HPA full K04 Kit Review: Intake Manifold + K04 + Tune

[inNout]

Disclaimer: This is an honest feedback without any financial incentive for me. The kit/labor was paid in full.

Let's start out with the final result:
- 333WHP/328WTQ
- Awesome power curve
- Intoxicating acceleration in 3rd/4th gear above 3.5K RPM
- Smooth cold start even with flapper-less intake manifold



Despite myriads of K04 offerings in the market, I went with the HPA motorsport kit because it offered a metal intake manifold. Having an '10 with a plastic IM, I really wanted to future proof the car from any possible IM related failures. Given that it included a metal IM, the cost/benefit ratio seemed much better than that of APR/CTS/FT. Also, I opted in for the HPA OnePort flash dongle, which enables HPA to send me an updated tune in case they make any improvement down the road.

(As you may have gotten a sense of in the other thread...) The final result did come at an expense of some time/dedication both on HPA's part and mine. When I first opted in for the kit, I was expecting it to be a plug-an-play product, much like the APR kit that I am familiar with. The hardware installation went extremely smoothly without any issues and fitment was perfect. The issue we ran into was with the tune. The base file that HPA had to work with for my car was very different from the other automatic B8/B8.5's they were familiar with. So the initial tune led to rough cold start and hitting the torque limiter. Had I been local to HPA, the tuner would've been able to work out the kinks within a week or two, but my having to travel all the way to Langley BC from Seattle WA made the process a little more drawn out.

I do not consider myself a patient person, especially when I am paying a lot of money for a good or service. Despite my constant badgering, HPA didn't give up on me or my car. So I appreciate their persistence in finishing the job and sending their customer home happy. Hopefully, with my car out the door, they have a few more data points to make future customers' tunes better/painless.

During the final dyno session, we did back to back runs to see how much power loss we would observe, and we only saw a degradation of 2-5 hp/tq.
My current engine mods are:
- HPA K04, IM, Tune
- HPA HFC
- Armaspeed CF enclosed intake
- Eurocode IC soundbox delete pipe
- Eurocode IC pipes
- Eurocode pully (i need to get rid of this garbage.)
- APR intercooler
- R8 coils
- Eisenmann resonator-back exhaust

[bakedziti]

The EC TMD fits into the HPA K04?

[poweredbyaudi7]

This a FWD car?

[Slick_B8]

Im not trying to dog your setup but doesnt an apr stg2 tune put a bit more power out?

[inNout]

The EC TMD fits into the HPA K04?

I may have named the part wrong. It's the sound box delete pipe.

[poweredbyaudi7]

My bad FWD car?

[poweredbyaudi7]

Im not trying to dog your setup but doesnt an apr stg2 tune put a bit more power out?

Not so much...the TQ is a but higher on APR, but not the HP

[inNout]

Im not trying to dog your setup but doesnt an apr stg2 tune put a bit more power out?

I think it's more than just the peak HP/TQ numbers, but the way of delivery and consistency in the powerband.
The Stg IIs i've seen have been putting down around 240hp/300tq to the wheels.

[inNout]

My bad FWD car?

It's AWD.

[hyperunion]

Love your 265/35/18 tire and gram light wheel setup.. any rubbing with that size?.. camber adjustment?.. or is the 18.9.5 wheel specs perfect?... And yeah that dyno just looks like a single drive one as opposed to an awd from the pics!..

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[adamazing]

Not so much...the TQ is a but higher on APR, but not the HP

Depends what fuel map we're talking about. Not too many people roll around with 100 octane in the tank. If he's running 93 grade, then he's outperforming APR's K04.

TQ peaks slightly later but holds nicely all the way to 5500.

[poweredbyaudi7]

Depends what fuel map we're talking about. Not too many people roll around with 100 octane in the tank. If he's running 93 grade, then he's outperforming APR's K04.

TQ peaks slightly later but holds nicely all the way to 5500.

That is what I was trying to say. I need to stop typing today...smdh

[inNout]

Love your 265/35/18 tire and gram light wheel setup.. any rubbing with that size?.. camber adjustment?.. or is the 18.9.5 wheel specs perfect?... And yeah that dyno just looks like a single drive one as opposed to an awd from the pics!..

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No rubbing whatsoever 18x9.5+38 It's a perfect fit and any new wheels that I buy will have the exact same specs.
It should be an AWD dyno.

[inNout]

Depends what fuel map we're talking about. Not too many people roll around with 100 octane in the tank. If he's running 93 grade, then he's outperforming APR's K04.

TQ peaks slightly later but holds nicely all the way to 5500.

I'm running 92 octane gas.

[hyperunion]

No rubbing whatsoever 18x9.5+38 It's a perfect fit and any new wheels that I buy will have the exact same specs.
It should be an AWD dyno.

Awesome ....may have to find those wheels, custom made?

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[SukhShanti]

nice numbers, how much did the K04 setup run you (parts and labor)?

[inNout]

Awesome ....may have to find those wheels, custom made?

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114.3 were re-drilled to our spec.

[zcspec]

I know the difficulties inNout has gone through and as indicated in my HPA thread, very happy to see that you stuck it out. With HPA sticking it out with you, does not surprise me. Marcel is a very personable and knowledge owner who CARES about his company, customers, and the products they put in production. Based on HPA's dyno and your numbers, I think a WOOP WOOP is in order. Those are outstanding number and if you compare CRANK to CRANK figures, the entire kit has put down some of the best numbers I have seen. In short, HPA is now batting 2 of 2 with their kit for the B8/8.5.

Too bad I will never be-able to take my car up there for a tune as the AR is officially gone as of next week. Enjoy your HPA powered, K04 kit!

[Dub_prime]

I'm glad you finally go sorted, but have to say I'm disappointed in the torque figures the HP looks good, but I was expecting more especially with the manifold... It does pull all the way to the top, but i guess the torque is what you give up to get that.

[zcspec]

Hey Prime, you shouldn't be disappointed with the numbers one bit. Keep in mind, inNout is running 92 octane and most likely, the tune is designed just for that. I love crunching numbers and comparing his corrected CRANK values (333WHP/328WTQ x 1.15/1.18) he's @ 382CHP/377CTQ. Doing all the calculations against the other manufacture's kits and factoring in the manifold, inNout is putting down OUTSTANDING numbers for a 92 octane file. The higher TQs we all see, are on higher octane files. Smellie, Maj, Corbin, myself, our numbers are with e85. I can't even imagine what his numbers would look like if he were e85 compliant.

[inNout]

I'm hoping to get on the track before the real wet season starts in the pac NW.
What kind of 1/4 mile time should I expect?

[hyperunion]

I'm hoping to get on the track before the real wet season starts in the pac NW.
What kind of 1/4 mile time should I expect?

I'm thinking 12.7....... Maybe...... 12.9 , 13.2... Most likely

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[zcspec]

I'm hoping to get on the track before the real wet season starts in the pac NW.
What kind of 1/4 mile time should I expect?

There are 2 Test N Tune days remaining at Pacific Raceway. Oct 9th will be the next one and with the cooler weather, I am guessing you'll run AT LEAST a 107mph. Get a good launch in, high 12's.

[2010b8a4apr2]

just to verify, does this tune count for the manifold? the extra air and the cel? I didn't think they had done a tune for it yet, at least they haven't posted in the forums from anything I saw....

[shaunm82]

Awesome, glad to hear you got everything sorted out. I'd be pretty excited over those results! Hardware looks great too.

[Brandon K.]

InNout, how is the tune still working for you? I am in Portland Oregon, so 92 is what we have as well. Is your car an auto or manual? If it is an auto, how does the low end torque work with it? I have a b8 with the 8 speed auto and that trans loves low rpm for regular driving. I have an APR stage 2 right now and I am looking at a ko4. I have a water/meth kit that I will be using but have not installed yet. Any additional comments on your setup? I am debating between APR ko4 and HPA ko4 with manifold.


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[2010b8a4apr2]

InNout, how is the tune still working for you? I am in Portland Oregon, so 92 is what we have as well. Is your car an auto or manual? If it is an auto, how does the low end torque work with it? I have a b8 with the 8 speed auto and that trans loves low rpm for regular driving. I have an APR stage 2 right now and I am looking at a ko4. I have a water/meth kit that I will be using but have not installed yet. Any additional comments on your setup? I am debating between APR ko4 and HPA ko4 with manifold.


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shit im from vancouver too

[Brandon K.]

Sounds like u need to take me for a ride in that bad boy!


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[Brandon K.]

Sorry, missed the "from" part. Meaning you have lived here, but not now... to bad that would have been cool to compare notes & real world comparison of the cars as I continue to mod my Avant.


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[2010b8a4apr2]

well my car is still there..... its at my parents, im in japan sadly for another 7 months or so. ive hardly driven her in 2.5 yrs. ive been trying to find a mustang dyno around the area. seems like every awd dyno I find is more for the golf r's. thinking about going towards the tune unles apr comes out with the turbo kit soon. I think they might. itd be pointless to swap tunes if im going efr.

[inNout]

InNout, how is the tune still working for you? I am in Portland Oregon, so 92 is what we have as well. Is your car an auto or manual? If it is an auto, how does the low end torque work with it? I have a b8 with the 8 speed auto and that trans loves low rpm for regular driving. I have an APR stage 2 right now and I am looking at a ko4. I have a water/meth kit that I will be using but have not installed yet. Any additional comments on your setup? I am debating between APR ko4 and HPA ko4 with manifold.


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Brandon,
My car is a manual and the car is still running very strong. I haven't had a chance to see how it runs in sub-freezing condition yet, but the car's been running great in 40-50 degree weather.

There is load of low end torque and I don't feel i lost anything coming from stage II APR tune.

[VNA4]

Hey inNout congrats on the HPA kit performing well!

Dispite running very strong, did you ever run into issues even minor ones or would you say HPA is as reliable and safe as APR on this kit and tune.
Are you still at 333WHP?
It is surprising by good that u have load of low end torque because most of us k04 owner felt the opposite when switching from stage 2 to k04

I'm bout to pull the trigger on the IM this week so any feedbacks would help.

Thanks




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[heatseeker23]

Very interested in seeing a video with revs, launch, and from the interior. Also price...

[Brandon K.]

I could keep her nice and lubed up for you until you return;)


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[Brandon K.]

On a more serious note, PM me when you are back in town. I would seriously like to go for a ride.

If the new APR kit is out by the and I don't want to go that route, maybe we could help each other out. I could buy your HPA kit and that would help offset your migration to APR. Just a thought.


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[inNout]

Full engine shot:

[inNout]

Then i wrapped my CF intake box with relfect-a-gold to bring down intake temp.

[2010b8a4apr2]

On a more serious note, PM me when you are back in town. I would seriously like to go for a ride.

If the new APR kit is out by the and I don't want to go that route, maybe we could help each other out. I could buy your HPA kit and that would help offset your migration to APR. Just a thought.


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I don't have the hpa kit, btw, I have the f23l with aprs v3 tune and ie intake manifold

- - - Updated - - -

Full engine shot:

clean bay!

[Marko S]

Full engine shot:

What intake is that?

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[poweredbyaudi7]

What intake is that?

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I think it is a Arma intake....pretty damn expensive, $1,200 (https://www.gmpperformance.com/index...tList&cid=6017)