SMIM/FP2 cams. Which to do 1st? Answers/results here

[VBGSX]

First things first. As with anything, your results may vary.
I’ve seen a few posts on several different forums asking what would be a better mod or what should be done first, SMIM or Cams?
(If you don’t want to read all the middle info, just skip to the bottom)

As you know, there are plenty of posts about what cams have done for people. I’ve yet to see what a SMIM would do with stock cams. Since I came across a Magnus SMIM for a decent price, I figured I would install it first and answer the above question with real world results.
After that I will install my FP2 cams and see what happens.

My setup before the installs:
97 GSX
Internally stock 7 bolt, long block
Stock 2g Intake mani
1g TB
DSM link
Evo III Mani (mild port)
PTE 50 trim
2g O2 housing (hogged out)
AGP FMIC
Type S BOV
RRE downpipe
3in high flow cat
APEXi N1 catback
850 FIC Injectors
Full Throttle AFPR
190 rewired
Standard NGK wires
BPR7es
ACT 2100

Let me make a quick insert about the 1g TB(installed a long time ago).
With the setup above, I logged none/0 airflow increase installing it. Would I do it again? Yes. It did seem to enhance throttle response and help in the midrange…..back on topic.

I won’t go into details about the Magnus SMIM install. It’s straight forward if you follow the write by:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96388
Great write up!

SMIM:
Once the SMIM was installed it was definitely time to take some runs and see what happens.
Surprised I was…..In a good way and bad.
Before the install, at 19-20 lbs of boost I saw 36.1 lb/min on average.
After the install, at the same boost level, the best I ever saw 37.1 lb/min at 6911 RPM.
A gain of only 1 lb/min. Usually it was less than that! Usually it stayed at 36.1 lb/min
Granted at a higher boost level the gains should/could be more, depending
Idle was like stock. You can definitely hear the valves and injectors echoing in the SMIM..
I did have two side affects
1st: It did seem that I lost a little midrange(but-O-meter).
2nd. I’ve battled with some knock that I could never get rid of in the upper end. I tried everything from taking away fuel, adding fuel and taking timing away. The only thing that seemed to help was to take away timing(up to 3-4 degrees). Well after the SMIM install I could add all the timing back with 0 Knock. Yes I said 0 Knock. I have never seen a timing curve that was more perfect. I was extremely surprised and I couldn’t come up with any answer on why. I did hear on DSM link forums that one other person had knock vanish with the SMIM install.

Like the mani install, I won’t go into the FP2 cam install. I used these 2 sites for the info, and again it was pretty straight forward.
http://www.roadraceengineering.com/instructions/caminstructions.htm
http://www.prostreetonline.com/pso/pages/howto/showarticle.asp?articleid=34

FP2 Cams:
Mine arrive 2 days ago so I wasted no time installing them and 3rd Gen lifters
All I can say is wow.
Idle was good. Just a extremely slight lope. Vacuum did drop from aprox 19 to 15.
Unlike a couple peoples results, my car ran perfect. There was NO problem with the car wanting to stall. There may be a slight loss in power at first. Just hold onto your hats once boost comes on. It’s an amazing difference.
Turbo spool wasn’t affected at all(comparing before and after logs).
Again my first runs were at 19 lbs of boost. I saw an increase from aprox 36.1 to 39.8 lb/min at 6900. The better thing was that airflow kept increasing. 41.2 lb/min at 7200 RPM.
I upped the boost to 21 lbs.
41.1 lb/min at 6900 RPM
42.5 lb/min at 7200 RPM
All I can say is it’s an upgrade I wish I would have done a lot sooner…

Conclusion:
Sorry this is so long but if it helps 1 person out, then it was worth it.
My personal opinion based on what I’ve seen is that cams are definitely the best bang for the buck and should be done first. As I stated above, I’m sure with higher levels of boost, the mani will definitely start to shine. The FP2 cams installed in a 2g are simply amazing. It’s a night and day difference.

Good luck and sorry it’s so long.

 

[peregrine]

good post. i just got mine from ups. i ordered them friday and they were here tuesday. FP gets a HUGE from me. i am also ordering a custom rwd magnus intake here in about two weeks. ill post back here when i get my results.

 

[VBGSX]

You definitely won't be disapointed!
Definitely post your results back here.
If you don't have them, this is obviously a good time to put 3rd Gen lifters in.
That is if you have lifter tick or the old ones.
They made a huge difference in mine. All my phantom knock disapeared.
I was glad I made the $138.40 investment

One more thing about my results.
I didn't add my 7500 RPM results but let me tell you, the airflow was still rising.
At 7500 it wasn't even starting to plateau.

Good luck

 

[peregrine]

well, im running a 2.4 so my redline will be right at 7500. it will be interesting to see how much air ill be pushing by then.