<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/126255/img00236.jpg"></center><p>Craftsmanship is excellent. The powdercoat black wrinkle finish is so very nice, and will match my stock engine bay beautifully. I really am in awe. Looking down into my brand new VTDA, it looks like the business end of a jet turbine.

Additionally, my Vent Gauge ring adapter came. Another finely crafted item. I expected it to be thinner and lighter but it's thick and heavy, very solid.

Now, when will I have time to install it?

Thanks Steve!! More updates coming when I get under the hood!

 

Thanks!

 

I have the same version and finish, you'll enjoy it.

 

You should have the VTDA in by now

 

Yup, looks like mine, works great. Steve - you 'da man!

 

But did the Fedex girl deliver nice and personal?

 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/126255/img00239.jpg"></center><p>I wanted to get it installed before I left work for the day. However, I didn't have the foresight to bring my toolbox with me, so I was up the creek without a socket wrench.

HOWEVER, I woke up at the asscrack of dawn (before dawn actually), broke out my small Maglite, and began work.

I have to say, the install was cake. The only difficulties were:
1) Removing stock airbox - that rubber nub holding it in place was a PITA.
2) Removing the breather hose from the airbox
3) Get the airbox off the funnel thingy
4) De-screening the MAF housing - I only had the black plastic honeycomb on one side (the other side was empty, hurray!). I couldn't pop it out so I just broke off every piece of plastic.
5) Removing the MAF - couldn't do this, torx security screws held it in place. That was unexpected. So I left it in while I popped out the little black honeycomb pieces. No big deal.
6) Remembering my 6 year of German a little too late...I had my MAF housing pointing the wrong way, then saw the arrow and realized, yeah, might want to turn that around so the arrow points IN.

All in all, it took me a little less than 30 minutes. The difficulties were very easily overcome. I bought a #4 allen wrench per the suggestion on blackfnttruck's fotki but Steve was kind enough to include one. Thanks Steve! I can return that #4 now.

Also included was a +16HP "Modshack TTuned" decal while I will apply once I give the VTDA a good wipe-down.

First impressions:
The sound. Oh my goodness, the sound. Fantastic. I can hear the DV pretty clearly, and it made me giddy, until I realized, it really needs to be replaced. I heard the "blowing over a coke bottle" sound a couple of times, and from what I've read, that usually means it's time for a replacement.

Acceleration is a lot smoother. Less jerkiness, and I find starting out in 1st is a little easier (maybe it's just me). I feel like, because the powerband seems smoothed out, I perceive a loss of torque, but I'm pretty sure that's just the car trying to adjust, and there's no loss of torque at all. I only have 20 miles on it but, so far, I drove to work with a perma-smile.

Going to order an aftermarket DV now. More impressions when it has some more miles on it.

 

I think she works at UPS

 

Shh?! Schwing doesn't know about the transfer yet!