TD Performance Upgrades without doing the downpipe first?

[AudiVWguy]

My friend has a 84 Jetta with the turbo diesel motor. We were talking about the usual tweaks, but I'm concerned that if you don't do the down pipe and exhaust first, you will be forcing more air into the motor but you haven't improved the exit. He doesn't want to spend the money yet for the exhaust.
I was just trying to give him a little more power without any problems later.
So let me know what you can safely get away with the stock exhaust.
Thanks,
-JB

[Smokey Eddy]

buy an EGT gauge and increase fueling and watch the EGT's.
A cheap set up can be bought from prothe for about 44 USD + shipping.
http://www.dieselvw.com/EGTGauge.htm
(but you already knew that)

[TurboJ]

The downpipe is *really* important on any turbo engine, especially a turbodiesel...

Why would a downpipe be expensive?
You need an angle grinder, a welder and some pipe bends.
Really, you will end up using a LOT more money on other stuff to make the car go faster, so why not just do it right, and start with the downpipe.
Just my 2 cents...

[Rabbit on Roids]

i agree, the exhaust is always the first thing to mess with, gotta get that air going out of the engine as easy as you can. downpipe was the first thing i did, but i kinda had to on the account of a MK4 turbo on an MK1.