n/a question

[gRk]

I am kinda new to all this. But I don't have the money or the engine know-how to install one of the turbo kits. ...and cool as I think it would be...I just dont think I could do it...So I think I am just going to do a n/a setup..just to get a little more hp when the ac is on...i was thinking about just doing a intake, headers, exhaust setup...is there anything else that i can do to get a little more performance out of it witout going to the extent of installing a turbo?? any help would be great...thanks.

 

[gRk]

oh...i forgot...i have a 97 eclipse rs..completely stock...

 

[DSM-ZERO]

YOU should get wires & plugs and get a underdrive pulley the UDP from AFX this is one of the best mods for the money and is easy to install. A Turbo kit is not that hard if you want any preformnce at all a turbo kit is the way to go. You should figure out how much you want to spend. Here are some site's to help you out www.imoto.com www.overbooststore.com www.howellautomotive.com www.modernperformance.com hope that helps you out. Good Luck

 

[gRk]

so how hard is it to install a turbo kit on a non-turbo...and will the kit come with everything i need? also what kind of boost would a stage 2 kit be puting out?? i just really have a lot of questions after reading some of the posts on this site...i mean..i read about people rebuilding the bottom end and replaceing the internals and all that..but i am not looking at raceing power...i just want a little more kick...so with that said...would i be looking at rebuilding the bottom end and all that?? again thanks for any help....

 

[DSM-ZERO]

The hardest part of the kit is the fuel system.
YES the kit comes with everything you need.
If all you want is a little more power than no you don't need to re build your bottom end.(you might want to conisder nitrous)
8-9psi is for stage 2

 

[Doug99RS]

Nitrous and Turbos are not for the shallow pocketed and learners. These mods, when in the wrong hands, can leave you walking from point a to point be for a very long time.

I would recomend starting with the quick and easy stuff. This would include wheels, tires, throttle body, cold air intake, header and cat-back. The gains from plugs and wires are not going to be that noticeable but when it's time for a tune-up by all means upgrade.

The stock wheels and tires for an RS or GS are not all that heavy but don't look all that great and the sidewalls on the 195/70R14's will make for a less predictable ride than most tuners prefer. Consider getting some 17" wheels that way less than 20 lbs. GSX wheels weigh a wopping 25 lbs without the tires. If the engine can spin lighter wheels then it will require less effort.

Tires are the single most important component on the car. They are responsible for keeping you stuck to the pavement when launching, accelerating, turning, and stopping. Without a good set of tires you have nothing. With a set of moderately sticky tires you can truly push a vehicle further.

The throttle body, cold air intake, header and cat-back are very basic mods. They are by far some of the most popular and in a tuning aspect, the first hp mods most intelligent people under-take. Why? If the car can't breath then it can't free up horsepower. A cold air intake will get air from a cooler location, direct it to the engine in nice smooth curves instead of ribbed, rough piping such as the stock 2gnt intake. A larger throttle body will allow more of that air in the cold air intake to actually get in the intake manifold. As with every combustion engine you have to be able to get rid of that air after it's been spent too. A nice exhaust header will efficiently route the exhaust gases, evenly, in to the rest of the exhaust system. Some Headers are even designed to promote air flow velocities in different areas of the rpm range. (4-1 vs 4-2-1) And finally is the cat-back exhaust. Not only does it give you a nice distinctive exhaust note (in comparison to stock) but it will also have less restriction and flowing characteristics. Keeping in mind that a non-turbo car still needs SOME restriction in the exhaust to keep the flow even and at a desirable velocity for scavenging purposes.

All of these are mods that will not require the installation of extra sensors, fuel components or modifying the car heavily. With the introduction of Nitrous and Turbos the driver/tuner must be very knowledgeable with air/fuel management, engine oiling and cooling needs, and be able to trouble shoot the car should any problems arise related to the turbo. Not only that but they must be able to differentiate between an after-market power adder problem and a stock engine problem.

Be carefull of the components you install on your car for multiple reasons. Warranty, engine longevity, local, state and federal laws, and last but not least... don't add too much power to a car that can't handle it.
Doug

 

[gRk]

so after i would install the header, exhaust, intake, etc. then at that point if i want more power could i install a turbo then? or would i have to get rid of all the new parts that i would have installed?

 

[Doug99RS]

No my dear boy. After all that then there's still cams, over-sized valves, ported and polished cylinder head ports, milling of the head, balance and blue-printing of the engine, stroker kits, boring the cylinders larger, larger injectors, performance engine controller. There's still alot of money that can be spent to extract every last bit of horsepower from the engine.

Granted alot of those mods will depend on whether or not the car will remain non-turbo or turbo'ed later. But there really is alot that can still be done.

There's still alot of other things you can do to extract horsepower as well as higher speeds without jeopardizing the safety of you and those around you. There's all kinds of suspension mods, brake upgrades, and for those who like this stuff.... audio and visual accessories. It all depends on what you want out of the car.
Doug

 

[Module Unknown]

Originally posted by gRk
...So I think I am just going to do a n/a setup..just to get a little more hp when the ac is on...

If you wanna be able to cruise around with the a/c on without feeling any drag or loss of power get the afx underdrive pulley. I put one on my rs and I barely feel any loss of power at all now when I switch on the a/c.

 

[gRk]

ok, thanks for all the good info everyone. i think i am going to go with a straight n/a car. now i know this quiestion is kinda off what i started with but with the exhaust....would it be better to go with a regular cat-back or could i do a dual exhaust setup?? or would it sound like crap? just wondering..but again...thanks for the info!

 

[DSM-ZERO]

Even after all those mod's you still would not be as fast as you could be if you had a turbo on your car and you would spend alot more if not the same amount of money. I'am not telling you to run out and get the first turbo kit you see or nitrous kit you should always do your homework on all the parts you decide to get. Yes if you got intake, headders,and exhaust(if it's to small) then you would have to get rid of those parts once you go turbo. I say do some homework decide on were you want be with your car and plan it out, There is no sense in doing things twice and spending more money trust me I know.

 

[Malenko]

"i read about people rebuilding the bottom end and replaceing the internals and all that..but i am not looking at raceing power...i just want a little more kick...so with that said...would i be looking at rebuilding the bottom end and all that?? again thanks for any help...."

trust me, I said the same thing...... and my new built bottom end is on its way

 

[Doug99RS]

Originally posted by DSM-ZERO
Even after all those mod's you still would not be as fast as you could be if you had a turbo on your car and you would spend alot more if not the same amount of money...... There is no sense in doing things twice and spending more money trust me I know.

But the most important thing that you've failed to notice is that the question is being asked from someone who is " kinda new to all this.", Doesn't "have the money or the engine know-how to install one of the turbo kits." and just doesn't think he is capable of doing the work himself.

Basically this was the question:
"So I think I am just going to do a n/a setup..just to get a little more hp when the ac is on...i was thinking about just doing a intake, headers, exhaust setup...is there anything else that i can do to get a little more performance out of it witout going to the extent of installing a turbo?? any help would be great...thanks."

The question was not which will yield more horsepower and cost efficient should they plan to go heavily modded as N/A vs heavily modded Power-adder. It was what can he do to overcome some slight set-backs, in this case the a/c, the car has without causing him to get over-involved in a modification or cost alot of money all in one pop.

There are numerous mods that will accomodate both an all motor car as well as a car with power-adders without making a committment to either direction that will make you waste money. A larger throttle body, an underdrive pulley, a cheap header if you THINK you may want to go turbo later, and even a cold air intake can be used in N/A form and then modified later to fit a turbo kit.

Turbos and Nitrous on cars that are not equipt with these components from the factory are NOT intended for those with little to no tuning, repair, or even maintenance abilities. It will take more than a little research to fully grasp the effects of these components on a car as well as the changes that will be needed to maintenance habits to ensure a long life for the car, engine, and driver.
Doug

 

[onepimpclipse]

I totally agree with DougRS99. I've got a 99 Eclipse N/T, I have just the basics. Intake, header, exhaust, plugs and wires, short shifter, and AEM cam gears. All this guy really needs is an intake, header, and exhaust. Then like Doug said at your next tune up upgrade your plugs and wires since you'll need new ones anyway. That should help you overcome the a/c. I plan on starting on my bottom end after I get a new TB. To each's own though, depending what you want from your car.


Stephen

 

[gRk]

thank you all for the good info. I have learned alot just from this. again...thanks!!!