| rubbercow |
12-20-2016 03:06 AM |
Edelbrock SC Questions I Had (that were answered by buying one).
As you've likely noticed this forum has a wealth of knowledge right at your fingertips. It also has some knowledge that is right on the ragged edge of opinions like every other forum, conversation, or anything else ever.
Below are the questions I had that were either answered through searching and reading (you've tried searching right?) or asking people with such. Each bugged me prior to buying, but I bought it anyway. Maybe they'll help someone?
Note that my opinions are worth no more than any other semi-anonymous low-post pleeb. I am in the first 1000 miles and as such the below answers may change some:
- Why should I buy the Edelbrock over XYZ? If you don't trust your installer, don't trust yourself or generally don't trust the internet, the Edelbrock 1556 is the most complete kit I've seen. It had every single thing I needed, pre-cut to size and ready to go. Install and drive. It also has three pulleys available, with one pushing the limits of the SC. The install was about nine hours for one competent person with about an hour of additional help-labor. The install manual is fairly amazing.
- Do you need an aftermarket clutch? Yes. I fought it too. Three different tuners on this forum, including Cobb have reported slippage on the dyno with the stock clutch. I went with the ACT SB7-HDSS. I considered Competition Clutch, Exedy and all the rest. I've had bad experiences with ACT, yet still went ACT. It doesn't suck much (daily driver in traffic). Burn out your stock clutch and replace it with something with more torque hold. Side note: Several posts on here debated whether the stock clutch was really Exedy. Yes it was on mine. No doubt. It clearly says Exedy on my '14 BRZ. Secondary note: Some posts claimed that the stock flywheel is dual mass. It wasn't on my '14 BRZ. Single mass solid, for sure.
- Do you need an aftermarket (OSGiken) limited slip differential? Yeah, probably. I didn't take the plunge. I just couldn't justify the spend right now.
- Can you get away with 225 Michelin PSS tires in the rear? Before I go on: I wanted my car to look and feel stock where possible. I didn't want it tracking on every groove like my shi**y Maserati or to lose toss-ability. I daily drive it for 90 minutes minimum per day on the crappiest roads around. The answer is: No. You really shouldn't go with 225. I'm slowly learning not to kick on the traction control in every damned hard-turn. On the bright side, fundamentally this kit accents the car's tendencies. I was worried that it would be a peel-out-nightmare but it is not. However, mild acceleration in turns will whip the rear out, and don't even imagine doing anything other than a ridiculous smokey-wheelie from a standing stop. Don't floor it in second either. Don't floor it in third on some road surfaces. I haven't lost traction in forth yet - I have hopes that I never will. I may stagger it with 245+, I may not, sigh.
- Is the out-of-box tune any good? Mehhh. It is okay. It hesitates sometimes. It enjoys revving up to 2500 RPM at stoplights randomly. It bucks occasionally if you let off the throttle too fast and then WOT it. It stinks when you first start it. What I liked is that the kit was installed, the ECU was flashed, and I was able to daily drive it immediately. Maybe this line is really a duplicate of #1 above. I'll be having it tuned eventually though.
- What's the power like? I haven't had it on the track yet, I haven't dyno'd it yet and I really don't know. Did it eliminate the torque dip? Absolutely. Does it feel much, much, much, much better? Yes. TBD.
- Did it murder the gas mileage? I tend to lead-foot and row the gears a lot. I'm filling up at the same frequency I was before. It must be in the 10% delta range at most.
- Does the extra hundred pounds in the front feel noticeable? No. Not to me for spirited daily driving. Your track experience may vary. In the spring I'll update with my own track time.
- What is Edelbrock's tech/customer service like? Oddly, I did not have the success story of some on the forum. It took them four days (two of them business days) to send my tune. Technical support was a run-around on it. Technical support was also a pain-in-the-ass to reach several times (ring, ring, mother-f**ing ring). The operator would not budge without an exact part number, even for sales prior to buying it.
- Anything I should know? Yes. You can find below-MSRP offers by contacting some of our forum sponsors privately.
Lastly, do I like it? Hell yeah. |
