the downside is i haven't cranked it up yet as my new exhaust doesn't come close to lining up with the ghetto crap that unstable hybrids custom made, so it looks as if i'm gonna have to pick up a new cat-back quick (or i could get mine adjusted at a muffler shop but i've been wanting something that's constructed better and that will fit nicer for a while so i might as well go ahead and do it). as much as i don't typically like them, i'll probably just call nopi tomororw and try to pick up a new stainless apex'i N1 and throw it on, and then after a couple of other things i should be able to fire it up.
on a few good notes, it looks like most of my "turbo noise" problems were coming from the way the A/R housing was mounted to the manifold (you could literally jiggle it which was obviously letting tons of air out), so i should be alright on that for a while. the turbo did have a little shaft play and i suspect i'll eventually need to replace/rebuild it, but i should at least be able to drive it comfortably for a while now. the only things left to do for it to be running at full potential now are fixing the vacuum leak which is causing my throttle to stick/get pulled to the floor and get some beads welded on to the intercooler pipes. i'm freaking excited too, it's been so long since i've gotten to drive this car with any force behind it and hopefully it's almost ready
oh yea, pics will be up tomorrow as well (i'd do it now but i have to run into work tomorrow morning for a few hours).


