Alright got my new manifold put on today. All went smooth until I tried to hook the N20 up. Rob took care of me though and all is good, top notch customer service! I took some pics that should help the people out in the 2nd a 3rd orders.
Here's what you start out with once you get the old upper and lower plenums off. I used a thermal gasket to keep the manifold from heting up. Works very well I might add. I also replaced the two lower gaskets under the lower manifold. I would reccommend these anyone that putting on this manifold. Your arlready gonna have it tore apart might as well do it.

 

Next you connect the coolant lines to the coupler provided by Kinetix.

 

where do you buy those thermal gaskets?

the main benefit is they reduce heat transfering into the intake manifold I take it?

how well do they work? Do they work ok with FI air levels?

what are they made of?

where can we find info on them for the VQ?

thanks

let us know if you can tell a difference - did you have the stock plenum on before?

 

Make sure you remove the brackets in the front on the timing cover. Not necessarily the one in the pic but def. the one on the pass. side. I took them all off. Also, I'm not gonna post a pic of the fuel bracket mounting because I couldn't do it the way your suppose to because of my SPX fuel adapter but I did get it to work fine.

 

While you still have the manifold off mount the Evap unit to the manifold. Once the manifolds mounted it would be a real PITA!

 

One more thing to do before you mount the manifold. Put the 3 bolt/washer combos on the manifold on the pass side before you put it into place. This is stated in the directions so make sure you do it! You won't get it on if you don't. Now just line everything up and tighten down in a cross pattern. Don't forget to hook the vaccum hoses back up on the left side.

 

You should be pretty much done now. Check all your plugs and hoses to make sure there connected. Don't be like me and get all excited to start your car and not have the TB plugged in and go into limp mode. Now I gotta get the damn SES light off, least I'm outta limp mode. Can't wait to go for a spin.

 

Here's the site for the info on the gaskets. http://www.nextgearinc.com/nextgear.html
I had a V4 and I could put my hand on the plenum while the car was running. I let my car idle for 5 min. with the new manifold and could still put my hand on it. The real test will be tommorrow when I go to work. I'll pop my hood when I get there and see if I get burned.

 

does the stock strut tower bar clear?

 

Very nice ZU L8R!
Great pics as well!

 

The stock bar fits with a little room to spare. Even seen the Cusco bar on with this manifold.

 

Yes, I am going to paint so I didn't put it back on.

 

Looks good... can't wait for those NA impressions...

 

Looks nice Matt, time to re-dyno. Let me know how it feels.

 

$110 for gasket....dameeeeee. .subscribling. Let us know if this gasket is worth the $$$

 

Nice write up. Thanks for info on the thermo gasket.

 

that looks great zul8r

i bought a set of gaskets last night from nipponpower....definately better quality than those ebay gaskets

did you have to remove fuel rails to get those gaskets on?

 

Matt, you painting the strut bar to match the car? I had mine stripped and polished. Really need to get some pics up of mine now that ZDayZ is over.

Here's one someone else took at the show...

 

You don't have to remove the rails, just remove the 4 bolts that hold the rails in place. Then you can move them enough tho get to the bolts holding the other gaskets in place.

Haven't decided what color I'm gonna do the bar yet. Black, SS, or I can leave it orange.

 

great post..thanks!!