Next power mod suggestions...
chris- the mods are changing the air flow that the ecu is seeing and this is going to make the car run rich or lean. the ecu corrects for certian things but it is programed for stock flow and you need to 'trick' (aka tuning) the ecu when you add new parts to it the change airflow so the engine can react best to those mods.
Originally Posted by baby_ruiner
chris- the mods are changing the air flow that the ecu is seeing and this is going to make the car run rich or lean. the ecu corrects for certian things but it is programed for stock flow and you need to 'trick' (aka tuning) the ecu when you add new parts to it the change airflow so the engine can react best to those mods.
Originally Posted by ChrisCJ99
well, looks like I WONT be going FI afterall... Just cost too much $ for me. Plus it just too much of a risk on a daily driver. I really can't afford the $ and headaches it may bring. So I'm just going to do headers and TP's and MAYBE a motordyne eventually. I dont race hardly, so all that power won't get put to use too much... From what I've read the headers and test pipes give decent results. Can anyone agree with this?
you can talk to "Sentry65" I think that is his name and he will help you with a S/C setup.
Originally Posted by BornSlippyZ
I would suggest saving for a Vortech S/C...some vendors and other members will sell you one at a pretty good price...also you will need a good tune...it is reliable for a daily driver. you can talk to "Sentry65" I think that is his name and he will help you with a S/C setup.
you can talk to "Sentry65" I think that is his name and he will help you with a S/C setup.Well what's a pretty good price? I mean, I've seen used turbonetics kits for about $3500, but I still have to pay for installation and tuning, which after all that's said and done, its gonna cost me about $5-$6K.... That's still a pretty penny, especially for a used kit
FI is just wayyyy too expensive for my taste man. Especially considering you'll end up dumping alot of money into the other goods that support the FI...exhaust systems designed for FI apps, fuel return system, fuel system components, this that and the other. And if you have a warranty well...you know what happens there.
lol~ :-)
Originally Posted by gothchick
Sounds like a callout to shariff? It would be interesting to see him run a built Vette...
Ok ok. Back on topic here. I talked to Sharif at Forged Performance (Really really nice and educated guy!!!) And he was going through my options with me as far as staying NA. He told me that I could do the headers and TP's (or HFC's) but I would be running lean and need to get tuned to run a "safe" map. Do I ABSOLUTELY NEED a tune? I mean, is it bad to run lean? (sorry, noob question). It's just that a tune is gonna run me over $1k for a UTEC and tuning... Any comments?
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: farmington
Originally Posted by ChrisCJ99
So I just got my first Z a couple months ago (2005 enthusiast). Since then I've done a JWT pop charger, Injen titanium exhaust and 20" Axis Matrix wheels. I previously had a 06 WRX and had about 305 awhp. Needless to say the Z isn't as powerful yet, but I wanna get some noticeable gains. I've read about the plennum spacer and test pipes, but I'm not too crazy about doing things that add a measly 8-12 hp. I've always noticed that an ECU retune yields the best gains, but would an ECU retune gain anything substantial on a NA engine??
Well, my main question is.... What would people highly recommend next?!?!? I know my best bet would be to get a turbo setup, but that's pretty freakin expensive. It sucks cuz I could upgrade my turbo on my WRX for under $3K with BRAND NEW parts! (new turbo, new front mount intercooler, new intake, new BOV, AND an ECU upgrade) Can you guys give me some educated opinions? Thanks!
Well, my main question is.... What would people highly recommend next?!?!? I know my best bet would be to get a turbo setup, but that's pretty freakin expensive. It sucks cuz I could upgrade my turbo on my WRX for under $3K with BRAND NEW parts! (new turbo, new front mount intercooler, new intake, new BOV, AND an ECU upgrade) Can you guys give me some educated opinions? Thanks!
It sounds like you want power at a cheap price. I think your best bet would be to buy a used FI set up on one of these forums or on ebay. Think about it, you'll only get about an extra 25-30hp w(headers, TP,pullies,spacer, reflash). Thats going to run you close to 2 grand, while you can easily find a used vortech or turbonetics for about $3500 give or take. That right there would push you in the 330-350Whp range on low boost. Well above your wrx
yall keep slapping a base sticker price on these FI kits like thats all youre gonna pay lol...take that 3500 dollars...go ahead and double that figure. installation (1000-1500), engine management, some of the kits come with a new ECU but most of em are crap (800-1000), fuel system or at least some extra cooling mods (500-1000)...Clutch/flywheel (800-1k) after that ya MIGHT AS WELL go ahead and do headers/tp/exhaust (at least 1500)...and a tune.....FI = pandoras box. Look around the forums? see anyone with JUST a supercharger or JUST twin turbos...I think not.
Last edited by ke0ki2k; Jan 19, 2008 at 04:25 AM.
I am at these crossroads as well. I have intake/spacer/testpipes/exhaust with no tune. My next step is to get a utec and tune to see where i am at before FI. Then with my bolt on's in place and a solid foundation for FI, I will be going with a Vortech set-up. You are going to spend a chunk of change with the Z no matter what you do. Enjoy the car for what it is and learn to drive it at its full potential first. Then when you decide how much your ready to invest in the car time and money wise, make your decision. Its all about doing it right the first time. The last thing you want to do is have to go back and re-do your bolt on's to better fit your new FI plans. Thats why the boards are here to help poeple find there way. Plan it out, and execute it with a trusted shop. So-cal luvs GTM and the East coast has Forged.
Originally Posted by ke0ki2k
engine management, some of the kits come with a new ECU but most of em are crap (800-1000).
Why does everyone say that the ECU reflash that comes with the Turbonetics kit is crap??? I mean, I doubt theyd give you something that isn't gonna run good with that expensive kit...
Can someone elaborate? I'm not looking for any kinda elaborate egine management, cuz I want to run a VERY mild and conservative tune....
Originally Posted by ke0ki2k
Clutch/flywheel (800-1k)
Dude you seem to be all over the place. I think you should just read up as much info as possible before posting more questions.
You don't have to have an aftermarket clutch for FI, but it is recommended depending on what shape your stock clutch is in and what kind of power you plan on making. There are plenty of supporting mods that are not necessarily required, but they will help you run more efficiently and safely. They also help you get the most HP out of your set-up. These guys arent getting 600 whp by slapping on greddy twins and calling it a day.
Yes turbo kits will come with an ss box or emange. Does it work just fine ? Well that depends on who your asking. The few people that slap on there kits and run it out of the box with mild hp aspirations are content with them. Most will throw out the provided emange or ss box and upgrade to something a bit more complex like the UTEC or FCON. This enables the tuner to really get in depth. People will then upgrade injectors, fuel pump etc. Do you have to build your bottom end ? No, but again if you plan on running high boost and pushing the limits of your kit, then you will want to reinforce your bottom end to be safer. Notice I said safer ... not safe. Even with a built bottom end you can run into problems when boosting. There are just sooo many different scenarios, we cannot list every option for every situation. Get out there and look to see what others have done. You'll find that most people find certain extra supporting mods worthwhile, even tho they are not absolutely required. Rarely do you find ppl throwing on F/I kits out of the box and thats it ...
I could go on for hours... you really just gatta search. Start with the FI part of the forum and read all the stickie's. There plenty of valuable information. Mmebers like Sentry has some of the best info for Vortech set-ups while Albert and many others have gone over Greddy twins. Utilize the forums.
You don't have to have an aftermarket clutch for FI, but it is recommended depending on what shape your stock clutch is in and what kind of power you plan on making. There are plenty of supporting mods that are not necessarily required, but they will help you run more efficiently and safely. They also help you get the most HP out of your set-up. These guys arent getting 600 whp by slapping on greddy twins and calling it a day.
Yes turbo kits will come with an ss box or emange. Does it work just fine ? Well that depends on who your asking. The few people that slap on there kits and run it out of the box with mild hp aspirations are content with them. Most will throw out the provided emange or ss box and upgrade to something a bit more complex like the UTEC or FCON. This enables the tuner to really get in depth. People will then upgrade injectors, fuel pump etc. Do you have to build your bottom end ? No, but again if you plan on running high boost and pushing the limits of your kit, then you will want to reinforce your bottom end to be safer. Notice I said safer ... not safe. Even with a built bottom end you can run into problems when boosting. There are just sooo many different scenarios, we cannot list every option for every situation. Get out there and look to see what others have done. You'll find that most people find certain extra supporting mods worthwhile, even tho they are not absolutely required. Rarely do you find ppl throwing on F/I kits out of the box and thats it ...
I could go on for hours... you really just gatta search. Start with the FI part of the forum and read all the stickie's. There plenty of valuable information. Mmebers like Sentry has some of the best info for Vortech set-ups while Albert and many others have gone over Greddy twins. Utilize the forums.
Last edited by TimeAttkZ; Jan 19, 2008 at 10:36 PM.
Gotcha.... Thanks for the info I'll be doing more searching. But like I mentioned, I plan on just doing a MILD tune, so I think I should be happy with the stuff out of the box
I'll be doing more searching. But like I mentioned, I plan on just doing a MILD tune, so I think I should be happy with the stuff out of the box