did you here

[Mean Green]

quote:Originally posted by SuGamer

I email Jim yesterday and he emailed my very fast. Here is a copy:

"mike i am having trouble getting the correct parts, and if you want one for looks only then i can make it, as i beleave it does nothing for performance , there is another way to do this if i make you one ,,,the upper 1/2 only ,, useing your factory hose for the lower part, this is new and i have not made one yet, the cost would be about $75.00 + 10 shipping,
I would make the upper 1/2 only ,tell you where to cut you hose and insert this one , as right now i have no parts so email me or send me a check and in about 8 weeks the parts should be here, if you might want the upper 1/2 i will try to do a prototype this week. thanks jim"


Jim has NOT stopped making the UCP, it's just gotten harder for him to get the parts.

I've been sitting here getting pi$$ed watching some of you make Jim the next coming and Adam the devil himself. So the truth finally comes out. Jim is having trouble getting the correct parts. He couldn't make his ucp for people if he wanted to so hey, if he can't make any more then they must do nothing for performance. [:I] That's even though the people who have his ucp say it does help performance. Why is that? This is what they say at Exhaust Depot about the hard pipe they sell. "You can now run higher boost and not worry about your hoses popping off. Not only will your hoses not pop off but performance gains have shown an in increase in vacuum pressure at idle and an increase in throttle response. Reports of boost increases of 1-2 psi on a totaly stock system have also been reported! This comes from the rubber hoses no longer loosing boost as they expand from the removal of the bottle neck in the cold side rubber hose. " But Jim still denies any performance gains but is still willing to make a half a hard pipe only so your engine can look pretty. He's downsizing because he can't get the parts but he still wants to sell something and at the same time screw up Adam's selling of any of his ucp's because he states there are no performance gains. If you don't visit the other forum they both belong to then you don't see them argue about their ucp's. For those of you who fall for the 1/2 pipe then you deserve to be out $85. Jim has all of his experience in n/a engines and some of his ideas he brought up on a different forum will fry your motor if you aren't careful. Adam has all kinds of experience with turbo's yet some of you are willing to listen to Jim who isn't. For those who want to flame me for what I've said, go right a head. I've got my idiot alarm on. Especially for those people who own neither ucp, have no experience with it, and still like to make Jim a saint and a know all.

[onedivinehammer]

Not to be an a$$, but if I remember correctly, didn't "3BAR" once mention that any aftermaket mod will not increase performance drastically since overall horsepower is controlled by the computer chip. Though, the concept of rectifying the possibility of lost boost, or airflow, via a metal pipe as opposed to a rubber hose, seems rather valid. However, look at it from this point of view. Stage 1 is nothing more than the PCM and beefier fuel injectors for us 03er's. Yet, we gain some 20 HP's. It seems to me that with the exception of quicker spooling via better resistance to lost pressure/boost (which allows you run the turbo faster) there is little we can do to go beyond the allowance in horsepower that the PCM provides. Don't get me wrong, I believe both Adam & Jim have made quality aesthetically pleasing products. However, I question the overall performance (in regards to horsepower) they produce. In the same manner that I realize my Mopar cat-back dualies provide nothing more than good looks and great sound.

[Mike-in-Orange]

quote: 1ptturbo wrote:

Jim's pipe was around 160 and I believe Mr protopipe's is twice that.

Just to clarify because I too hate gross misinformation being put out there:

Yes, the PrototypePower VAK is about double the price of the AMX UCP, but that's because it also includes the intake to turbo pipe, which AMX has been selling for quite some time, plus an additional length of pipe and K&N style cone filter. These last three pieces allow you the choice of using your stock airbox or the K&N syle cone filter. So for a fair price comparison you'd need to add together the AMX UCP, AMX intake pipe, plus a matching pipe and filter, plus the clamps to hold it all together. Oh yeah, you can also get the VAK in your choice of color, at no additional cost. The difference comes down to a few bucks really.

[Mean Green]

Hello, is anybody out there? Hello? The hard pipe ucp does not make more hp. It produces the lost hp that the ballooning factory ucp loses. The pcm still sees what is within it's parameters as far as boost and hp. Nothing gained but what is lost.

[03baggedturbo]

Thanks for reading this post.. When you dyno a car you dont gun it from a dead stop.. It is unsafe and you are not realy looking for HP gain at 1k RPM or 2k RPM..

I just looked up dyno charts in a few magazines.. hondatech, Honda tuning, a few other magazines and they all started there dyno's at around 2,000 RPM.. I am not a dyno expert so I dont want to give you wrong information .. maybe someone could explain it better.. I will ask tomarrow and see why people dont gun it from a dead stop..

As for dyno's and making HP or not making HP I am contacting turbo magazine to see if they will do a write up/tests..

I have never had anyone purchase my system and tell me they didnt feel a signifigant gain in HP.. not sure what else I can do to show the non-believers that this system works? I have already done more than most manufactures.. and if you are looking into this product contact anyone with it on there car and they will tell you what they think..

What I can do is if you are local I will put the VAK system on your car.. if you like it then buy it.. if you dont feel any difference I will take it off and you lost nothing but an hour of your time..

Thanks .. Adam
www.prototypepower.com

[2step]

This debate flames on and I hope that my earlier post hasn't added fuel to this fire. My comments were directed to that one dyno graph, not toward the product. My PT and I spend 99% of our time below 4000rpm with the occasional stoplight Gran Prix. For me personally, the info I need was absent on the "after" trace due to dyno problems or error by the dyno jocky. Others will see the info that they need and that's OK. I put a lot of weight and have to believe the satisfied reviews I see.
I have the greatest respect for Adam and Jim, both. It's patently obvious they both care and want to make a product that is an asset to us in the Cruiser community.
Jim has discontinued making his I/C to T/B pipe but has offered a way for those who now have just the intake, to match it later. And I really believe that Adam would step up to the plate and make one that looked like Jim's should he (Jim) not be inclined to, just so we would be able to fully enjoy our Cruisers. There are no more flexable, willing vendors out there than these 2 guys.
My hunch is that these hard pipes benifit more in the upper RPM range and in the mods that take control away from the PCM, such as manual or electronic boost control, so as you mod more, you reap more. But what do I know???? [:I]

[SuGamer]

quote:Originally posted by 2step


I have the greatest respect for Adam and Jim, both. It's patently obvious they both care and want to make a product that is an asset to us in the Cruiser community.

I agree, and I also respect the efforts and workmanship on the part of both men. As in any business, competition can be hell, but is good for the consumer. [8D] If nothing more than to have different choices. I like Adam's VAK UCP and I also like Jim AMX UCP and I don't have a preference. I don't need an intake pipe since I am getting a BTG air intake, so I'm just getting an UCP. I want it in chrome or polished steel to match the air intake. It seems to me that both UCP's use the same premise and work the same. Except that Adam's pipe can except an aftermarket BOV. I just plan on getting a Mopar BOV, so it really just comes down to price for me. $300 + $30 S&H vs $150 + $10 S&H for similar chromed pipes. I'm sorry, but it a $170 difference. I respect both men and think both their products are quality, but that's $170 I can use for something else. I know that I can get a black VAK pipe for $260 total, but it won't match the air intake, plus there's still $100 difference. Sorry, that money can go to more mods, or stay in my pocket since it seems that money is harder to come by these days. Please don't flame me, I have no preference between the 2, except for price.

[Bob Tallman]

One of the neat things about this forum is that each of us has an opinion. Butt HP, dynos that can be misread by those who, like me, are wannabe gearheads who just happen to love this PT thing we drive, real gearheads who work with turbos on other cars and try to bring that knowledge to us, etc............[:I]

I'd just like to know what will will really increase the torque (most of my WOT is not on the strip so I want to [8)] and whip some ricer - at least for an 1/8th).

If it's VAK and relieved exhaust, then OK, I'm done. The rest of it'll come with my Z06.

Tangerine all day Lonnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggg!!!