First off, my plan with this car is to do simple bolt-ons and possibly an EcuTek tune for 92oct pump gas (I've gleaned that I can expect ~300whp+/- given this). Someday I might do valvesprings, cams, headstuds, and then look into a larger turbo and/or different fuels, but that's not going to be a priority for quite some time for me.
Now I've searched and read as much as I can to form a consensus on planned mods with this car (not my first rodeo and wont be my last), and I feel I have a decent understanding of it all at this point, but I want to check to ensure that's the case.
My conclusions as they stand:
Questions that have not allowed me to draw a conclusion:
These items ^ are the ones that have been toughest to figure out as everything seems pretty anecdotal and shaky at best in terms of any gains other than placebo and/or sound only.
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EDIT: it is now 6 months later, and I feel most of this is still valid. But I'll add some details...
Intakes: Add ~10-16whp depending on brand and/or design, tuned or untuned, above ~4k rpm.
Tunes: Add ~30whp on 93oct and ~60whp on E30/E50 blends
Downpipes: Add ~5-7whp and about the same torque best case scenario, tuned or untuned, as well as slightly faster spool and slightly less back pressure at the top of the rev range.
FMIC: Do not add power, but they are highly effective in reducing power loss depending on activity; however, it's not as obvious an improvement as the dyno tests would have you believe (which show massive heatsoak on the OE unit after 2-3 pulls). Stratified Auto and some other privateers have done track testing on the stock intercooler and it does fairly well depending, but upgrading to an aftermarket unit with more thermal capacity is always going to be an improvement and is highly recommended for hotlapping and/or if doing back to back pulls/runs on the street (this compounds with a tune; more heat).
Upgraded turbo inlet or FMIC piping: Have still not seen any data suggesting these have any improvement (on stock turbo) other than if one has the stock intake and does the turbo inlet pipe; there is apparently a power increase there because this removes part of the bottleneck created by the stock intake box (albeit in a different way).
Now I've searched and read as much as I can to form a consensus on planned mods with this car (not my first rodeo and wont be my last), and I feel I have a decent understanding of it all at this point, but I want to check to ensure that's the case.
My conclusions as they stand:
- It seems that intakes and tuning are across the board the recommendation both for simplicity and for making power (intakes in particular making more power up higher in the rev range).
- FMIC upgrades also appear to be a great upgrade, if for no other reason that preventing power loss with higher IATs (possibly even picking up a little power depending on the scenario).
- Downpipes appear to offer slightly less restriction as expected, which is great, but are more or less a waste of time/money on stock turbo for the gains (especially on pump but also on e30+).
Questions that have not allowed me to draw a conclusion:
- Is there any reason to do the turbo inlet pipe along with my K&N intake (it does not include it)?
- Are there tangible benefits to running upgraded IC piping stock intercooler or otherwise?
These items ^ are the ones that have been toughest to figure out as everything seems pretty anecdotal and shaky at best in terms of any gains other than placebo and/or sound only.
------------------------------------------------
EDIT: it is now 6 months later, and I feel most of this is still valid. But I'll add some details...
Intakes: Add ~10-16whp depending on brand and/or design, tuned or untuned, above ~4k rpm.
Tunes: Add ~30whp on 93oct and ~60whp on E30/E50 blends
Downpipes: Add ~5-7whp and about the same torque best case scenario, tuned or untuned, as well as slightly faster spool and slightly less back pressure at the top of the rev range.
FMIC: Do not add power, but they are highly effective in reducing power loss depending on activity; however, it's not as obvious an improvement as the dyno tests would have you believe (which show massive heatsoak on the OE unit after 2-3 pulls). Stratified Auto and some other privateers have done track testing on the stock intercooler and it does fairly well depending, but upgrading to an aftermarket unit with more thermal capacity is always going to be an improvement and is highly recommended for hotlapping and/or if doing back to back pulls/runs on the street (this compounds with a tune; more heat).
Upgraded turbo inlet or FMIC piping: Have still not seen any data suggesting these have any improvement (on stock turbo) other than if one has the stock intake and does the turbo inlet pipe; there is apparently a power increase there because this removes part of the bottleneck created by the stock intake box (albeit in a different way).
