True Colors!
I don't think this thread is intending to be pro one system or the other.
It certainly WASNT intended to be a pro one system or the other. I think I'm being labeled the TT guy.... but I still have the OEM supercharger (w/pulley) and the cost entry barrier for the TT would be lower for me as I my credit myself the install costs! Despite this I am, at least for now (lol) still a SC guy.
My issue is that I am easily corrupted and I blame my "friends" for corrupting me!!! I remember some heated discussions I had with AlohaGT a few years ago over the bumper delete mod. I told him that he was crazy, he would ruin the car, it looks weird.... and then he finally said well, you need to do it or tell me who can because I'm gonna get it done. Reluctantly, we did the mod. And damn him..... seeing the car in person, knowing the kit and what's behind it, knowing it could be easily reversed, etc.... a couple of months later my car had a bumper delete! Not long after, Gaby asked me to install one of the first Kip Ewing CF binnacle and gauge panels. "Holy crap, Gaby, do you know what that stuff costs? Let's spend the money on some go-fast parts!" Yep, you guessed it, a few weeks later I had the CF gauge panel and binnacle in my car too. (Do yourself a favor and sit in a car with this mod and you'll get sucked in just like me!!)
So now we're doing these TT conversions (damn Heffner). Over the top. Why the heck would someone spend that kind of money for a TT kit when the GT already runs like a raped ape with just a pulley/tune, let alone a nice Whipple upgrade? These people have more money than sense!!!
We finish the first TT upgrade and we are VERY impressed with the kit, all of the quality components, the elegance of the car that can make power from "wasted energy". Then there's the damn sound. C'mon, we've talked about the unique Ferrari sound and no matter who you are, you just have to love the Ferrari exhaust note. It's like that too with the TT. Mind you, it doesn't sound anything like a Ferrari, but it has that unique, "I'm gonna rip your head off if you let me" sound. Intoxicating.
The system is growing on me. I am trying to resist. Once finished with Apollo's car, we take it for a shakedown drive. Low boost, mostly cruising around, but a few dashes to 5000 RPM. Hmmm, this is pretty darn cool. I though the car would feel dead, but no. It is "free-er" now and seems to like to rev quicker. (I think the car wants to get to the sweet spot of those turbos.) And oh, once under way that exhaust note has its way with you! But, I am strong. I shake it off. We have a great dyno tuning session and we deliver the car to Apollo. I have survived and I haven't spent any money!!!
Next up is Skyrex. Of course, install number 2 goes a lot faster. We complete the kit in one week and again come to the point to test drive the car before heading to the dyno. We set the boost low as we primarily want to check the car for driveability, leaks, anomalies, etc. I drive this car at night. The roads are empty. The exhaust again is oh-so-sweet! The evening is cool. I let the car run up to 5K or so a couple of times before taking her back to the lift. The bug has bitten me harder. This car just feels strong. Yes, the butt dyno can easily detect that the direct linkage between the throttle pedal and instant torque has been broken. There is NO doubt about this! But in its place is a car that seems more familiar. A car that has a fuse. When you hit the knee of the power curve, there’s just no putting into words how every interval of acceleration just feels twice as strong as the previous one. Uncontrollable? No way. The car is NOT violent. It is so different than a SC car. Honestly, I don’t want to like this set-up. My pocketbook doesn’t want to like this set-up. I loved my bumper. I loved my dash. I love my SC! There’s nothing wrong with these things that Ford designed “oh so well”.
So there you have it…. am I biased? Yeah, a few weeks ago if you told me you wanted us to take off a perfectly good SC and replace it with a not-so-inexpensive TT system, I’d say you’re as nutty as…. well, uh, as nutty as DBK or Chip. (And then there’s Apollo who ditched a 4.0L Whipple.)
Kidding aside, I started the thread to try to enlighten forum members with my hard-to-describe experience. Start with some fundamental pros and cons knowledge, etc. etc. But I guess the real test is to hop a ride in one. The numbers are definitely increasing so the chances of getting a ride is better! One final tip… if you want to hold on to your wallet, bring ear plugs. For me, that under-the-surface whir of the twins is definitely part of the “I want one” equation.
Conversion job #3 is arriving tonight from Hawaii, compliments of a 747. We pick it up in the morning. Help me before it is too late – this one may send me over the top! I can probably negotiate a good price on a nice Gen 2 Whipple in lieu of labor…. but that’s not what I want! (Did I mention that I hate CARB?)