Ion Upgrade Thread

[Everlight389]

Parts Compatibility

The following ion parts are universal and work on most/all paintball markers:

-Regulator (male threaded, that means it goes into the vert ASA)
-Gauge (1/8-27 NPT threads)
-Grips (.45)
-ASA (standard bottomline holes. all drops and asa's are standard unless otherwise specified)
-Macroline & Steel braided hose
-Battery (9 volt)

The following impulse parts are compatible with the ion:

-Barrel
-Feed neck

The following autococker parts are compatible with the ion:

-Quick Exhaust Valve/QEV (Modification required on stock ion shells)

All other parts are ion-specific.

ASA's:

Here is the list of ASA's currently availible. Just make sure that they have the standard 2 mount holes, or if you have a rail a dovetail mount.


CIP Unimount

Good, solid on/off asa, but get the 2nd version so you can take it off without removing the macroline.


CP Rail on/off

Another good, solid on/off asa.


Hybrid Push Button on/off

The best asa in my opinion... all you have to do is push the button on the sides to gas up the gun, degas, and vent.


Ball Detents:

New Designz Spring Detents

Kila Ball Detents

Only really needed as replacements


Barrels:

Barrels currently availible. Just make sure to get them in Impulse threading.

First, check out the barrel forum!


CP Barrels

Very accurate, well made barrels.


J&J Barrels

Excellent barrels, very good performance for the price.


Smart Parts Barrels

Decent... not the greatest. QC on them isn't very good, so bores are slightly different than listed


Stiffi Barrel

Incredibly light and very accurate. Get the 2nd version, as the first can fray slightly over time.


Bodies:

Ion bodies


Deadlywind Foehn Body

Team Strange body kit

Powerlyte Ion Body

Fireballmountain Kage body

Raguba body (under news)

AIM body

Trinity body

All the bodies on PBGear


Bolts:

Spudnuk'l bolt



Lightening Bolt

Increases air flow, efficency, reduces kick, and is overall a good upgrade. Weighs 19 grams (.70 ounces)

Orange bolt

Weighs virtually nothing, increases cycles per second, reduces kick, and raises efficency. Only downside is price.

[Everlight389]

Feednecks:

Ion specific feednecks

Any impulse feedneck will fit. I like CCM and New Designz personally, but any will do fine. Choose which you like best.


New Designz Clamping Lowrise


Check it sure fit feedneck

Note: If you have an agitated hopper, such as a reloaderII, revvy, ricochet, or anything other than a HaloB it is not wise to get a no-rise. Most hoppers require some gravity to feed well, so a taller feedneck allows a taller ball stack and higher feed rates for those type of hoppers. Only exception is the HaloB, because it is force fed it does not require the ball stack that a normal hopper would.

Grips


Dye Sticky3's


Hybrid Shizzle Grips


Quick Exhaust Valves (QEV's):

They increase performance greatly, I'd highly suggest getting one. Just make sure it has 10-32 threads, used on autococker rams. Only buy and install one QEV, and it needs to replace the middle banjo bolt (the one that leads air to the front of the bolt).


Planet Eclipse QEV Requires modification to the body


ASP Ion QEV. Does not require modification to the body

Regulators:

Regulator list.

Here are some of the better ones:


AKA 2-liter

The most consistent regulator availible. +-1 PSI... expensive though


Bob Long Torpedo

Good, cheap, consistent regulator.


CP Grip Regulator

Very nice regulator from CP, very consistent for a good price.

[Everlight389]

Triggers:

List of current Ion triggers


New Designz Roller Trigger

4 point adjustable trigger


CP Roller Trigger
3 point adjustable trigger


FBM delrin trigger

2 point adjustable trigger


The Better One Trigger

2 point adjustable trigger


Violent Products Ion Scythe Trigger

2 point adjustable

[Everlight389]

Hoppers

Check out the hopper forum!


Odyssey HaloB

The HaloB rip drive design is the fastest on the market that is a vertical feed hopper. HaloB uses an IR sensor to sense gaps and drive the cone, so it will have the fastest response, but it will have problems feeding black paint. Feeds as fast as the marker can shoot, or with Victory board about 35 BPS (Ion can't shoot that fast though)


Empire ReloaderB

HaloB design, but with sound activation. Feeds as fast as the marker can shoot.


Empire Reloader II

Same design as the Revy, but with sound activation. Feeds 10-12 balls per second.


Ricochet AK

Uses the same paddle design as the Revy, but uses a switch type mechanism to detect gaps.


http://www.pbreview.com/products/reviews/2301/

Same ricochet design, but faster. The newer model can do up to about 20 balls per second,
but it is still not as fast as the HaloB design. Also, it uses a switch.


Viewloader EvLutionII

Uses an IR sensor to detect gaps in the balls and feed. Agitated hopper, works fairly well for a good price. Feeds about 15-17 bps. Keep in mind that it is off balanced though...


Viewloader ReVLution X-board

Uses an IR sensor as well, agitated design (uses a paddle to move the balls towards the feedneck), feeds 10-12 bps.


AIC Q-loader

Feeds about 36/second, but does not sit directly on top of the gun, and only holds <100 balls. It's not bad except that it only holds under 100 balls, just kinda goofy compared to regular hopper setups.


HPA Tanks

Get any Crossfire, new PMI tanks, Centerflag, MacDev, or Nitro Duck tanks. Any of those will be very nice and work well for years. If you have the money, get a Carbon Fiber, it weighs over a pound less and holds 50% more air in a 4500 PSI tank, so it is well worth it if you have the cash.

Keep in mind that you will want a good tank cover if you get a CF tank to protect it adequately.

There are tons and tons more of upgrades... these are some of the more common ones, and some of the best. If there is one that you seriously think that I should add, PM me with the link. I'll try and keep this as up to date as possible

Thanks to Spyderman, f2f4, and fusion for ideas and helping me assemble this

[L337 krew]

no boards yet , already outshooting the stock

[nerdcore]

Originally posted by L337 krew
no boards yet , already outshooting the stock

Predator board is available but it's not a drop-in mod - you'll have to send the ion in or brave the installation yourself.

[L337 krew]

well ya, although my markers always seemed to be f'ed up when i need them, because my own "mods/installations"

[nerdcore]

Originally posted by nerdcore
Predator board is available but it's not a drop-in mod - you'll have to send the ion in or brave the installation yourself.

Nevermind, they're not available anymore .

[AndrewC]

what about QEV's? have any pics on how to install them or anything?

[nerdcore]

Originally posted by AndrewC
what about QEV's? have any pics on how to install them or anything?

Best QEV out right now is the one from Air Soldier since it requires no modification. Simply remove the stock banjo fitting & replace with that qev. It's quite simple, really.

[Jeff RoboT]

what is the best kind of HPA tank to use with an ion?

[popwarskater]

use a 45/45 (smaller but hold less air)
or a 68/45 (bigger but holds more air)
(get a crossfire)

[atm743]

Originally posted by nerdcore
Best QEV out right now is the one from Air Soldier since it requires no modification. Simply remove the stock banjo fitting & replace with that qev. It's quite simple, really.

would i have to cut the hose's to make them fit??

[nerdcore]

Originally posted by atm743
would i have to cut the hose's to make them fit??

You only trim one hose, the one that will go into the qev's quick-disconnect fitting. The instructions say you cut 1/4" off that single hose.

[BigTarget04]

Bolts:
http://www.orange-paintball.com/orange_paintball.htm

[ricecold]

Originally posted by nerdcore
Predator board is available but it's not a drop-in mod - you'll have to send the ion in or brave the installation yourself.

The regular predator board blew the solenoid and so it didn't really work too well. But they (tagsportz) will be releasing a drop in predator board for the ion, which is capped at 28 bps.
It should come out soon, people have said it should be anywhere from $80 to $125.....

[nerdcore]

Originally posted by ricecold
The regular predator board blew the solenoid and so it didn't really work too well. But they (tagsportz) will be releasing a drop in predator board for the ion, which is capped at 28 bps.
It should come out soon, people have said it should be anywhere from $80 to $125.....

Delicious . I knew they wouldn't just give up on the Ion boards.

[ricecold]

But I have heard that they will have to make a new solenoid to keep up with the pred. board.
There is also other speculation that SP is gonna come out with a board that is capped at 22 bps.

[(f)Arnez]

Okey, i'm new to this. I am going to buy ION and a Viewloader evlution II loader...will he fit the ION's feedneck or do i have to buy a special one that fits on the ION and will fit the loader. ? Could you please help me i'm totally confused.

[nerdcore]

It'll fit. If it's too tight, just remove the o-rings inside the feedneck.