2k5 I4 SE - Q/A, Opinions etc

[Phylum]

Evening all. Thanks for at least getting this far. I've been scouring this site for many hours today and I feel I can post this w/o having PhreakdOut, or anyone else, smack his [or her] forhead.

I'd like to thank mmcdonald, Astro, michaels artic frost, Solara08861, tacti, XEusioN, 06toyo chick, PhreakdOut, TRD_solaRa, cklinh, down2thec, PXLpainter, kgzero1 and many others for their time and dedication. I got to see a lot of views which helped me become better informed.

I really enjoy my Solara - its my first car. Well okay, not exactly - the first three cars didn't last more than a few months due to age and abuse before handed over to me; Don't worry they were all free
I wanted the V6 but I love driving a stick. I figured overboring, getting the Scion tC SC or some kinda turbo would make up for it in the end. However, I was quickly disappointed with the lack of 'support' for this car in the aftermarket field. What I mean is: For every 30 parts for the WRX/EVO/G35/IS300/IS350/3350Z there was maybe 1 Solara part. I'm new to this and I guess I just was not looking in the right places. I discovered SolarGuy.Com some how - some way in a Google search - been hooked since. Thank God!

I read the famous gen aftermarket link ( http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=23611 ) which pacified and pointed me in the right direction. Thank you for that!
I found a lightweight 9.5lb aluminum flywheel on PTuning.com ( http://www.ptuning.com/html/Item-Desc.c ... esc=Solara ). I'm not sure if its worth mentioning and adding to the list but I'm just trying to help.

Question Time:
Obviously the question of the year was: Can we use the Scion tC SC on the I4 Solara? We got our answer ( http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=23335 ) but not all of us were satisfied; Some of us don't believe this claim. Its a shame Toyota didn't go down thet route (or down the Manual V6 route as least one other person mentioned). So, we thought about the turbo route ( http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=25507 ) but based on what I've seen, not much progress has been made.
Do we have any updates for either of those?
Anyone try a DYI Turbo kit - can we 'retrofit' a tC one onto the Solara?

When talking intakes, how does Injen compare to Weapon-R's Secret Weapon? How does Injen compare to Weapon-R's Draon Intake? How does the Secreat Weapon compare to the Dragon Intake?

When it comes to air filters, is the Apexi Power Intake filter a solid choice (according to http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/filters_test/2/ )? Will this filter work on an Injen and/or Weapon-R intakes? (possibe n00b question)
How do we feel about Weapon-R's RAM Air kit? (this assumes the appropriate Weapon-R intake is installed as I don't see this working with any other intake system)

I'd like to get a carbon fiber hood but I'm worried about

fakes / poor quality
whether or not it will latch
how the pneumatic pumps will work & hold on to or otherwise connect to the hood
and most of all: heat dissipation

Is there a [highly] recommended or suitable [custom] carbon fiber hood dealer/maker that won't break the bank or require me to wait for a group buy to come along? Also, if the dispersion of heat is a problem, is there a solution: such as a better radiator fan combo? Anything short of boring holes into it or having a functional hood-scoop for nothing; I don't want to look like an idiot driving down the street with no turbo/supercharger & intercooler.

Are there any good header-back exhaust kits for the I4?

Any advantages of getting other carbon parts like trunk lid and quarter panels? (read: Do such devices exist and are they worth the cost?)
(End)

I hope I didn't bore anyone out here or kill anyone with my 'wall of text'. I apologize if I'm asking stupid questions or for not doing enough research. I thought I did but maybe not - [constructive(?)] criticizm welcome!

Any suggestions, pointers and real-life applications/experiences welcome.

Thanks again for taking the time to look into this.

[PhreakdOut]

> SMACK! < Just kidding.

If I had a nickel for each time I did that ... I might be able to afford one of those big brake kits. (Maybe)

First of all, welcome. What a first post!

I'll do my best on this one ...

I find the 30:1 ratio on Solara parts is being kind. It's probably 1000:1. I wish I were kidding. You are so right on this. It's frustrating. But, sometimes you just have to be creative and persistent.

Aluminum Flywheel: I hadn't seen that one. (We'll need to check it out.) You could be the first one!

Intakes: In my opinion, CP-e has the best setup. But it's not cheap. Most good things are not. Injen would probably be second. I have a polished one and I love it. It can be purchased for about half the price of a CP-e. The Weapon R and other intakes appear very cheap to me. I have no personal experience with them. I never see one on a featured car in a tuner magazine. Never at a show. So I'ma little cautious. I imagine the price difference between the Injen and Weapon R is worth the spending on Injen.

Filters: (If you mean drop in style, K&N or TRD. If you mean cone, use what comes with the SRI)

Carbon Fiber Hood: I've seen them on EBay. I believe there's only one vendor out there pushing them. I've never seen one on a Gen2. I'd guess the hood support would be too strong for it. (My guess) Even worse is relying on the hood to stay closed you the latch alone. Ever have a hood pop open on the interstate. (Very scary) If you don't like the post and cotter pin look (which I don't either) consider fabricating something you can attach to the bottom side of the hood. (With a safety cable) It may be a pain to detach each time you open the hood, but you will be safe.

Other CF Body parts, No likely.

Heat on the hood, I doubt the hood sees that much heat. (Esp with the 4cyl.) Try feeling your hood now.

Exhaust: Modified tC looks to be the way to go on S/C or turbo or headers. I don't believe anyone has confirmed.

Let me know if I missed anything. (It's late on the east coast.)

[Down2TheC]

So apparently you went with the I4? If so the cp-e intake is off the table for you. Of the three I4 intakes, I'm with Phreak... Injen is known.

For the cone filters, I'm sure you could replace the one that comes with the intake if you really have money to burn. You just match the diameter of the pipe which I think will be 2.75" if the I4 has the same as the V6.

Get some pics of your ride and post a big "howdy" in the Introductions forum when you get a chance.

[PXLpainter]

Welcome - and good luck modding your I4! CP-e intake is pretty limited for '06 (even if you have a V6), so Injen would be the way to go IMO. I love mine so far - along with the TRD exhaust.

FWIW - I've been looking into upgrading the Injen stock cone filter with an APEXI Power Filter, if I can find the right dia to fit the intake pipe.

If I ever have $$ to burn (almost literally!) then I will go with a big brake kit and some kind of custom turbo/SC.

Until then - it's pretty much makin' it up as I go... as you've already discovered, we're all in the same boat!

Good luck!

Jeff

[Phylum]

Hey all,
I sent an email to Fidanza to see if they'd be willing to make some additional products for our particular line of cars. I'm very interested in a short-throw shifter and I'd like to get a lighter fly wheel.
By the way does anyone know how much the stock fly wheel weighs?

Thanks for the responses and I'll try to work on my profile later on this evening.

[kgzero1]

Welcome!
Well, the whole tC supercharger thing is dead in the water for me. I don't have the cash anymore, since I am getting married in just over three months! OMG! I only have 3 more months of freedom! Actually, now that I think about, I haven't had freedom for about 8 years now!

[cklinh]

Welcome!
Well, the whole tC supercharger thing is dead in the water for me. I don't have the cash anymore, since I am getting married in just over three months! OMG! I only have 3 more months of freedom! Actually, now that I think about, I haven't had freedom for about 8 years now!

I feel ya man! I've got about 6 more months of semi-freedom... that's why I rushed to get everything done to the car!

[PXLpainter]

Hey you guys - you'll STILL wanna do things to your rides after you're married... just make sure you let them know how important it is to you up front! They want you to be happy too... just use a little caution and "balance" your car hobby with the things she likes as well.

[kgzero1]

Hey you guys - you'll STILL wanna do things to your rides after you're married... just make sure you let them know how important it is to you up front! They want you to be happy too... just use a little caution and "balance" your car hobby with the things she likes as well.

LOL. That won't work for me! I have been sneaking in mods without her knowledge (though she eventually finds out ) only because we don't live together.

[cklinh]

Hey you guys - you'll STILL wanna do things to your rides after you're married... just make sure you let them know how important it is to you up front! They want you to be happy too... just use a little caution and "balance" your car hobby with the things she likes as well.

Lucky for me, my fiancee likes cars too... her goal in life is to have a Supra... (her exact words right now would be "hmm... Supra..." )

[PXLpainter]

Dang - looks like we hijacked this poor guy's thread!

I just wish there were as many options for the 3.3 V6 as there are for the I4!!

[gone]

Hey you guys - you'll STILL wanna do things to your rides after you're married... just make sure you let them know how important it is to you up front! They want you to be happy too... just use a little caution and "balance" your car hobby with the things she likes as well.

LOL. That won't work for me! I have been sneaking in mods without her knowledge (though she eventually finds out ) only because we don't live together.

haha, i'de like to see my bf sneak mods without me knowing. I ALWAYS find out..lucky for him I like my modding also ..Wifey's gotta have a hot ride too!

[Phylum]

Congrats to those of you who are getting married soon I'll be sure to make it clear to the future 'Mrs. Phylum' that I <3 my car(s).

I fired off an email to Fidanza asking if they're interested in a Solara for R&D and if they have any other products that will work on our cars. According to PTuning that fly wheel will work however when I checked the Fidanza site, I didn't see anything listed for us. If I remember correctly, we share the same engine with the 04 Camry correct? (In addition to the Scion tC)

I'm highly interested in a short throw shifter and fly wheel. I realize thats kind of a major upgrade and I hope the Toyota folks don't have a cow when I bring it in for service. Headers and a different exhaust kit - you think that'd be a problem?

Anyone make friends with some Toyota dealerships/shops in the MD/VA/DC area?

[theprodigy79]

Hey Phylum, where are you from? I know you're DC Metro, but where in particular? I know plenty of people at Ourisman Fairfax Toyota, and I'm there a whole lot (as a matter of fact I gotta drop by tonight)

[Phylum]

I live in Arlington close to Pentagon City and Ballston. I'm currently at work in DC - I get off in about 40 minutes.