I've finally figured out the problems with my Flex. I've noticed a gradual loss in power combined with a gradual increase in air and hissing under throttle. Before the season ended I ran the Flex one last day at the local 1/8th mile track and my times were horrendous on multiple tuner's tunes. It just felt like I had lost all my real power, the numbers showed it on my timeslips, and I couldn't seem to pinpoint the main issues because there was nothing visually compelling to say "hey, I'm the problem!" That loud air rushing sound under accel had developed over the past few months, and I assumed it was a VERY small air/boost leak because I was still seeing 14psi of boost consistently. Every tune, from two different guys, would cap out at 14.1psi, on the dot, never waivering, really. And this was even before I ever heard the air leaking, which tells me I've had leaks since I got the Flex used at 32K miles. I just greenishly thought I had hit the limitations of the system, or that it was just where I was "supposed to be." It's been that way ever since I first started tuning my Flex, so it's just been status quo for me and I'd frustratingly accepted it. I also had exhaust system issues, and a peace-mealed an exhaust system put together that was ghetto, at best, leaked at joints all through it, and had different sized piping and cheap Thrush mufflers (ranged from 2"-2 1/2" pipes with restrictions all over) throughout.
Well, long story short, I've replaced the entire exhaust system, downpipe-back, with a 2.5" x-pipe and full 2.5" Magnaflow system. No more leaks, no more ghetto, nice clean sound and a sealed, smooth, good-flowing system. I also JUST installed (Tuesday) the EPP Hotpipes with a Tial BOV. These pipes look SO much better, the Tial looks fantastic in Red, and I'm loving having a proper dedicated Meth port. The best thing, though?? My boost leaks are 100% gone!!! More importantly though, holy hell, the power!!! I loaded one of the last good revised tunes from Brad and I hit 16.4psi at WOT and was thrown back in my seat SO hard from the torque. Never have I ever hit that PSI since I owned the Flex, on any tunes. It's never driven like this...it's literally like a whole different vehicle, and it's freaking fantastic!
