What mod is worth it?

[PNW FRS]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

intake is a waste on our cars...

Not to be overly argumentative, but I would go as far to say that "some intakes" are a waste. I recently installed the Grimmspeed intake (v1) and after a quick install and reset of ECU... my basically stock (engine) is breathing better and I can definitely tell that there is a measurable (butt dyno) increase in performance once I get the RPMs up over 3K. (albeit small if compared to FI mods...)

I've only done modest mods (compared to most shared on this Forum). One of the biggest differences in performance came when I reduced unsprung weight at the four corners with forged aftermarket wheels (not oversize either... OEM size)... coil overs (for drop and reduced weight), and some great shoes (Mich Pilot SS). My next mod is beefing up the brakes. One great aspect of the 86 is the low weight. "Power-to-weight" ratio DOES mean something... so reducing weight is tantamount to adding performance. Beefing up the brakes (for me, SS lines, better fluid, maybe better rotors) means one can brake later into turns... carry more speed into turns... which is a "good thing."

"What mod is worth it?" Only your wallet and your satisfaction with the mod will answer that question. For the most part, anything posted by Forum members (including me) are just opinions or preferences. The old Your Mileage May Vary" (YMMV) cliche comes into play... no two cars are the same, no two drivers or driving conditions are the same... everyone does something (expects something) different from their use of their cars (and mods), so just be prudent and like most things in offered up to consumers... "If it sounds too good to be true... it probably is..."

Good luck with your mods!

[RobertPaulson]

Originally Posted by PNW FRS

Not to be overly argumentative, but I would go as far to say that "some intakes" are a waste. I recently installed the Grimmspeed intake (v1) and after a quick install and reset of ECU... my basically stock (engine) is breathing better and I can definitely tell that there is a measurable (butt dyno) increase in performance once I get the RPMs up over 3K. (albeit small if compared to FI mods...)

so long as you're happy with it. but you may want to make sure you aren't running lean.

[gtslow]

Tires to answer your thread title question.

In response to your full thread, I would get engine management and a tune that can grow with your car and handle forced induction and the like.

[SPCorBUST]

The OFT route was a nice suggestion. E85 is a joy, even when you're NA. Only losing $100 is nice too. The upfront cost will just be the $500.

Or, you can waste no money, and get the Ecutek license, cable, and dongle you'll need anyway, and get a FlexFuel kit for any future E85 ventures. If you buy them together from someone like Mike at Moto-East, I believe you receive a free NA E85 tune. The upfront cost is considerably higher, (maybe close to $1200?) but you won't lose any money from resell and you'll have an NA E85 tune should you decide to return to stock after owning the JR kit. (but that probably won't happen) That, plus you wouldn't need to purchase the cable, license, and tune when you purchase the JR SC kit, bringing your costs down at that time.

I wouldn't waste any money on an intake. It would be redundant for your future plans, and probably wouldn't even fit. You'd lose money trying to resell it too.

I have the Gruppe-S header, which is the UEL Tomei header minus the name on the flange. I have the Perrin overpipe, Perrin catted front pipe, and Perrin catback. I think those are (mostly) all of the parts you were thinking about, so I have a similar setup to what you're trying to accomplish.

[burdickjp]

Originally Posted by Shiv@Openflash

We expect some people to use our maps without bothering to support our business in any way whatsoever. What we don't expect is seeing those people encourage others to do the same. Then again, it's our livelihood so we are going to be more sensitive about this than consumers I suppose.

Give me a way to support the tunes without buying an OFT and I will.

[Shady195]

Originally Posted by Shiv@Openflash

We expect some people to use our maps without bothering to support our business in any way whatsoever. What we don't expect is seeing those people encourage others to do the same. Then again, it's our livelihood so we are going to be more sensitive about this than consumers I suppose.

I would gladly donate some cash your way to support the tunes you offer. I got my tactrix cable for a really good price and found out I could use your tune with it. Given that I don't have a reason to flash and reflash spending 500 bucks on an oft right now just isn't in the cards for me. Maybe in the future I will. Love the work you guys do and the support you have for your products and how you stand by them. It's not easy doing what you do and keeping a cool head about it when you know people are not always using your product as intended so to speak. Have a lot of respect for you Shiv for not being an ass about it like many other people would.

[Kerune]

Originally Posted by SPCorBUST

The OFT route was a nice suggestion. E85 is a joy, even when you're NA. Only losing $100 is nice too. The upfront cost will just be the $500.

Or, you can waste no money, and get the Ecutek license, cable, and dongle you'll need anyway, and get a FlexFuel kit for any future E85 ventures. If you buy them together from someone like Mike at Moto-East, I believe you receive a free NA E85 tune. The upfront cost is considerably higher, (maybe close to $1200?) but you won't lose any money from resell and you'll have an NA E85 tune should you decide to return to stock after owning the JR kit. (but that probably won't happen) That, plus you wouldn't need to purchase the cable, license, and tune when you purchase the JR SC kit, bringing your costs down at that time.

I wouldn't waste any money on an intake. It would be redundant for your future plans, and probably wouldn't even fit. You'd lose money trying to resell it too.

I have the Gruppe-S header, which is the UEL Tomei header minus the name on the flange. I have the Perrin overpipe, Perrin catted front pipe, and Perrin catback. I think those are (mostly) all of the parts you were thinking about, so I have a similar setup to what you're trying to accomplish.

Tempted to try out this flex-fuel kit and just sell the unmarried OFT afterwards, would only cost a net of $800 probably. Seems to be one of the most noticeable mods w/o going FI huh?

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Kerune

Tempted to try out this flex-fuel kit and just sell the unmarried OFT afterwards, would only cost a net of $800 probably. Seems to be one of the most noticeable mods w/o going FI huh?

On an NA car flex fuel kit and associated flex fuel tune will not generate any more power than a car running a dedicated E85 tune on an ethanol mix over about E60.

Its just more convenient and protects you if you fuel up with petrol instead of E85 while on a dedicated E85 tune. Ive actually run mine down to E40 or less (with no flex fuel kit) with no significant knock with some mods to the way Ignition Advance Multiplier works.

A flex fuel kit consists of an Ethanol content sensor you connect into your fuel lines to measure E% this is connected back to the ecu and with appropriate ECU software eg Ecutek (or a guy in Australia has coded flex fuel software into the ecu with his own custom code). The Ecu can make adjustments to tune based on ethanol content ie adjustments to fueling and timing.

however anything over about E60 is good enough to make maximum power NA on these cars.

[SPCorBUST]

^ true, but he would need to buy and sell the OFT at a loss, versus buying Ecutek and receiving the tune and injectors he'd need for a FI E85 setup anyway.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by SPCorBUST

^ true, but he would need to buy and sell the OFT at a loss, versus buying Ecutek and receiving the tune and injectors he'd need for a FI E85 setup anyway.

The OP (Evil rocky) was talking about going FI not sure if the @Kerune guy is ??

Originally Posted by Kerune

Tempted to try out this flex-fuel kit and just sell the unmarried OFT afterwards, would only cost a net of $800 probably. Seems to be one of the most noticeable mods w/o going FI huh?

[SPCorBUST]

Originally Posted by steve99

The OP (Evil rocky) was talking about going FI not sure if the @Kerune guy is ??

ah, good catch

[Kerune]

Originally Posted by steve99

On an NA car flex fuel kit and associated flex fuel tune will not generate any more power than a car running a dedicated E85 tune on an ethanol mix over about E60.

Its just more convenient and protects you if you fuel up with petrol instead of E85 while on a dedicated E85 tune. Ive actually run mine down to E40 or less (with no flex fuel kit) with no significant knock with some mods to the way Ignition Advance Multiplier works.

A flex fuel kit consists of an Ethanol content sensor you connect into your fuel lines to measure E% this is connected back to the ecu and with appropriate ECU software eg Ecutek (or a guy in Australia has coded flex fuel software into the ecu with his own custom code). The Ecu can make adjustments to tune based on ethanol content ie adjustments to fueling and timing.

however anything over about E60 is good enough to make maximum power NA on these cars.

Thanks for the info! I was referring to a flex fuel kit even though I have an OFT considering that E85 stations are 15-20 miles at the nearest, there will probably be a good amount of times I'd fill up on 91 for convenience and would not want to switch tunes every so often. I'd assume this is the main reason people take flex-fuel anyways.

[TylerLieberman]

Don't buy anything. Save your money and get your supercharger (which is what you really want anyways) even sooner.

[Andrew025]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Don't buy anything. Save your money and get your supercharger (which is what you really want anyways) even sooner.

x100000000

Wish I would have done the same.