Hi Folks,

Been gone a while, a life threatening illness, divorce and a major life style change has had me away from all this.
So just sitting here I logged on and looked the list over and could not help but see a big picture, the one I am in anyway. I posted this on the PA Forum also.

Just getting started? Save your money, up that is, and wait.

I have an 05 Z71 ECSB with the L33 5.3 & 3.42:1 locking gear set. At 10k I slapped on a Radix intercooled kit, a CAI and Corsa Touring single side exit CatBack and have not looked back. No problems @ 30+k so far. No other mods but for a MagnaCharger supervised pulley change for dyno dial-in purposes, from 3.7" to a 3.5". The 3.7" is nice for long trips. The 3.5" gives me 7lbs of boost when wrenched hard. Remember the L33 is 9.9:1 not 9.49:1 on compression. I get 18.2 mpg highway with a very disciplined 80-mph. Not 1mph over, not even to pass.
What I have is a stock mustang GT eater and a, "SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!" for any but hole whom screws with me in traffic. With no markings, big tires or window stickers I really sleep. The Corsa is silent in the cab when cruising or WOT but has a little (very little) moan when torquing up hills at slow speeds.
I'll tell you about the 3.42 gears, the 3.73's were a deleted option for 05 and I was pissed. Not anymore. The torque of the blower makes up for it and on the super slab I can rule. For what I am anyway.
The moral of my big picture. If you are just starting out with a stock vehicle you may want to just save up to save in the end. A Radix is just so nice and the HP for the cash nets a great return.
I spent 5k on the Radix installed by a pro, make it 6k total after the Corsa and CAI. No headers, for they net little for what they cost.
I have a stock like operating vehicle that wakes up screaming when needed.
I read about, and have done same, loads of cash spent on special manifolds, cams, headers, aftermarket MAF sensors, programmers and so on, and eventually they lead to more than I spent and cause reliability and daily operation problems not to mention the constant MPG suffering. Oh, and less power netted at the Dyno leaving you asking why did they lie?
More money than brains, I did the above stated already and then went with what I have now and am loving it.

Thanks Magnecharger!

Now I'll Crawl Back Into My Hole!


Edited: The dyno numbers are of worst case scenario, taken on the hottest day of the year with high humidity after just arriving from a 30 mile trip to the dyno. The Airaid added 17.6 HP and she should touch 400.00 hp easy in the winter. I'll be running it on the Dyno again soon.

 

I agree with you except for the comment about the headers. On a forced unducted application, ANYTHING you can do to the exhaust from the word go will be that much more beneficial as opposed to a non boosted application.

The intake is not that important as you are FORCING the air into the cylinders the instant the valve starts to open. On the flip side, the exhaust doesn'thave anything to pull it out.

I added 5mph to my 1/4 times by switching from 1 5/8 primary header to a 1 3/4 primary header all else being equal.

 

I hear you. The exhaust flows pretty good on mine though. Ask the boys in the shop at Magnacharger. They are new the style cats.

I guess if I damage or get a hole in mine I will do it.

Love that blower!

 

Only problem I see with the Radix is it is a limiter to how fast you can go. There has only been one person hit HIGH 11s in an rcsb radix truck, take V8 for example, he has full bolt ons and a nice size cam running mid 12s N/A and getting 22mpg on the highway and for half the money you would spend for a radix. For most, the radix will be all anyone will ever need but for those really trying to go fast they will need the bigger 122 or some other form of P/A. For a stock daily driver you cant beat the Radix IMO, it just has limits for all out performance for which alot of people on here want(whether they realize it or not at the beginning of their performance "journey").

 

i agree