Somethings have worked very well. The Jeep preforms at wicked altitudes with amazing ease. We had it above 10,000 feet with no real loss of power. This is a major change over previous trips where I had to slip the clutch in low range to get it moving. Now getting it started at that altitude is interesting, but not much worse than previous. Speaking of getting it started, with all that piping if it sits for a week or so getting it fired up is a pain. I find it faster to give it a sniff of starting fluid, then the condensed gas in the tubing makes it run rough and very rich for a bit. The choke has little effect, so imagine starting your jeep on a cold day without it. That is about what it is like anytime the air temp is below about 55 degrees.
Power gains no longer feel extreme but then I can no longer remember what it was like before so I think I have simply forgotten what it was like. I do know in several places we have motored up some long grades in a higher gear with greater ease. This is most noticeable above 5000 feet but then I haven't had a chance to drive it much below that. What is clear is that at max RPM the motor has less power than before. I am still tinkering with this and do not know precisely why yet. It has less throtle throw than before because of how the linkage is set up. I have been reluctant to fix this and see it as a safety measure. The motor revs hard and fast and I do not want to scatter it. Otherwise I guess the 134F head is a little bigger than the Saab motor I took the turbo from so that might have something to do with it. I also have an airfilter from a non turbo motor, another possible problem.
On a rough trail I pulled the muffler off and while I love to hear that turbo, the rest of the unmuffled motor sounds are ridiculous. Like those kids in their ricers running huge straight pipes. I have acquired a much more compact turbo style, straight through muffler and will try that. The only thing I worry about is if has too little spark arresting capabilities and creates a fire danger. Some night time driving should help me clear that up.
