For that have had this installed, is there a noticable impact on fuel?

 

No, not for me. My fuel mileage didn't change at all.

 

Oh that's good. I'm going to order one this week. Hopefully it ships quickly

 

Spoke to my dealer but they said they could not install it.

I'm going to try proformance but they are busy and haven't gotten back to me.

Any NYC based people know of another good place to go?

 

What dealer?

I have a forza still sitting in the box and probably going to install it myself in my garage in the coming weeks. You’re welcome to come by when I do. I held off because I bought it in a group buy a few weeks before I even had the car and I wanted to get a couple k on the odometer before messing with anything.

 

an added perk of capping the vacuum lines as opposed to the controller, my auto stop/start rarely ever kicks in

 

Tried both Larchmont and Greenwich and both said no but then found Alfa Import Center out in Long Island, that while they said they have never installed this part before, have been in the Alfa business for 44 years so I might give them a try.


Do you have experience installing items like this. I'm nervous because I have no mechanical experience

 

I’ve done bolt on stuff before on cars. The hardest part of the forza is just accessing the exhaust valve plumbing. You basically can do it by removing the rear wheel, I’m still unsure if you need to actually remove both to fiddle with it. I have a jack and a torque wrench to pop the wheels off and remount them so it shouldn’t be too difficult at all really...

 

Sucks that your dealer wouldn't do it. If you look over the install instructions, it's a pretty simple install, not much to screw up. A few members have installed them themselves. If I had an easy way to get jack stands under it, I would have done it myself.

 

I'd still be nervous to do it myself with such an expensive car.

I'm interested to see how yours turns out

 

I find it hard to believe that there isn't a simpler way to attack this problem. If we ever get a decent aftermarket tuning solution for these cars this is surely a parameter that can be controlled there. The first tuner that can find out a way to give us a race mode with traction control on is going to earn my money.

 

Manual valve mod is $10 and takes less than 1 hour.

 

I just ordered my B3A, and when I did, Steve called me to let me know that there is a new model E that is about to be released that is cheaper than the B3A because it is housed in plastic instead of aluminum. He called to offer me the chance to change my order (incredible customer service!), but I preferred the aluminum option.

I also have to imagine that a tune/software update should be able to update dynamic mode to either have the exhaust always open or at the least, drop the RPM threshold from 3500 down to 500 which would effectively have it open all the time. Dropping to 500 would be something Alfa could do via update and that would be that.

 

Did the install tonight on mine. Took about an hour, should have been faster but I only drove the rear up on ramps thinking the diffuser needed to come off but it's actually the underbody panel in front of the diffuser that needs to come off. Anyway, if you follow the directions it's very straight forward, I can't imagine causing any damage to anything if you read the directions. A few tips from my experience:

1) take the underbody panel off, trying to work around it isn't worth it.
2) you can ground to a ground point in the trunk so less work is needed on the grommet. Picture below.
3) drill a hole in the grommet leaving the trunk, and then cut a slit in it so you can run the controller wiring.
4) cutting the foam as the instructions suggest is a requirement, not just a suggestion.

 

The instructions say you may be able to use the existing hole to route the cable but if not then you'll need to drill one. Did you find the existing hole to small?

 

I didnt feel like unwrapping the electrical tape off the other end of the grommet to check if it would fit. Full circle grommets like the one in that location are not really designed to fit over electrical connectors and it seems unlikely you would be able to squeeze any of the connectors through that grommet without at least cutting a slit in it.

 

Good to know. Thanks

 

For those that have had this done, can you confirm if you can open the flaps while the car is off, and if so does it produce an error when you start the car?

 

I doubt it would throw a code as I did the vacuum cap mod instead of using the controller which leaves it open all the time and I have yet to throw a code upon starting

 

I guess I'm asking if it can even open the flaps with the car off

 

The controller needs power to change modes. When power is lost, the controller returns to default position and that is the position that it takes upon restoration of power. Now, if one were to use the manual switch option, which is available on the Forza controllers, the controller, upon restoration of power, would then assume the mode that the switch was set for. Since a switch is a mechanical device, it does not rely on power to retain its position. In this way, one could set the switch for always open and upon restarting the vehicle, the valves would open with any further intervention from the driver.


Regards,


Steve

 

Thanks for confirming Steve.

I'm having mine installed today at Motorwerks in Westchester. Anyone else have an issue where the bottom of the box where the controller gets installed and where the fuse box is, has a raised crisscross pattern which prevents the controller sticking to it? I have a MY18 so maybe it's different then the 17s. The guys here cut out some of the raised plastic so it can sit flush.

 

What are they charging and how long did it take them? I still haven’t had time to do mine yet. Still leaning toward DIY but I have to set aside an afternoon...

 

That's what I did. You can definitely DIY it. Just loosen enough of the middle underpanel fasteners to allow it to flex down. Then reach in through the wheel well with the wheel off and zip tie the cables, from underneath, to the vacuum lines.

You can stick the locking velcro strips to the side of the plastic cubby. I had enough ground wire from the bumper side of the cubby to reach the bolts for the rear ecus. The nut closest to the back seat can be removed without touching the foam inserts and all the trim. Perfect grounding point.

I love my Forza controller! You can tell by the carbon stains on the exhuast tips.

 

You just need to renove the driver’s side rear wheel? Not sure how I can get under to loosen the middle underbody panel. Maybe put the lower A-arms on some 8x8’s lol

 

They told me they couldn't do the side because the foam box wouldn't fit back in.

I like the idea of cutting the crisscross because then it adds a little area around it to prevent movement, and the Velcro can sit flush.

They also had to drill the extra hole but the kit comes with the a grommet for it.

They charge $110 an hour, seems to be standard around here, and it took them 2.5 hours but only because I was the guinea pig. My guess is they could do it in under two now they know how. And the guy I worked with (Jay) used to sell Alfa's, so he's a little familiar.


I have to concur with everyone else, this is an absolute must have for all QV owners! Shame on Alfa for not making the exhausts always open or at least giving owners an option to always open them. Even AE mode sounds amazing now.

 

Wait, the controller has a setting to automatically open the flaps every time you start the car?

 

Gotta ask:

What's the point?

I mean the engine noise is not that great anyway. My QV does not shriek like a small displacement V8 not does it wail like a flat 6. Yes, the sound is quite amazing for a turbo V6 but it is not even remotely as exciting as say naturally aspirated Maserati F136 V8 from the old Quattroporte or Granturismo. I'm not even talking about real Ferraris. It's a shame what turbocharging did to the sound but there is no escaping present reality. Turbocharging and its muffled exhaust sound effects are here to stay.

To me the elevated engine noise only makes sense if I row my own gears. Then I can shift by sound. QV already provides that in the Race mode. Also, the best sounds are all in the upper rev range and under aggressive upshifts/downshifts. And that happens on the track. In Race mode. Then and there it really sounds great!!! In other modes and places with transmission in auto... well, this controller just makes it a noisy automatic.

I've driven my QV on the street in Race mode. The sound is meh (unless I risk my license). I much prefer quiet power.

IMHO Alfa's stock exhaust valve programming makes perfect sense as it is.

What am I missing?

Disclaimer: not trolling, honest question.

 

You are absolutely correct. The 2.9 V6 in the Giulia Quadrifoglio does not sound like a flat six or like a V8. It can't sound like a V8 for at least two reasons:

1) It does not have eight cylinders.
2) The standard V8 & V6 that we're use to hearing are a 60 degree V. The 2.9 QV is a 90 degree V.

- The flat six is a 180 degree block.

Even if all other tuning was matched, it simply can not sound like the other two. Impossible.

 

^a lot of words but in summary what you are missing is different strokes for different folks. What you prefer differs from what others prefer. So it's all about options.

 

Yeah, I get that. I'm all for options.

But I still wonder what am I missing in terms of always open sound in street driving.

 

Took a 200 mile road trip today after having the Forza installed yesterday, and while traffic caused me to stay in A most of the trip, the little openings I found when changing lanes sound like I'm in D or race. That's why I got it installed.

 

Truth!

The 90' V6 with "big bang" timing, if I have that right, is a unique sound. With the displacement, it generates a wonderful bellow and throaty roar to my ears. Not a wailing I4 or V8 and definitely NOT a farty, punchy, bangy, flat 4 boxer. Maybe it's their aftermarket exhaust? But the ones in my neighborhood sound farty, even though I encourage those young kids to keep at it and go for it. Just a little too much putt-putt for me.

 

https://shopeurocompulsion.net/blogs...ce-mode-active

 

I get a 404 error when I click the link

 

Im guessing it was supposed to be this one? The link in that post was truncated

https://shopeurocompulsion.net/blog...nstallation-database/alfa-romeo-giulia-qv-exhaust-modification-race-mode-active

 

Very very tempting