Can someone educate me about mods...

[WVSooner]

I've been reading the posts about possible performance mods, but I guess I am not "getting it." Can someone educate me about (1) cold air intakes, (2) intercoolers and tubing, and (3) cat-back exhausts? Specifically, I want to know - what they do, what the performance or other benefits are, what I need to be looking for in terms of making my decision, recommendations and price ranges, and whether a tune is necessary to take advantage of them or vice versa (I am looking at BSR pretty hard).

Are there any other performance mods I ought to be looking at?

Responses are much appreciated, particularly since this is a pretty broad question.

Thanks.

[ceeker]

The BSR tune will give you the best gains.

Check with supporting vendor RPI, they have the best IC.

These two will give you your best gains.

Exhaust and CAI will do very little for HP gains but do wonders for looks and sound.

RPI also has the best exhaust, but a cheaper option on exhaust is Magnaflow.

Hahn is the place to buy your BSR tune!

Good luck!

[Drivetime]

X2 on the BSR tune. You will see gains from the intercooler according to some of the results seen from our supporting vendors. As far as the CAI and exhaust, you will see increases from the lightening of your wallet..... unless you have the BSR (or some other) tune. With the tune, the ECM nannys won't steal your gains.

My vote, based upon an exhaust upgrade & a BSR tune?? Get the tune for power & the exhaust for great sound (Got both and loving it ). An IC also sounds like a great move. I haven't done one myself so I cannot speak from experience. Good luck!!

[snaponbob]

I am here to tell you that an exhaust DOES make a difference. I have my stock Redline exhaust, a MagnaFlow 3" cat back, and a Solo Performance 3" single pipe cat back. All are different. Day in and day out the MagnaFlow sounds nice, gives about 1 MPG increase on the highway and more responsive engine. The Solo Performance really lets the bottom end come faster and saves weight (I autocross a lot). As a matter of fact one of the faster Solstice GXP pilots at the SCCA Solo 2 Nationals complained that the Solo Performance exhaust lets the power come on TOO fast for his driving style.

CAI look nice, let you hear all of the popping, weazing, and puffing that the turbo does, but little else. Actually, the CAI pulls hot air from the engine compartment. It's basically bling.

Tunes work. The BSR seems to be the power champ for drop in tunes. If I was not autocrossing, I would buy it. Intercoolers DO work. Ditto the autocross excuse. There is also a larger throttle body available as well as a new high flow cat that doesn't set codes.

Intercooler, big cat, cat back exhaust, throttle body, tune ..... Why do I think that 350 crank horsepower seems realistic?

[ggccg]

Originally Posted by snaponbob

CAI look nice, let you hear all of the popping, weazing, and puffing that the turbo does, but little else. Actually, the CAI pulls hot air from the engine compartment. It's basically bling.

I have been driving around with a Dash Hawk monitoring intake and ambiant air temperatures recently. When the car is in motion, there is seldom more than a 1 or 2 degree F. difference between ambiant temp and intake temp. Stopped and idling is a whole different story, however, and intake temp quickly shoots up 20-30 degrees F. The CAI is definitely getting outside air when it matters: when the car is in motion.

[snaponbob]

Originally Posted by ggccg

I have been driving around with a Dash Hawk monitoring intake and ambiant air temperatures recently. When the car is in motion, there is seldom more than a 1 or 2 degree F. difference between ambiant temp and intake temp. Stopped and idling is a whole different story, however, and intake temp quickly shoots up 20-30 degrees F. The CAI is definitely getting outside air when it matters: when the car is in motion.

But what did the Dash Hawk show with the stock intake? If I wasn't running stock in SCCA I would like to have some of these goodies, but a CAI would only go if I could seal off the intake to avoid underhood air. Imagine THAT with an intercooler? Way cool, in more than one way!

[Drivetime]

Originally Posted by snaponbob

Tunes work. The BSR seems to be the power champ for drop in tunes. If I was not autocrossing, I would buy it.

Snaponbob, you can change from stock to tune with the push of a button and 48 seconds with the BSR tune. You could show up and run stock AND modified classes!!. BTW, just read your write up on autocross setup. GREAT info thanks.

[snaponbob]

Originally Posted by Drivetime

Snaponbob, you can change from stock to tune with the push of a button and 48 seconds with the BSR tune. You could show up and run stock AND modified classes!!. BTW, just read your write up on autocross setup. GREAT info thanks.

Ya know, I thought about that, but it makes me imagine Shinia Twain's ex-husband's life after the divorce. Ya have it all than go back to what you had. : Besides, Hoosiers are $1300 a set and I will need at least two sets next year.

[YellowSky]

1 dont waste your money on the hot air intakes out there right now for the car.. cause they dont work
2.RPI makes the Innercooler that requires no cutting of important crash areas on the car it gives you a good gain of HP and its a good price! the pipes are another waste of money all they are is flash and ricey
3. RPI also makes the best exaust for the car for a number of reasons price range, sounds great, lifetime warranty, future to put the trunk extention in, REAL LIFE tested,

I would go with those few parts cause dont dont lean the car out or create knocking or pinging like the BSR tune is doing... but your money spend it how you wish. on eather glamour or guts...

[Drivetime]

Originally Posted by YellowSky

those few parts cause dont dont lean the car out or create knocking or pinging like the BSR tune is doing... ...

Wow... The BSR tune is doing what??? Where did you get that piece of new information? Do you have supporting data? If you do, please share. I really am interested in the supporting data. Not just Internet cool-aid, real data. Thanks, I'm looking forward to it.

[YellowSky]

grab yourself a laptop and hook it up to your car and watch the data... i dont have one of those tunes for that reason... ill try to get you some data tho..

[german gt]

Originally Posted by YellowSky

grab yourself a laptop and hook it up to your car and watch the data... i dont have one of those tunes for that reason... ill try to get you some data tho..

yes please, but use premium for your test

bsr does not change the knocking sensor or the knocking fallback-data of the car, so how can the bsr tune produce knocking?

[Drivetime]

Originally Posted by YellowSky

grab yourself a laptop and hook it up to your car and watch the data... i dont have one of those tunes for that reason... ill try to get you some data tho..

Are you saying you have done just that already? I am curious specifically about the source you got the information you based your comments on. Thanks.

[RPIpower]

I think Yellowsky was a little bit confused. I don't think BSR or any other company will release a tune knowing that there is pinging or knock. From my experience, many people are getting inaudible knock which will only show up when datalogging. You wont hear the knocking but the knock sensor is sensing detonation. That was a concern for me. The ping was datalogged with VCM scanner on a redline with a stock tune and stock boost. It was this reason that I'm still waiting for the complete software package before we start tuning these cars. There is no question the aftermarket tunes out there are making more power as the boost has increased.

Originally Posted by german gt

yes please, but use premium for your test

bsr does not change the knocking sensor or the knocking fallback-data of the car, so how can the bsr tune produce knocking?

The tunes itself dont cause knock. There are a LOT of tunes out there that work fine but in CA, have knock issues. The gas here and in Vegas, I have seen, is just crap. Those of you who have access to 93 octane, enjoy it while it lasts. The green people want to be like CA.

[YellowSky]

Originally Posted by RPIpower

I think Yellowsky was a little bit confused. I don't think BSR or any other company will release a tune knowing that there is pinging or knock. From my experience, many people are getting inaudible knock which will only show up when datalogging. You wont hear the knocking but the knock sensor is sensing detonation. That was a concern for me. The ping was datalogged with VCM scanner on a redline with a stock tune and stock boost. It was this reason that I'm still waiting for the complete software package before we start tuning these cars. There is no question the aftermarket tunes out there are making more power as the boost has increased.

yes this is what i was refering to.. i just dont have the way with words that professionals do .. mybad...

[RPIpower]

Originally Posted by YellowSky

yes this is what i was refering to.. i just dont have the way with words that professionals do .. mybad...

Haha, its all good. Sometimes, its good to take a break from sniffing these....



As for intake mods, induction type intakes help with increased airflow. Many times this doesnt matter as its sucking in too much heat. The front of the engine bay does cool down at highway speeds (45mph+) when the heat and pressure moves its way back. Don't expect to increase 0-60 times though as right off the bat its sucking in hot air, where the factory box is sealed allowing only air in from the very front. The only way to have cold air at idle and at launch is to have the ram air which is completely sealed to the outside. I think the RK sport ram air is sealed also.

[YellowSky]

GOOD CALL... actually i was sniffing that and eatting rice and a piece of rice got sucked up into my brain and is glued there now

[Drivetime]

Great info. RPI power, thanks. Since knocking can show up when data logging even a stock Redline, is it simply part of these turbo'd engines nature to have at least some level of knock or is that more with the folks in areas that can't get the 91+ octain fuel? Can we typically would count on the knock sensor to shut down things if it gets beyond a certain point?

Fortunately, the tree huggers haven't killed our 93 octain yet. I wonder if octain boost additive would help in areas that can't get the good stuff.

PS wasn't trying to give you a hard time YellowSky, but I run the BSR tune and if there was some engine knock issues that have come up I was not aware of I really wanted to know!!!!

[ggccg]

Originally Posted by YellowSky

GOOD CALL... actually i was sniffing that and eatting rice and a piece of rice got sucked up into my brain and is glued there now

Does that make you a Ricer now?

[RPIpower]