Cheapest way to get more power from an NA engine?

[RObErT_RaTh]

I've got limited mods done to my engine/car and I'm wandering if there are still other options out there that will help with overall performance without costing an arm and a leg?

I've got 2.25' straight through exhaust (don't want to redo it until if and when I get a new engine), extractors, K&N pod filter, removed resonator on intake and that's pretty much it. Would it be worth getting a custom mandrel bent 3' intake pipe and fabbing up a CAI for it? Also what other things have people done that have only cost a couple hundred bucks? Any help would be appreciated, cheers

[jonra23]

CAI will definitely help, especialy if currently running a pod that picks up from behind radiator under bonnet.

Not familiar with 5Ms but the bassics are the same, more dense air in, less exhaust restriction, optimise fuel ratios and spark advance.

Pull the lid off your AFM and tighten the door spring a couple clicks will lean whole fuel curve out a bit as cars generlay run a bit rich (there is a thread on toymods somewhere about doing it)

Jaycar make a interceptor kit that you can place in AFM wires and will will let you mess with the air/fuel ratio a bit more precisley.

Pull your base timing forward a bit will advance the whole ignition curve, don't get to adventerous as can lead to detonation issues.

regards
jon

[CrUZida]

ULT98 + 5deg timing

[RObErT_RaTh]

CAI will definitely help, especialy if currently running a pod that picks up from behind radiator under bonnet.

Which it does, so I'll make up a CAI something I think.

Pull the lid off your AFM and tighten the door spring a couple clicks will lean whole fuel curve out a bit as cars generlay run a bit rich (there is a thread on toymods somewhere about doing it)

Been done, car has recently been dyno tuned and it got leaned out quite a bit. Plus I'd been fiddling with it before then anyway

Jaycar make a interceptor kit that you can place in AFM wires and will will let you mess with the air/fuel ratio a bit more precisley.

The digital fuel adjuster? I just made one of these for a mate, have thought about it.

Pull your base timing forward a bit will advance the whole ignition curve, don't get to adventerous as can lead to detonation issues.

Haven't messed with timing myself but got it checked and it's spot on factory at the moment.

Thanks very much for the help though

ULT98 + 5deg timing

I am running BP Ultimate 98 at the moment. Guess I'll just have to get the timing changed now, cheers cruz

[Draven]

don't polish teh p00

[RObErT_RaTh]

don't polish teh p00

Awwww but I love my mini p00......

[Billzilla]

Lightweight flywheel.
It won't add any power as such, but it'll make the car noticeably faster.

[RObErT_RaTh]

Lightweight flywheel.
It won't add any power as such, but it'll make the car noticeably faster.

Better pickup you mean? But it will come at a sacrifice of worse fuel economy, like mine isn't bad enough already But it's not a bad idea, I think CVAP has a Toda 6kg flywheel for $350. Anyone got one and say it's worth the cost?

[slide86]

diff gears. what ones are you running at the moment?

we put 3.9 gears in LS1 commodores at work, it makes HEAPS of difference. specially in the manual

[Billzilla]

Better pickup you mean? But it will come at a sacrifice of worse fuel economy, like mine isn't bad enough already

It won't make the slightest difference to the fuel economy, as you haven't changed the airflow or fuel flow in the engine.

[RObErT_RaTh]

diff gears. what ones are you running at the moment?

Stock as far as I know

It won't make the slightest difference to the fuel economy, as you haven't changed the airflow or fuel flow in the engine.

I beg to differ, my car won't keep rolling as much on a flat road surface at say 60km/h. I'll have to give it a bit more rev every now and then to keep it going further wheras a heavy flywheel will just keep me rolling yeah?

[AE35]

Extractors will make a fair bit of difference to an NA motor.

Changing the cams will too (can be pricey). I'm not sure how good the 5M motor is but you could get some factory cam's reground. Also may be worth looking at adjustable cam gears too.

[RObErT_RaTh]

Extractors will make a fair bit of difference to an NA motor.

Ooops, forgot to add I have them too Knew there was something else

Changing the cams will too (can be pricey). I'm not sure how good the 5M motor is but you could get some factory cam's reground. Also may be worth looking at adjustable cam gears too.

Not looking at spending money on a cam for it, that's a bit more effort than I'm looking to spend on this old tired engine. It's not really the cost of the cam but the labour involved with fitting it.

[slide86]

cams? dont you mean CAM. hehe

id be looking at some diff gears. say 4.11 you will notice the difference

[AE35]

Yup. Diff gears will give you the edge on acceleration, but you will lose top end speed. I'm running 4.5's in my KE25 and i top out at about 150km/h

A cam isnt that hard to fit either. Thats a do-it-yourself job at home, if you have the know-how