First 1k miles, 5 small things I hope improve in time

[regal]

Its really not till you've driven a car for 1k miles that you identify where you want to upgrade. I am no track star or aggressive driver but there are a few things I think may be upgradeable in the future.

1. TRD spring/Shock set. I think the cheif engineer alluded to the fact that there is a better spring design for the car. With the early comparisons to the old BMW's I was expecting a little more of the autobahn type suspension where the car just tucks down and handles the curvy interstates like a precise surgeon scapel. There is too much front end bounce and and a little body sway. Hope TRD comes out with the original design intent for those who don't like fooling with coilovers .

2. The damn reverse lock-out, hate it just hate it. Surely there is a way to remove it short of a hacksaw

3. Is it a torque dip, or is 3rd gear too tall? Either way, it sucks passing on the interstate. What is the 60-80 mph time compared to other 200 HP cars? Educate me cause I gotta believe it rates very low car for 60-80mph. Up to 60 mph, this SOB is fast if you know how to drive it.

4. The steering is awesome again up to 60, after that the e-steering seems to interfer somehow, maybe it just takes getting used too but it is a bit jumpy.

5. Need an open-source ECU program and cable (long term goal.)


I don't know, I think most of these issues will be resolved thru TRD and aftermarket upgrades over the next several years. The Chassis is the best I have driven as is the tranny (except the odd 3rd gear ratio.) The rider position/angle/view to the road is perfect. Everything is there but there is room for some small upgrades.

[TuxedoCartman]

1: Yup.
2: Nope.
3: You haven't given your engine time to really break in yet. Even accounting for cooler weather, I noticed mine's gotten peppier the more miles I put on it. Get back to me at 5000 miles, and see what you think then.
4: E-steering sucks. I'm sure it'll get better on future car designs, but right now it's like playing on a crappy game controller.
5: Okay...

[Nezz]

... urce ECU program and cable (long term goal.)


I don't know, I think most of these issues will be resolved thru TRD and aftermarket upgrades over the next several years. The Chassis is the best I have driven as is the tranny (except the odd 3rd gear ratio.) The rider position/angle/view to the road is perfect. Everything is there but there is room for some small upgrades.

I could care less about open-sourcing my engine. In fact I'd rather not. BUT. I always like to change gear ratios to suit myself. With the Silvia I've yet to embark on this though I may at some point in the nears, but with the 86 and its modern speed sensing equipment I doubt the transmission getting new cogs will interfere. Roll on close-ratio...

[regal]

Originally Posted by TuxedoCartman

1: Yup.
2: Nope.
3: You haven't given your engine time to really break in yet. Even accounting for cooler weather, I noticed mine's gotten peppier the more miles I put on it. Get back to me at 5000 miles, and see what you think then.
4: E-steering sucks. I'm sure it'll get better on future car designs, but right now it's like playing on a crappy game controller.
5: Okay...

First thanks for the responses.


3. I greatly suspect that the first tank from the dealer was 87 and I know the timing curve is retarded if there are any knocks, best gas arond here is sunoco which I have been running since so hopefully this will improve. My scanner doesn't work with this car but I bought one of those $30 usb- ELM327 scanners, just need to fire up my 10 year old laptop. Also I still find my self stuck in that 4.7k torque dip where the engine just doesn't pull. I guess I am losing too many RPM when I move from 2nd to 3rd (Never learned teel/hole.)

4. You know before I bought the car I posted here about my concern with the e-steering. And folks said it was great, every article I read said it was like it wasn't there. There as got to be a way to slow it down over 30 mph. I don't know but its really starting to bother me. Maybe if we had a graph that showed its inflluence by road speed it would help me adjust. Or someone will come out with a replacement non-PS rack. Any links to info on this ?

Originally Posted by Nezz

I could care less about open-sourcing my engine. In fact I'd rather not. BUT. I always like to change gear ratios to suit myself. With the Silvia I've yet to embark on this though I may at some point in the nears, but with the 86 and its modern speed sensing equipment I doubt the transmission getting new cogs will interfere. Roll on close-ratio...

I don't mean "open sourcing" the ECU as in replacing it like Megasquirt, etc. Rather using the same code, same ecu, just having the ability to adjust the tables. That way one can have a flash for normal DD exact same as OEM (hardware and software) and then a flash for the "track/off-road", an even a flash for fuel economy (depending on the mods you have)

I think the key to getting improving responsivness from this engine without affecting the design intent is a not big turbo/psi and we all know with turbos the cost to do it right is really high (go big or go home.)

IMHO the key to improving this engine centers around the cylinder head (classic NA work, I/H/E + cyclinder head.) There is a ton of potential here but to make it work its going to require either a lottery winner or a group open source access to the ECU.
It will take a lot of work from individuals open knowledge sharing to find good combinations that are streetable and have high mpg with flash A and "off road" ready with flash B. Maybe ECUTek is the answer but hopefully they allow sharing flashes at some point.

[Nezz]

I like low pressure turbo-- I think the big catch with turbocharging is that people get enamoured with the "more boost more power" thing and give up on a low pressure solution, going straight to high pressure, instead.

There's a local group doing ~9psi installs on the 86 at the moment and their power gains are low but comfortably drop out the torque hole.

[636]

About your ECU question, there is an OBDII port I'm nearly 100% sure which you can hook up to.

Oh and Cobb's making an accessport which should be released soon.

[Realm]

My biggest complaint is that torque dip around 3,4 gear... somewhere around 3,500 - 4,500 RPM.

The other is no armrest (which are being made in the forums now)... search "armrest"

Additionally, the "Chirp".. Iv'e done 3 different types of fuel ups..
Chirps started around 300miles
Switched to pure 93 octane (goes away)
Around 1,500 miles... filled back up with 93 (10% ethanol)... Chirps came back
Switched to pure 93 octane (goes away)