Question about the upgrade path

[Zufelt]

Well, tonight I got smoked by a turbo SI Honda.. Not so nice. But anyways, I'm learning about mechanics (by doing maintence) on the car currently. While I'm doing this I'm reading the upgrade path, and at step 4 (boost controller) it says during this stage I won't turn it up past 16 PSI.. Is that AT step 4? Or after all the steps are completed.

 

[crash89]

Well, we've been trying to revamp the upgrade path. Not sure where in the process we are but in my opinion you shouldnt be turning up the boost until you have some fuel mods AT LEAST. Along with a wideband o2 to monitor air fuel ratios and at least a safc.. Hell I didnt turn my boost up until I had basically everything else.. Pump, injectors, cams, exhaust, tuning solution ect.. THEN I turned up the boost. Unless you want potential problems to arise Id wait.. But hey, I cant make you not do it.

If you are on stock fuel pump and injectors even a 14b (stock 1g turbo) will fuel cut around 15/16 psi.. The fuel systems just cannot handle it in stock form. IMO a boost controller should be installed at AT LEAST step 3 of the "stage two" basic hp upgrades.. just my .02

 

[Zufelt]

Well that's good to know! I could t stand how fast he was compared to me.. Although I'm pretty close to stock. Other than the upgrade path is there another that will point me in the right direction? I don't want to mod for example fuel injectors when first I need such and such.. Would you mind pointing me in the general direction. Also, not to sound like the "go fast" guys, but will the small upgrades such as a down pipe, exhaust make a noticeable difference? I'm just curious of where to start.

Other than gauges, perhaps gauges, 1g bov, fuel pump, injectors, hard piping, downpipe then 3" catback?

 

[njclimber36]

Its safe to say that everyone is going to say fuel and tuning first. The last thing you need is to bolt on a few things, run alittle faster for a mile or two and damage your motor by running lean. If there is a shortcut you can think of, believe me someone has tried it with these cars. That's why the upgrade paths are on here, to help people avoid the headaches others went through. First think I bought was ECMlink.

 

[eclipsyco]

The upgrade path is there to give an idea of what to do not necessarily what exactly to do as stated on the previous post I started with dsmlink but not becuase the path say so but because of the lot of reading in the forum and what people recommendations in my opinion turbo should be the last thing to upgrade as you can see in muy profile I'm doing all the support mods before a bigger turbo and I already feeling "some" power maxing out the t25 but first things first maintenance is the most important part a healthy car will always run better.

 

[Zufelt]

With fuel mods, such as injectors how would I know what CC I would need to get. Also, more than likely a dumb question but where would I get a tune, and with just fuel mods wouldn't I be running rich?

The upgrade path is there to give an idea of what to do not necessarily what exactly to do as stated on the previous post I started with dsmlink but not becuase the path say so but because of the lot of reading in the forum and what people recommendations in my opinion turbo should be the last thing to upgrade as you can see in muy profile I'm doing all the support mods before a bigger turbo and I already feeling "some" power maxing out the t25 but first things first maintenance is the most important part a healthy car will always run better.

Yeah, I completely understand. I'm going to do the maintence first, then supporting mods. I'm just trying to get a feel for what order to do them in.


EDIT: just read the DSM link is the tuner.

With the tuner, it won't trigger an engine light will it? I have to smog it here in Cali unfortunately.

 

[eclipsyco]

Start with maintenence then dsmlink that way you know what's going on with the car. After that make it breath and exhale better means intake and exhaust. Follow with fuel mods and turbo as the very last. But remember faster cat needs better brakes and handing. This is not the absolute and strict way but you get the idea right? Good luck bro.
P.S: LOTS of reading here too.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Well, tonight I got smoked by a turbo SI Honda.. Not so nice. But anyways, I'm learning about mechanics (by doing maintence) on the car currently. While I'm doing this I'm reading the upgrade path, and at step 4 (boost controller) it says during this stage I won't turn it up past 16 PSI.. Is that AT step 4? Or after all the steps are completed.

At the track right

 

[Zufelt]

Start with maintenence then dsmlink that way you know what's going on with the car. After that make it breath and exhale better means intake and exhaust. Follow with fuel mods and turbo as the very last. But remember faster cat needs better brakes and handing. This is not the absolute and strict way but you get the idea right? Good luck bro.
P.S: LOTS of reading here too.

For sure man, always trying to read to learn all the terms/ upgrades. I just don't want to make an upgrade that's going to throw me a check engine light since I'm here in Cali and have to smog it.

At the track right

Right, in all honesty sounded like his car wa gunna explode anyways.

 

[Bud92gsx]

For sure man, always trying to read to learn all the terms/ upgrades. I just don't want to make an upgrade that's going to throw me a check engine light since I'm here in Cali and have to smog it.



Right haha.. Yeah definitely not, in all honesty sounded like his car wa gunna explode anyways.

I winked because thats not allowed here..So again AT THE TRACK RIGHT?

 

[crash89]

With fuel mods, such as injectors how would I know what CC I would need to get. Also, more than likely a dumb question but where would I get a tune, and with just fuel mods wouldn't I be running rich?

EDIT: just read the DSM link is the tuner.

With the tuner, it won't trigger an engine light will it? I have to smog it here in Cali unfortunately.

Yes you would run right with just injectors.. However, with link you can run any size injector and still make it run like stock.

In Link you can disable any engine code.. Thats also the beauty of it. You cold be upgraded and still be in the desired smog requirements for CA. You would just have to keep a stock appearing set up as CA looks down upon a lot of modifications.

Link is VERY easy to use, I learned how to tune my own car buy just reading and getting seat time using the software. Unfortunately I dont think there is another upgrade path you could follow but here is what I would do if I had to do it all over..

Tuning solution IE Dsmlink or ecufash/evoscan (get used to the software, dial in your upgrades as you make them. so you dont have to do it all at once and be overwhelmed)
boost gauge and wideband o2
Exhaust (megan downpipe and a ebay cat back are popular choices, So are punishment products.)
Fuel pump
fuel injectors and AFPR (based on how big you want to to, think long term)
Boost controller (even before this you'd probably notice a bit of a gain)
cams (now remember, too aggressive of a cam and you will have to upgrade valvetrain)
FMIC (again, since you are in ca and have to pass visual and smog inspections.. this one is kind of iffy)
turbo.. (by now you'd be maxing out that stock turbo and be ready)

Thats just my recommendation. A couple things could be put before others but thats the jist..

 

[Zufelt]

I winked because thats not allowed here..So again AT THE TRACK RIGHT?

Where else would it be?

Yes you would run right with just injectors.. However, with link you can run any size injector and still make it run like stock.

In Link you can disable any engine code.. Thats also the beauty of it. You cold be upgraded and still be in the desired smog requirements for CA. You would just have to keep a stock appearing set up as CA looks down upon a lot of modifications.

Link is VERY easy to use, I learned how to tune my own car buy just reading and getting seat time using the software. Unfortunately I dont think there is another upgrade path you could follow but here is what I would do if I had to do it all over..

Tuning solution IE Dsmlink or ecufash/evoscan (get used to the software, dial in your upgrades as you make them. so you dont have to do it all at once and be overwhelmed)
boost gauge and wideband o2
Exhaust (megan downpipe and a ebay cat back are popular choices, So are punishment products.)
Fuel pump
fuel injectors and AFPR (based on how big you want to to, think long term)
Boost controller (even before this you'd probably notice a bit of a gain)
cams (now remember, too aggressive of a cam and you will have to upgrade valvetrain)
FMIC (again, since you are in ca and have to pass visual and smog inspections.. this one is kind of iffy)
turbo.. (by now you'd be maxing out that stock turbo and be ready)

Thats just my recommendation. A couple things could be put before others but thats the jist..

That's exactly what I was lookingfor, cheers man. It has cowler 272 cams already currently from the precious owner, should he have upgraded the valve train?