Yep, packed it right back and sent it to Comptech today. I was going to install it this past weekend, but decided not to. Here's why:

1. There will always be the possibilitty, however small it may be, that the dealer will void my warranty because of it.
2. I've been reading quite a few posts that you need to tighten it every once in a while. That's not the kind of hassle I want to deal with.
3. And most important of all: Good Driver = Best Substitute for HP. It's not like the Icebox adds so much HP that all of a sudden, the car is transformed. At most, you get 5-7 whp. The only bolt-on I might do would be the Mugen Exhaust for the sound, and maybe an aftermarket header to shave off some weight. My goal from now on: Forget about bolt-ons, go to as many lapping days as possible and become a better driver. That, IMO, would make a far bigger difference.

This is in no way a bashing of the Icebox. I am sure quite a few of you are happy owners and that's great. It's just that I've had a change of heart. I think that by attending racing schools, I get a better return on my money that bolt-ons.

 

Amen Brother!! I cant believe I read that....or you said that.

VERY WISE!! (the driver improvement part!!)

 

Well said... Not exactly a substitute for HP, but a good driver will certainly compliment HP nicely. First order of business is learning how to drive. Then to make the car worthy of your skills!

 

of course being a good driver is very handy, but if you're planning to mod your car, you have to start somewhere. i'm assuming you're stock.

 

good choice....for me right now toda b's, vafc, jdm header, exhaust or 2 days at summit point....i'm soooooo torn right now!!! can get a great deal on the toda's....but track time helps so much....

i guess it will have to be...........will post update!

 

I like the way my car drives better now after the intake and header. I don't want an exhaust for the same reasons you don't want an intake. I prefer the way my car sounds now. I do enjoy the extra HP I've got now.

 

Good call! I haven't bought any go-fast parts for my car yet, I'm saving up for driving school. I built my own CAI (a la BSQ) just so I could tool around under the hood Seeing a GS-R with mostly just suspension mods beat a Ferrari F355 by more than half a second on a FAST autocross course yesterday made me realise even more how important mad skillz are yo


[Modified by MrBite, 1:55 PM 10/9/2001]

 

BTW, my inspiration for all this was a guy I meet 3 weeks ago on a lapping day. He had a '98 CW ITR, and had the following mods:

Comptech Header
Mugen N1 Damper Kit
Upgraded Brakes (Not sure what kind of pads, but NSX Calipers)
Rollbar
Racing Seat
Volk Racing Wheels (15x7) with Hoosiers
Mugen Spoiler

And guess what? He simply kicked butt. He was running with the faster group (Porsches, Vettes, some modded M3s, etc) and he was hanging right there with most of those cars, and passing others. After every session, there was a group of 8-10 guys who would gather around his car to find out what kind of mods he had. Imagine their (and my) surprise when his only engine upgrade was the header, and that to save some weight, more so than HP gains. His car had 12,000 miles, and he said about 8000 were track miles, and the other 4000 was driving to and from the track.

He had upgraded arguably the strongest component of the car, the suspension, to improve cornering/handling even more. Add upgraded brakes, and a pretty good driver, and you get the picture. Oh, and check this out. He said he always shifts in the 8000-8400 range. He's doing this the whole time, and the engine is as strong as day 1. "These engines are built to be pushed, they wont break, as long as you don't abuse it by overrevving it" he said. And hey, who am I to argue, he was speaking from experience.

And that's what made me realize, I fully intend to go his route. Become a better driver, and upgrade only the suspension and brakes. A H/E would be nice, but not a requirement.

 

Excellent choice, made for the right reasons
I do have the icebox, but only because i feel that the resonator assembly is a crime on an engine like the C5....it's just mean to muffle that beautiful darling motor. Cleanable filter is nice too, but kudos to you...and you can run stock class! Here in pittsburgh, one of our clubs won't allow race tires in stock classes (even DOT approved ones), so i decided when i got the car to run out the RE010s and then move to CSP for both clubs, which allows some mods...RSTB and CAI are what i've got now. But if that weren't the case, i'd have given serious thought to staying in GS. Anyway, i salute your INTEGRAty.

 

How much is 2 days at Summit Point?!?!


[Modified by BSQ, 12:24 PM 10/9/2001]

 

I have attended 7 track events over the last 3 years and it has definitely improved my driving skills significantly. I was recently at Gingerman with CGI Motorsports and there was a Ferrari F355 there (along with a F40, a 360 Modena and a Mondial) and I passed the Ferrari F355 twice (and the Mondial several time) and this can be attributed to my improved driving skills and not my HP, because the only engine mod I have is a DIY "Icebox" intake and the rest is suspension and brakes. After you upgraded the driver, then you can start upgrading the car.

 

An intelligent position well stated, I agree with you about the driving ability. As soon as I get the time I'm off to a track somewhere to REALLY learn how to drive.

But being the Devils advocate like I am, what if Mr. Champ White had at least a JDM header and 2.5"cat? I'd bet that with that and his skills instead of the Comptech pipes that He'd stomp some more A$$.

And as well, I'd hope my post wasn't a strong reason for not bolting on their intake.

Let me clear things up a little where AEM's/CAI and the "icebox" are concerned at least with maintenance: I noticed my loosened horn pipe while doing routine checking of my engine bay IE; Fluids, Filters and general look-see. I was actually changing my Foam Filter at a 10,000 mile interval when i noticed this misconnection. So NO Comptech bashing on my part AT ALL! I was just conscious of my stuff and check it once in a while to assure good fitment and performance, as anyone should.

If you had the AEM you'd have to take apart the fender well anyways to clean your filter or swap it out too. So ease of maintenance WAS 1 big thing the Comptech piece But, i guess it's a good thing that I'm nosey and check a little deeper. And remember I saw it when I removed my WHOLE nose while doing something else completely unrelated.

The sound is a good point made here by most of you. Thats 1 BIG reason I chose the "icebox."

being a Good driver is very important, being a Great driver is a goal I think almost all of us want to achieve. So, I salute you in making a right decision. I went a different route but I have the same goals.

Rubber meets the ashpalt and the brakes stop ya when you're usin the power so tires, rims, suspension and brakes are just as and Even MORE important than Go-Go mods. Trust me I know coming from a modded LS for more HP/TQ and not enough of the rubber, springy and kevlar stuff!

Good luck to you, wise decision...

Anton

 

hm.. I didn't get the chance to see him run (except for heat 1).. since his number and mine was too close..
I bet That Red GSR with Rotas got a lot of AutoX and Track Time...
too bad Aleph wasn't around.. (by the way John is Aleph's Buddy)...
wondering who is better.. hehe..

Icebox? I want icebox...

 

John is one of the smoothest drivers i've ever seen, we started autoXing about the same time (not long ago), i'd have to say that he's definately got skills, hell, he puts in R compound times on street tires. We always joke that with each mod, the GS gets smaller and the R gets bigger...gs-CAPITOL R!!

 

No doubt!

When I lapped the car for the first time I've pondered and realized to be successful with the ITR you need skill (with proper practice), suspension and brakes. That's it!

If the car is not fast enough by all means, get a header, cams, headwork, exhaust, piston etc.

The ITR is not the fastest car out there. It's not even the best car to make the fastest. But it's fucken fast in a circuit!