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how many are installing their own ESS SC kit?

7K views 50 replies 17 participants last post by  gsfent 
#1 ·
i know i am, but i know there are 9 others on here who have kits coming in.

who is installing their own goods?

what clutch kit are you running with your kit?

-R
 
#2 ·
I'll be doing it with my buddy, he has done work for Renntech, so I am good hands. We will do some maintenance while the car is down for a couple of days, including time for the ECU to be reprogrammed.

I am going to run CNS. Only one that made sense to me.
Regards,
Jerry
 
#6 ·
FWIW,
Roman said it took their shop guys about eight hours to do it on my car...he said it took longer than expected because some of the parts had to be sent out for refabrication. He told me the next one they do will probably take 6 hours or so.

Evidently, replacing the fuel injectors with the higher flow ones in the kit is the most difficult part.

Brian
 
#8 · (Edited)
Roman just sent me a tracking number for my kit, so I should have it very soon. I will be installing it myself at the same time I install my RMS intercooler setup. Only makes sense to do that at the same time as the SCer, given that the RMS setup includes the CNC plenum plates and o-rings and bolstered aluminum plenum. I'm surprised to learn that installing the larger fuel injectors is the most difficult aspect of the installation, as I would think that would be plug and play. Anyway, I'm going to wait to install the water/meth injection. I need to send the kit out to have the seals upgraded to take 100% meth and to have a tank made that will fit in place of the spare tire compartment anyway, so that aspect of the installation will have to wait regardless.

I have a Rogue Stage 3 280mm v12 clutch kit with a JB Racing LTW flywheel (as yet uninstalled). I don't mind a little flywheel noise, and the entire setup was balanced, which if you talk to some of the more sophisticated tuners is the critical step that has to be taken to ensure that a 280mm conversion works well. Apparently, UUC does NOT balance their 280mm setups, so the tuners I'm referring to always do it themselves as part of a UUC clutch installation. The Rogue setup just struck me as the best alternative to the UUC 280 mm setup, and I was not willing to put up with the CNS break-in period, nor was the CNS flywheel sufficiently lightweight for my purposes. Also, one of the tuners I use and have had a good experience with in NoVa, funktionAuto, highly recommends this setup and has experienced poor customer satisfaction with the CNS setup based on the horrid break-in period. I have no doubt that the CNS setup is more durable than the Rogue, but I'll trade that durability for getting to skip the break-in period.

Probably going to do the installation over Labor Day if I can get my suspension work done and clutch kit in by that point.

--Peter
 
#11 · (Edited)
I have no doubt that the CNS setup is more durable than the Rogue, but I'll trade that durability for getting to skip the break-in period.


--Peter

BTW...the CNS clutch is awesome at this point. It took about 1500 miles for me, but it now feels pretty close to stock (of course I have also learned to use it better). Money well spent IMHO
All clutches need a break-in period and the CNS clutch break-in took me about 500-700 miles for the minor chatter to fade away and drive like OEM(2-3 weeks with my communte). Highly recommended and much cheaper than replacing a few lower cost burned clutches and flywheels.

I'm very close to pulling the trigger on the ESS kit!! ..just need feedback on engine/oil temps in warm climates and fuel economy.
 
#13 ·
I looked at the lightweight aluminum flywheel setups before buying the CNS clutch kit and many folks complain about the significant amount of gear rattle to point that they eventually swap the clutch out. There are also drawbacks to a very light flywheel such as bottom end HP loss on 1st gear and "potential" transmission damage (also unbalanced flywheels as you mentioned). There is nothing but good reviews on the forum about the CNS setup. The Rogue is about $300 cheaper but I haven't seen any reviews on it.

Keep us posted on the ESS supercharger kit installation and feedback!!
 
#14 ·
There are also drawbacks to a very light flywheel such as bottom end HP loss on 1st gear and "potential" transmission damage (also unbalanced flywheels as you mentioned)
You don't lose or gain horsepower by changing mass of rotating components. What people really mean is that a lighter flywheel stores less potential energy, so if they keep their idle RPM's at stock it is more difficult to engage the clutch smoothly when starting. 4000lbs of M5 requires a lot to get going....
 
#17 ·
Also keep in mind that the CNS flywheel IS substantially lightened. Several pounds lighter than the Dinan "lightweight flywheel" IIRC.
That was in fact one of my issues with the Beta software on my ESS kit...I had suggested to AJ that if customers used the lightened flywheel, he might consider raising the idle speed in the same way Steve Dinan does for his lightened flywheel application.

I have gotten used to the throttle application on moving from a stop...but it took some getting used to.

FWIW, my CNS clutch breakin was more like 1500 miles before it felt close to stock. At this point, I am 100% happy and would gladly do it again.

Cheers,

Brian
 
#20 ·
Have fun with your new toys :biggrin:

The installation was designed to be very straight forward. Make sure if you have any questions during installation to email or call Hans. We will be sending out a revised version of the manual to the pre-order guys whos kits have shipped. It has pretty pictures and is a little nicer then the one we sent out with the first few kits.

Email or PM me if you guys have any questions.
 
#21 ·
Looked a the manual last night, Roman, and looks pretty simple, though I have some questions about the necessity of routing the crankcase vents through the plenum and would like to talk with someone about that. I have AJ's e-mail and yours, Roman, but not Hans's. Please provide. Thanks!

--Peter
 
#32 ·
Anyone other than Peter received their kit yet?
 
#37 ·
I realize I am not supposed to post anymore without videos...LOL. But I just picked up my beast from my Indy with a new set of SuperSprint Headers (installation was a ***** for him, by the way....either the headers were a bit "off", or my exhaust system was a bit off, but he needed to do a fair bit of fabrication in order to get the collectors to line up with my OEM cats (forget the stupid 400 dollar connecting tube!!)

Sounds great! Drove it for about 30 min.....Holy Shee&^%. Feels like I have a new car yet again. Pulls much better on the higher end...really opens this thing up. AJ had said that he suspected a significant power gain with the addition of headers to the FI system....he was right. My DME goes to ESS Monday for the final software that you all get.

Roman mentioned that he has a present for us...the "newest version" of the kit (which I believe you are all getting), has a 4mm smaller pulley than the one on my original kit....I get that soon, along with a slightly increased boost andretuned engine software. In short, your kits should make more power out of the box than mine did!

I was up all night in the operating room....need to sleep. More later.


Brian
 
#38 · (Edited)
Sounds great! Drove it for about 30 min.....Holy Shee&^%. Feels like I have a new car yet again. Pulls much better on the higher end...really opens this thing up. AJ had said that he suspected a significant power gain with the addition of headers to the FI system....he was right. My DME goes to ESS Monday for the final software that you all get.
Let's see, you went from SC to addition of headers and were impressed? I can't wait to go from headers to addition of the SC!!!:1::byee55amg

Roman mentioned that he has a present for us...the "newest version" of the kit (which I believe you are all getting), has a 4mm smaller pulley than the one on my original kit...
Hmmm, an extra .5-1.0 psi??:applause:
.I get that soon, along with a slightly increased boost andretuned engine software. In short, your kits should make more power out of the box than mine did!
We will have virtually the same setup so our DME's should have the same flash too. Mine shipped end of last week, so I expect delivery some time this coming week. I just love Christmas in August!:2:


Regards,
Jerry
 
#40 ·
Lettin' the pros do it.

My baby goes in to Edge Motorsports in Eugene Oregon tomorrow morning to have the SS system installed. They will run a baseline dyno and send the ecu to ESS. In a week or so hope to have her back better than ever. I will take her to the SunRiver festival of Cars on Sept. 17th-18th. Anyone in the Pac northwest who is in the area, I encourage you to see the show. It's a really beautiful venue. I'l post before and after dynos if I can figure out how.(maybe my son-in -law has a clue)
 
#43 ·
kit shipped and in transit, but.........

My SC kit is in transit, and stateside, but temporarily being held for customs information on the shipper. If anyone has recently received their kit, can you PM the shipper information so I can get this puppy released and delivered?!
Regards,
Jerry
 
#44 ·
My SC kit is in transit, and stateside, but temporarily being held for customs information on the shipper. If anyone has recently received their kit, can you PM the shipper information so I can get this puppy released and delivered?!
Regards,
Jerry
Mine was held by US Customs until I filled out a form with my social security number on it and faxed it back. My kit was released the same day.

--Peter
 
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