Which Intake?

[airboss]

Hello to everyone on the board. This is my first post to the board since I joined back in May and since then all I have been doing is connecting with my local import community, doing alot of car shows. I have been researching my moves as they pertain to making an unbelievable "sleeper" Talon TSi, and I have to ask for the help of those DSM'ers who have been at it the longest and have the good fortune of being around alot more resources than myself. I live in Newfoundland and to my knowledge, there is only one other DSM member that has his car tuned and that is a 2nd Gen model. I own a 1st Gen '91 Talon TSi FWD and I would like to make it the best in Newfoundland, I'd also like to put up some respectable numbers and the Clarenville track next summer. So here is where I tell you my plans and ask for help. The help I need is in finding the best products to work together to make a high performance car but yet be able to keep it as an everyday summer driver. She is stored now in my garage and I am planning to start the modifications as soon as I get some products nailed down.

Here are the stages and questions (keeping in mind that the car's timing belt, all other belts, plugs and wires are all in excellent condition. The car is mechanically sound and completely stock):

1) Air Induction Systems - Dejon Tool? K&N? HKS? what is proven to be the BEST?

2) Exhasust - I want Mandrel Bent, Stainless Steel, and from the Cat Converter (High Flow) Back. What product would you recommend?

3) Fuel & Boost -
a. Fuel Pump - I want the Walbro 255HP. Is this a good choice
b. Boost Controller - I have no clue what would be best here but keep in mind at this point I already have an Autometer Mech. Boost Gauge and an A-Pillar Pod for 2 Gauges. I'm thinking I'll also get an A/F Ratio Gauge.

4) Fuel Management - I'm thinking an APEX'i AFC would work here. I'm not planning on putting crazzy amounts of boost into this car. Maybe 15 lbs. and then later I'll get crazy, but this stuff first.

5) Clutch & Flywheel- At 15 lbs. of boost, I'm thinking an ACT 2100 lb. clutch kit would do nicely. And a lightweight flywheel but what kind would work well? At this point I'd put in synthetic transmission fluid.

6) Upper Intercooler Pipe & Front Mount Intercooler - Again here I have no clue what to do but I do know I don't want to go taking notches out of my car and destroy the original look. Also I want something that is proven to work well together and if that means going with a new Fluidyne Rad as well than so be it. I know that I want a kit that offers Mandrel Bent, Stainless Steel pipe as well as maybe a 2nd gen throttle body at the same time.

This is about as far as I want to go for now but in year 2 I will get into Engine Mods (ie. Cylinder Head, Better Gaskets, Porting, Valves, Valve Springs & Retainers, Camshafts, Bottom End, Crankshaft, Connecting Rods, Pistons, Balance Shafts, and ARP Studs and O-Rings). But again, this isn't for a while yet and then I would be getting into higher boost levels, probably up around 30 lbs.

So please give me all the feedback you can from your personal experiences, your friends experiences and any common knowledge I may have overlooked in my 6 months of research, but now that it's winter and my baby is put to bed, there is no better time to start getting her ready for the next warm weather season.

Thanks for reading these rantings of yet another DSM lunatic and hope you all have a Merry Christmas

Russ

St. John's, Newfoundland

7)

 

[got traction?]

Hey there is a tunning guide on this website that answers all these questions.

 

[X|Crescens]

Huh, ok I will try to do my best in answering as much as I can, or at least as much as I want to answer. For intakes... There is no "Best" its all on what YOU want. If there was a best intake, we would all have the same intake. For exhaust, I would say the most popular would be Apex'i N1. Everyone who has one is very pleased with it. The Walbro 255HP would be good since alot of people have it, and I haven't heard anyone biatch about it. Boost controller is all on how much you want to spend, you can get a manual one for about $80 and a inside electric one for around $500-$600 (Apex Super AVC-R Boost Controller,GReddy PRofec "B", HKS EVC IV Boost Controller) For guages I would get boost and an EGT guage because EGT is more accurate than a Air/Fuel guage. The apex'i AFC would be fine if you want that. The ACT 2100 lb is good also, so get that. As for intercoolers, get the biggest one you can afford. Huh feels like I'm writing a book or something....

 

[airboss]

thanks....keep em comin'

 

[focusedrage]

hmm i think the injen intake isporbly the best. beutiful constuction, 30 minute instal. simple. and i think it is cheep? meaby... well you get what you pay for

 

[espinelli]

I think injen is a waste of money...you can only use them on smaller turbos.

i think it would really suck to spend 200+ dollars on an intake system and then have to upgrade again later on.

my advice is figure out which mods you want and how your going to build your motor and make sure those mods are compatible with each other. basically do as much research as you can on your product options and buy parts you won't have to upgrade a second time

if your going to stay with a smaller turbo then I think the injen product is fine...if your thinking about going with a bigger your wasting your money.

 

[krott5333]

Alot of people like the Dejon Tool Intakes, their relatively low priced.
You should get a complete turboback, not just a catback, an exhaust is only as good as the smallest part. (IMO) Also, go with a 3" exhaust.
I'd go with a test pipe, but theyre illegal, so its your choice.

 

[nine5raptor]

get a brode intake cheap and work well

 

[asian312]

Honestly airboss, I think u need to decided on a turbo setup b4 tackling the lower end things. There are two general tuning principles

1) Follow the Tuning guide. It's proven and will take u up the stages as they come.

2) Set out with a plan and build "backwards" so to speak.

Take for instance, my '96 GST has every supporting mod needed for the turbo upgrade, but it also has a kit that likes to rub. Therefore spending $$ on a sweet LR1 is pointless. Now, plans for a 1st gen GSX. I know I plan on building a stroker motor and using an LR2 possibly. Much easier to plan ahead and save in the long run. If you've done your research and know the purpose of our car (daily driver, full drag, auto-X) then option 2 is the way to go. If u are like me and jumped headfirst into this thing, try option 1. It's proven and if u look at some of the older members, u'll notice a trend with parts as to what works and doesnt. My $0.02