So I got my ZZP Charge pipe the other day and I'd like to know the best way to install it.

My guess is I should take the other one completely off, rubber couplers and all. Then swap the rubber couplers over and reinstall? Do I need to take the front bumper off? Do I need to lift the car to get to the lower coupler or is there an easier way? How does the front bumper come off should it need too? thanks!

 

Are you installing it this week? I'd like to see this done.

 

well I dunno, if I have time after work I will. I dont see it taking that long. where can I find T-bolt clamps?

 

T-bolts locally? I wonder if NGP has them.

 

well they give you two with the charge pipe... but I think I wanna be extra secure with how they clamp to the turbo and the intercooler.. I dont remember if the stock clamps there were T-bolt or not.

 

I haven't seen a t-bolt, so I don't know what the difference is. The stockers are better than worm clamps.

So the charge pipe reuses the stock couplers? I guess you could reuse the stock clamps along with the t-bolts?

Edit....nevermind, you need 4 clamps min. with a one piece charge pipe.

 

Pull the whole thing off.Then cut the plastic clamps.Reinstall,I never removed the bumper on my dads car when I put his on,I just peeled back the plastic cover and the clamps were easily accessible.Any other questions pm me I have done his a few times(dealer trips).

 

Really only takes like ten minutes

 

Stock chargepipe clamps are T-bolt, so you should be good to go there. As far as install, if you're only doing the hotside then you definitely do not need to remove the bumper. Just jack the front of the car up enough to gain clearance to to IC inlet and you should be good to go. The hardest part of the whole process is probably removing the torques head retainer that holds the pipe to the motor, and even that's a snap. Other than that it's smooth sailing.

 

What do you use to get that torx bolt off?

 

a freakin torx bit


...damn that was a hard question

 

The torx bit doesn't fit between the bolt head and the piping that goes over the top of it............ass.

 

idk that was a stupid ass question to me. I've taken that bolt off many times without any problems maybe I'm not slow

 

When I put the bit in there, I don't have enough room between the pipe and the socket to get the ratchet in. I just found a tool online that I think will work called a Chapman. Thanks for your ridicule, though.

 

they have directions in the box, It says you can pull the stock charge piping off and then undo the torx bolt.

 

Ask Oscar (09whteSSpssssh) He said it was pretty difficult to figure out and took him over a day to do it. I'm pretty sure now he can do it pretty quickly lol. And sorry you couldn't make it to the meet. Most of them rolled out, and about 10 to 12 of us ate at Hooters. Then we all went crusin around 10:30ish. We parked behind the McD's maybe that's why you didn't see most of us?

 

yeah I didnt actually drive in there cause I was sure I was certainly too late for the meet but I drove by anyways to see if anyone was there. Figured you guys would be in that big open area in front of hooters but I could see why hiding behind McD's has its benefits, lol. Well I met some of you and I saw lots of cobalts down there so that was good enough for me. Im gonna try to install this charge pipe this afternoon, we'll see how it goes.

 

Let me know if you need any help.

 

will do, but it looks like Im gonna be stuck at work for alittle while, lol. I might not get enough daylight to try to put this on.

 

okay, lol. Installed the charge pipe tonight at like 8:30pm.. did it by candle light.

It was a pain in the ass when you dont dont have the right tools readily available but it seems to be a pretty good charge pipe. I think the hardest part was putting the rubber stock couplers on the ZZP pipe and making sure they were on the right way before installing... there is no adjustment that can be made while the pipe in already mounted. And its like trying to fit a condom made for a average man onto a horse. oh and the condoms made of fuel line material, lol so it doesnt break.

The T-bolt clamps seem to do the trick... I like ZZPs supplied ones better than the stocker T-bolt clamps. Whatever idiot put the clamp on the intercooler was a total doucher... It was nearly impossible for me to get into a comfortable position to unbolt the stupid thing. I was done the install by 10:00.

here are some crappy cell phone pics.



If im not lazy, i'll get a better pic later.

Improvements as of now: better acceleration, or at least it feels better. Not really like a HP increase but a more readily available hp type thing.

the sound of the turbo spooling has at least doubled in decibels from the previous sound of just the K&N SRI. possible few HP to gain out of this but more importantly a cleaner looking engine bay for dirt cheap when it comes to charge piping. good quality too. No probs with alignment or bad bends or anything like that.

and yes its a different color of black than the SRI but I dont care it still looks damn good, lol.

im sorry, did you wanna see how its done literally? or by pictures over the internet? If you plan on getting this, I can help you install it now. I know what to look out for when it comes to complications, lol.

 

I don't buy anything without researching, so seeing it in person will help with that. I am sure I could figure it out. I have been in this game long enough to know that aftermarket parts sometimes require fitting. Some companies are better at making more consistent parts than others.

 

well from my perspective, taking the stock couplers off was a easier than putting them on the new pipe. Once they were on the ZZP pipe, you couldnt rotate them into the right position cause they were a tight fit. So you had to make sure you slid them on while they were facing the appropriate direction. <-- This was more important for the lower coupler to mount to the intercooler. the coupler that connects to the turbo can be adjusted since you can get at it with a wrench while it is still on the car.

Honestly I think this ZZP pipe was worth the $180. I can tell that the charge air is moving better in the pipe than stock. might not be making more power but I can see how the stock charge pipe was restrictive. The fitment is great, It is leaning on some wires wrapped in that black tubing coming from the ECM by the fuse box though, nothing I can do about that.. any charge pipe would be contacting that in my case. But other than that it doesnt contact anything else and it is definately secured to the motor so no worrys about denting the hood. lol.

 

Funny you mention the hood denting....after reading that thread, I have serious concerns over getting charge pipes. Good to hear the ZZP pipe is secured.

 

Injen's pipe is secured, as well.

 

I think his issue was he was using worm driven clamps which are the clamps you get for cone filters and intakes. These T-bolt clamps are definately made for charged applications. My charge pipe isnt going anywhere lol. But thats not the only thing securing it. There is a mounting point that mounts where the rubber grommet is above the oil filter location. you just need a torx bit to remove that bolt, and the rubber grommet pulls right off. just tug on the stock charge pipe to remove grommet.



EDIT:
Oh and I also like the fact that it is all one single pipe and not 3 seperate pieces clamped together. I think that also raises your chance of blowing the pipe off the turbo.