I guess I'll subscribe to this since Tom directed me over here. Other than stalking the FS section, I don't get on here much (TMF is where I'm at 99% of the time) but this thread looks promising, and unlike 90% of the posts I see here this thread seems headed in the right direction.
So I guess it's time I chime in here.
I'm also one of the few turbo automatic P5 owners (tiptronic tranny does help with boosting) and I just joined the dark side a couple weeks ago. It's a blast, and I could never go back. I'm running 6 psi probably around 160 HP.. same as bazooka_joe. But you do gotta pay to play. Monitoring your temps, pressures, etc. with proper gauges is a MUST, or you'll be left without an engine or tranny real fast. Leaks pop up here and there and if they're not noticed on time it can get ugly.. Also, you have to use higher grade gas and make sure you're changing the fluids on time, cuz s*** gets hot and oil breaks down a lot faster. So even regular maintenance costs more now, but it's ok cuz the extra ponies are well worth it
My setup is the MSP GT25R turbo with the MSP (Callaway) turbo mani and s-pipe & j-pipe. Highflow MAM midpipe and Racing Beat catback. Sounds amazing.. The intake and FMIC pipes were all custom but they work pretty good for the most part, and the intake sounds SUPER LOUD!!
Other than that, I was going to install the Lentech valve body upgrade but the one I bought turned out to be an OEM Mazda6 valve body. Some douche bag from Mazda6 club came here after totaling his car and sold an OEM body as Lentech. I ended up buying it (bazooka ALMOST did, but I beat him to it..) and then a year later finally got my money back after he scammed some Subaru guys and having all of us team up on him. But that's definitely still a mod that's on my list, because shifts take way too long without them and I would really like to minimize the wear on my transmission. I have a detailed How-To with pictures for this install on TMF but since the admins of this forum are gay I can't link it or any of the pics from that site.. so sorry guys.
And as for the tranny cooler, it's a must whether you're turbo or not. I've had one for the past two years and my tranny is completely cooled by it. I don't use the stock radiator at all, it all goes through the cooler. Bought it at Advance Auto for like $50, I think it's a Hayden and it comes with everything you need for install. It's really easy, you mount it on the AC condenser behind the grille using the supplied straps and hook up the hoses to the tranny.. that's it. I have pics, but as I said the gay rules of this forum prevent me from posting them.
And finally a question about the tranny temp sensor (this is directed at SIBalla). I would really like to see a pic of the sensor in the drain plug. I was gonna install mine that way, but it didn't look like there was a lot of room for it in front of the drain plug.
