First, Thanks to the guys at TIC for picking us to test the new TGV deletes. We enjoy testing new parts whether they are from another company or our own. About once every two months we pull one of our personal engines apart to test something new or to check and see how the parts we are currently testing are holding up. Luckily for us these parts don't require a full tear down just a hour or two of wrenching to install. I haven't installed these on the car yet, just wanted to give my initial impressions of the product. Ill be installing them towards the end of the week and Ill update this thread accordingly. If any of the other testers would like to post there feelings in here they are more than welcome to. Matt Ball Racing Ball Racing Engine Development(B.R.E.D) So, Whats in the box....well I got a card with Clints cell phone number, it will be for sale shortly on ebay, opening bid is 4 million but I'm open to offers... Really nice looking kit, everything you need is included. LGT style TGV to cylinder head gaskets are very nice and we use them on everything at the shop. The tops of the TGV seal to the intake with a rubber O-ring, this is a nice touch(ours came with 6 incase someone tears one installing them. All of the Brass inserts look to be very secure. The overall finish is very nice and I don't see anything that I would change. I haven't installed them on the car yet but I did test fit a set of stock rails as well as a set of Aeromotive rails and both fit perfectly. This is everything that comes in the box. A single TGV by itself, not the smooth finish on the outside, no rough edges at all. Different angle of the TGV Close-Up of the O-Ring Groove Bottom of TGVs Inside of TGVs from the bottom, this ridge actually looks bigger in the picture than it actually is. It could very easily be removed with some fine grit sand paper by hand. No need for power tools on this. Same view but from the top. More Views View from the back O-Ring
Sorry for all the delays, its been crazy busy at the shop the last couple of weeks but they are installed and tested. Here are my initial thoughts. Install Install on these is no more difficult than a normal set of TGVs. If you know your way around a Subaru it will take you somewhere between a 1 and 2 hours. If you don't know your way around a Subaru I suspect you can double that. The Legacy TGV to cylinder head gaskets seal up very nice and provide a positive stop when you are torquing them down. The O-rings on the top that seal to the intake manifold also seal very nicely. Keep in mind you are sealing a o-ring so you don't need a tremendous amount of torque for these to seal. I torqued mine down tighter than I thought necessary to see how sturdy the inserts are in the plastic. I had no issue with it at all. Its a very well constructed part, I didn't expect it to be any more difficult to install than a standard tgv and of course it wasn't. Testing. We kept testing rather basic. Its plastic so it should transfer less heat to the intake manifold and the interior is smooth so it should flow well. Ill arrange my temp data in the same format that Crystal posted his in for easy comparison. Stock No Spacers: At TGV's inner side is where the temps were measured: #3 - 155* #4 - 145* #1 - 146* #2 - 144* Intake Manifold @ the runners above flange #3 - 134* #4 - 120* #1 - 140* #2 - 129* TIC's Composite TGV's: @ TGV's #3 - 138* #4 - 125* #1 - 134* #2 - 128* Intake Manifold: #3 - 108* #4 - 101* #1 - 108* #2 - 107* More important than all the numbers above are the track results. I took the car to Atlanta Motorsports Park last weekend and put it through the paces. I forgot the IR Temp gun but one thing was very obvious...The intake manifold is way cooler after a 30 minute track session than it ever has been before. I could put my hand on it. Previously I could have put my hand on it...it just would have been followed by screaming and cursing. The car is on the ragged edge of how much timing it can run and I honestly expected it to want less timing at the track with as hot as it is, what actually happened was the opposite, I ended up putting a little more timing in it during the day. While it may not be the most scientific results its enough for me. Clearly having plastic there isolating the intake manifold from the head is providing a thermal benefit. If anyone has questions please feel free to ask. I've got more pictures but I of course left the camera at the shop. I like these so much that I told Clint I would take 5 sets on the first order and we will be keeping them in stock at the shop. These will be going on every track car we build. Matt
Did/Does Cosworth offer plastic TGV's as well? Recall hearing something about them a few years ago...
Oh so these are plastic? Does that mean no need for penolic spacers or could car still benefit from it? I know it made a TON of difference on my WRX....manifold stayed chilly.
Updated second post with the rest of the review. Ill be posting a group buy on these and our new fuel injectors shortly.