The only performance mods I have done to the car up to this point was the chip and a Viper intake. I do not feel the stock drivetrain is up to handling any more than that on the A4's . This week I got the Quaife limited slip differential , Autotech 11lbs. lightened flywheel and sachs power clutch and pressure plate in.
The overall affect is that the car feels lighter. It certainly revs much easier. No shuddering, binding or negative of any kind, at slower speeds I can hear a slight rotational sound, but with the windows closed at roadspeed there is no additional sound. I filled the tranny with no name brand 75w-90 gear lube specific to limited slip differentials.
I am sure it's non synthetic, I want to run with it for several hundred miles, then dump it for some redline 75W 90 synthetic, (note: not the MT90 or MTL)
I am going with redline because it's an ML4 and not an ML5. Now that the drivetrain can handle the power, I am starting the Turbo upgrade to a KO4-1 Watercooled turbo. It's larger than the KO3, but not excessive, good for around 30 KW, s more than a KO3, which is about 20 KW's over the VNT-15 in the car presently. From what I have seen in other applications the KO4 adds about 500 RPM of lag to spool up.
This is the main reason I went for the lightened flywheel, to reduce the affects of turbo lag with the new larger turbo. I am having the exhaust manifold, custom connection pipe and the turbo housing cermachromed with a heat treating process which all but eliminates reflected heat, and maintains heat in the system where it belongs.
I will be installing a set of .205 Injectors, along with a propane system. I plan on using a dawes device and running at 20 psi boost. I'll be using the coolant connections of the EGR cooler to cool the turbo instead. I'll post pictures when they become availible.
The overall affect is that the car feels lighter. It certainly revs much easier. No shuddering, binding or negative of any kind, at slower speeds I can hear a slight rotational sound, but with the windows closed at roadspeed there is no additional sound. I filled the tranny with no name brand 75w-90 gear lube specific to limited slip differentials.
I am sure it's non synthetic, I want to run with it for several hundred miles, then dump it for some redline 75W 90 synthetic, (note: not the MT90 or MTL)
I am going with redline because it's an ML4 and not an ML5. Now that the drivetrain can handle the power, I am starting the Turbo upgrade to a KO4-1 Watercooled turbo. It's larger than the KO3, but not excessive, good for around 30 KW, s more than a KO3, which is about 20 KW's over the VNT-15 in the car presently. From what I have seen in other applications the KO4 adds about 500 RPM of lag to spool up.
This is the main reason I went for the lightened flywheel, to reduce the affects of turbo lag with the new larger turbo. I am having the exhaust manifold, custom connection pipe and the turbo housing cermachromed with a heat treating process which all but eliminates reflected heat, and maintains heat in the system where it belongs.
I will be installing a set of .205 Injectors, along with a propane system. I plan on using a dawes device and running at 20 psi boost. I'll be using the coolant connections of the EGR cooler to cool the turbo instead. I'll post pictures when they become availible.
