

)

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Mar 2012, 19:22

Outstanding! Thanks for your impressions of the mods, and especially the ARD tune, Will. And the videos. No amount of words can convey the difference mods make like before and after video.

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Mar 2012, 19:28

Oh yea: welcome to the world of bigger turbos, and their inherently longer spool times.

Not great for the track or stoplight challenges, but fun on on-ramps.

s70glt novice[Will] · Post by **s70glt novice[Will]** » 29 Mar 2012, 23:16

Heck yea! I plan on going to a K24 sometime in the future. Thanks for the kind words

trophytaker308 · Post by **trophytaker308** » 30 Mar 2012, 14:03

did you retard the exhaust cam and avance the intake cam like it says to,so you will get more from your tune?or did you just put it on?

trophytaker308 · Post by **trophytaker308** » 03 Apr 2012, 12:27

if you do this it will help your car pull harder off the line,or you can put cams in it from a glt model and that will help alot from take off and add about 7hp.

s70glt novice[Will] · Post by **s70glt novice[Will]** » 03 Apr 2012, 17:27

i have not. I probably will when i do my timing belt. I don't want to mess with it right now, and i like it the way it is.
Going to the drags soon, so i plan to have a timeslip/video for you guys n gals in the week or two weeks, depending which day i can go to the race, of course.

trophytaker308 · Post by **trophytaker308** » 05 Apr 2012, 14:47

you will get better times at the strip and max performance from your tune when you do that...i would do it before you go.u dont have to change the belt,just use the old one.