Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - My First Run Impressions and Testing Results with (knockoff) Billet Power Blocks

Tatsu333 · 06-04-2022, 03:10 PM

Just wanted to share my first run impressions and testing results after installing my knockoff Billet Power Blocks (you can read about my install and knockoff vs. genuine discussion on my build log here). Despite some dissenting opinions across the forums, I decided they were worth a try based on a couple of threads (here and here) speaking really highly of them. There was also an article from Moto IQ that, again, was very enthusiastic about the results. In those threads and that article, they call the BPB's a "no brainer" and "pretty much the best bang for your buck" for an NA car, so I figured, why not?

Since I don't have a dyno in my garage, my comparison testing is done on the road, with as close to the same conditions as possible for each run, and as little time between runs as I can. For comparison, I'm looking at the time deltas between certain RPM ranges (in this case, 600 rpm increments from 3000 - 6600 rpm). All runs are on Shell V-Power Nitro+ 93 octane from the same local gas station.

A few caveats / notes with my results here:

First, I couldn't, for obvious practical reasons, do back-to-back runs before and after the BPB install, so the stock numbers I'm comparing with are from a different day, but same stretch of road, temperatures within 1-2 degrees Celsius of today and similar weather conditions, so they're not going to be WAY off.

Second, after my first run with the BPB's and the stock tune loaded this morning, a speed trap was set up right at my highway on-ramp testing spot...LOL. So, I ended up having to resort to a different, straight and relatively level road afterwards for a couple more runs. I re-did a run with the stock tune, and then switched to my tune with mild cam timing changes to do a back-to-back there, but had to do those on-the-go moving down the same road rather than repeating the exact same stretch since there wasn't any good place to loop back around. I didn't expect to see massive differences between the stock tune and my cam tune anyway, so didn't think it was worth it.

Third, I didn't log anything below 2500 rpm previously, so I have nothing to compare to there, but I will say that from 1500-2500 rpm, while still certainly not "strong" by any means (and not where you'd really want to drive anyway), it does feel like it pulls a bit more smoothly / doesn't struggle as much. Even up some small hills at that low rpm, it just pulled smoothly where before it would really be chugging, so I'd agree that there are gains in the lowest range.

Fourth, the only changes in my tune are some pretty mild cam timing changes. Fueling / AFR targets and ignition timing are all still stock.

Comparison #1 - 100% stock vs. BPB + stock tune (3000 rpm - 6600 rpm tested)

3000-3600 rpm = 2.5% faster with BPB's
3600-4200 rpm = 1.0 % slower
4200-4800 rpm = 2.5% faster
4800-5400 rpm = 0.7% slower
5400-6000 rpm = 10.5% faster (!!!)
6000-6600 rpm = 0.4% faster

So...WOW! Subjectively, it did feel quite strong from just above 5000 rpm to just above 6000 rpm, but WOW. Over 10% faster (1.321 seconds vs. 1.46 seconds stock).

While the other ranges are almost kind of within margin for error from one test to the next (though I do believe anything more than 1.5% could be considered a valid improvement or loss), there's no discounting that magnitude of change. DEFINITE improvement on the road.

Comparison #2 - BPB + stock tune vs. BPB + mild cam tune (3000 - 6600 rpm tested)

3000-3600 rpm = 1.9% faster with my tune
3600-4200 rpm = 2.5% faster with my tune
4200-4800 rpm = 0.1% slower with my tune
4800-5400 rpm = 2.4% faster with my tune
5400-6000 rpm = 5.8% faster with my tune (!!!)
6000-6600 rpm = 1.5% slower (this region is unchanged in my tune)

Again, there were even more gains in that 5400-6000 rpm range with my mild cam tune (about 1 degree more intake advance in that range is all), which suggests there may be more improvement to be found there with a bit more overlap (either more intake advance or exhaust retard). That's a total net improvement vs. stock if you add both comparisons together of about 15%, which is great!

My tune was quicker through 3000-3600 rpm on top of the gains from the BPB's alone, recovered and improved on the slight power loss on the stock vs. BPB run in the 3600-4200 rpm range, and was basically dead even from 4200-4800, so a definite (small) improvement through the torque dip area. I feel like there's a bit more to be gained with some further tweaks to cam timing here before I start playing with fuel and ignition timing.

Likewise, my cam timing changes gained a moderate bump in the 4800-5400 rpm range vs. a slight power loss on the stock vs. BPB run, leading into the bigger gains from 5400-6000 rpm.

While there was a slight loss shown from 6000-6600 rpm, that's a range in which I haven't actually changed anything with my tune, and with it pulling harder in the previous 600 rpm you'd think it would at least break even. Maybe I can chalk that one up to a slight gradient increase on the road I was testing at on the "tuned" run during that range...

SUMMARY

On my otherwise stock car, the BPB's show measurable improvement even without any tuning changes, including a BIG improvement in the upper mid-range. With only mild cam timing changes, further improvements were found across the board.

Next steps for me will be trying out further cam timing changes through the torque dip range to see if we can squeeze out a bit more improvement, and also from 6000 rpm up to see if we can offset a little of the top end drop-off in power that's an expected consequence of lengthening the intake runners with the BPB's.

Once I feel like I've gotten all I can out of the cam timing, I'll start tweaking fueling and ignition timing.

06-04-2022, 03:10 PM	#1
Tatsu333 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Drives: 2020 BRZ Sport Tech RS Location: Canada Posts: 425 Thanks: 519 Thanked 324 Times in 179 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My First Run Impressions and Testing Results with (knockoff) Billet Power Blocks Just wanted to share my first run impressions and testing results after installing my knockoff Billet Power Blocks (you can read about my install and knockoff vs. genuine discussion on my build log here). Despite some dissenting opinions across the forums, I decided they were worth a try based on a couple of threads (here and here) speaking really highly of them. There was also an article from Moto IQ that, again, was very enthusiastic about the results. In those threads and that article, they call the BPB's a "no brainer" and "pretty much the best bang for your buck" for an NA car, so I figured, why not? Since I don't have a dyno in my garage, my comparison testing is done on the road, with as close to the same conditions as possible for each run, and as little time between runs as I can. For comparison, I'm looking at the time deltas between certain RPM ranges (in this case, 600 rpm increments from 3000 - 6600 rpm). All runs are on Shell V-Power Nitro+ 93 octane from the same local gas station. A few caveats / notes with my results here: First, I couldn't, for obvious practical reasons, do back-to-back runs before and after the BPB install, so the stock numbers I'm comparing with are from a different day, but same stretch of road, temperatures within 1-2 degrees Celsius of today and similar weather conditions, so they're not going to be WAY off. Second, after my first run with the BPB's and the stock tune loaded this morning, a speed trap was set up right at my highway on-ramp testing spot...LOL. So, I ended up having to resort to a different, straight and relatively level road afterwards for a couple more runs. I re-did a run with the stock tune, and then switched to my tune with mild cam timing changes to do a back-to-back there, but had to do those on-the-go moving down the same road rather than repeating the exact same stretch since there wasn't any good place to loop back around. I didn't expect to see massive differences between the stock tune and my cam tune anyway, so didn't think it was worth it. Third, I didn't log anything below 2500 rpm previously, so I have nothing to compare to there, but I will say that from 1500-2500 rpm, while still certainly not "strong" by any means (and not where you'd really want to drive anyway), it does feel like it pulls a bit more smoothly / doesn't struggle as much. Even up some small hills at that low rpm, it just pulled smoothly where before it would really be chugging, so I'd agree that there are gains in the lowest range. Fourth, the only changes in my tune are some pretty mild cam timing changes. Fueling / AFR targets and ignition timing are all still stock. Comparison #1 - 100% stock vs. BPB + stock tune (3000 rpm - 6600 rpm tested) 3000-3600 rpm = 2.5% faster with BPB's 3600-4200 rpm = 1.0 % slower 4200-4800 rpm = 2.5% faster 4800-5400 rpm = 0.7% slower 5400-6000 rpm = 10.5% faster (!!!) 6000-6600 rpm = 0.4% faster So...WOW! Subjectively, it did feel quite strong from just above 5000 rpm to just above 6000 rpm, but WOW. Over 10% faster (1.321 seconds vs. 1.46 seconds stock). While the other ranges are almost kind of within margin for error from one test to the next (though I do believe anything more than 1.5% could be considered a valid improvement or loss), there's no discounting that magnitude of change. DEFINITE improvement on the road. Comparison #2 - BPB + stock tune vs. BPB + mild cam tune (3000 - 6600 rpm tested) 3000-3600 rpm = 1.9% faster with my tune 3600-4200 rpm = 2.5% faster with my tune 4200-4800 rpm = 0.1% slower with my tune 4800-5400 rpm = 2.4% faster with my tune 5400-6000 rpm = 5.8% faster with my tune (!!!) 6000-6600 rpm = 1.5% slower (this region is unchanged in my tune) Again, there were even more gains in that 5400-6000 rpm range with my mild cam tune (about 1 degree more intake advance in that range is all), which suggests there may be more improvement to be found there with a bit more overlap (either more intake advance or exhaust retard). That's a total net improvement vs. stock if you add both comparisons together of about 15%, which is great! My tune was quicker through 3000-3600 rpm on top of the gains from the BPB's alone, recovered and improved on the slight power loss on the stock vs. BPB run in the 3600-4200 rpm range, and was basically dead even from 4200-4800, so a definite (small) improvement through the torque dip area. I feel like there's a bit more to be gained with some further tweaks to cam timing here before I start playing with fuel and ignition timing. Likewise, my cam timing changes gained a moderate bump in the 4800-5400 rpm range vs. a slight power loss on the stock vs. BPB run, leading into the bigger gains from 5400-6000 rpm. While there was a slight loss shown from 6000-6600 rpm, that's a range in which I haven't actually changed anything with my tune, and with it pulling harder in the previous 600 rpm you'd think it would at least break even. Maybe I can chalk that one up to a slight gradient increase on the road I was testing at on the "tuned" run during that range... SUMMARY On my otherwise stock car, the BPB's show measurable improvement even without any tuning changes, including a BIG improvement in the upper mid-range. With only mild cam timing changes, further improvements were found across the board. Next steps for me will be trying out further cam timing changes through the torque dip range to see if we can squeeze out a bit more improvement, and also from 6000 rpm up to see if we can offset a little of the top end drop-off in power that's an expected consequence of lengthening the intake runners with the BPB's. Once I feel like I've gotten all I can out of the cam timing, I'll start tweaking fueling and ignition timing. __________________ 2020 BRZ Sport Tech RS Last edited by Tatsu333; 06-04-2022 at 04:19 PM.