Are thes mods worth it? Opinions please

[benl1981]

I currently have a R33 with the RB25DET, very happy with it but would like to get a little bit more out of it

Current mods:

3.5" Cat back exhaust - Kakimoto or whatever it is.

Solenoid constant earth on wastegate solenoid

Planned mods and what I hope to gain:

3" dump/front pipe - hope to get 5-10kw and earlier spool up. Currently full boost arrives by 2500rpm in the higher gears and a little bit above that in 1st and 2nd. Will this be reduced by 300-500rpm? Will it be much more noisy?

Bigger SMIC - I dont want to go front mount. I'm thinking maybe just an R34 cooler or supre. Maybe the R34 because it is easier. Maybe 3-5kw by itself

Mainly to provide little bit more safety if increase boost by 2psi

Cheap boost controller - increase boost by 2psi - to about 10psi

Also High flow Panel filter - are these worthwile. I read something in a performance mag that they make no diffeence compared to stock paper one?

Would this give me 170-180RWKW. What 1/4mile time - mid 13s you think?

I have heard the ECU would need to be remapped for much above this?

Could I get away with these mods?

Many thanks!!!

[slamm]

definatly dump pipe. Don't know about r34 intercooler though. Why not FMIC. There are some bargains flying around if you look. (4sale boards, group buys etc...) turbosmart make the cheapest boost controllers i think, though as I hear they are not always to be trusted. maybe GFBits do the same thing. Also have heard of mechanics being able to adjust the boost for a couple of hundred bucks blocking off things etc.... 170kw? maybe. if you boost up to 12psi. but only 10. don't know.

so after all this, dump pipe a definate. dbl or single I don't think matters. I've got a dbl but others say it makes no difference.

hope this is a start.

Cheers

[cameron]

Dumpipe - Deffiently a Yes & Noise factor not noticable. - Jeeeseee.. how much earlier do you want boost to come on :uhh: You need to take a ride in a Skyline with a big Turbo then you'll know what lag is otherwise i woudn't be complaining :wassup:

Intercooler - I'd go front mount deffiently! Its really pointless upgrading to a R34 sidemount cooler as their only a little bit bigger.

All that will not give you 170 - 180rwkw's on 10psi. - Inless you go frontmount around 12 psi of boost & a bigger fuel pump (to be on the safe side!)

Yes stock ECU should be fine but after that sorta of power level you'll have to upgrade to a PFC or Wolf 3D etc.

Jun

[raz0r$harP.UK]

If that's the power you're after, an R34 cooler will be fine. In terms of volume they actually are about 66% larger than the R33, and it's a bolt-on job.

[croat]

dump pipe you will notice a power difference but no earlier spool up.

the other mods apart from boost/bleed valve wont do much. Better go with a front mount and run around 12 psi then you should reach your goal easily.

[JAPCAB]

You can notch up the boost to about 12p with your current setup, this will give you a nice power gain. The upgraded panel is a good way to get your engine some more air, other than that pop in a front mount. upgrading to a bigger SMIC you wont really notice much....remember with a cooler, its cooling capability is relative to its surface area.

[wolverine]

R34 cooler will support 170-180rwkw

[KamikazeR33]

actually, std r33 intercooler is fine for a proven 185rwkws

i was running std cooler, turbo, cat back exhaust, safc and boost controller set to 11psi and it was running 175rwkws fine everyday

[benl1981]

Thanks for all the slightly differing opinions . Still not sure about the dumpy, is this the best way to go first or the high flow panel? Considering my basically stock setup.

[WazR32GTSt]

i bought a dump/front-in-one from BATMBL in the for sale section...

made a noticable power difference on my rb20-equipped R32

cheers,

Warren.

[benl1981]

Thanks Warren - yeah I was thinking of getting one through him!

[aKTiVE]

To me it sounds like your trying to gain power with the least amount of attention as possible - want it to be safe for when a cop goes over your car?

Wise move. hehe.

Panel Filters are good, i've used a panel filter with a modified airbox in larger power applications to give that 'stock' look and feel. Look at doing a larger more direct cold air intake into the bottom of your airbox, and cut a hole in the bottom of your airbox... works a treat and no one can see it.... prolonging you dont use like chrome pipes and stuff... paint everything black !

Dump Pipe, man you shouldnt even be asking if you should do that... JUST DO IT ! i gained a lot of kw from a dump and front pipe, definitely the way to go.

Side Mount Intercoolers i am not a fan of really... are you doing the sidemount so that its pretty much unnoticeable? From a few guys here, the power your chasing you don't necessarily have to change this feature... but it would most likely help. an ample front mount will be much better, spray it black and no one will have a clue that you have a front mount.

[nmcmahon83]

GT-R cooler is also an option as i've heard the yare good up to 300kW and also are black and a stock nissan part Only issue is piping i suppose.

[Robo's]

A nice FMIC, you will see an extra 15-20rwkw, one of the best mods around with increased boost

[aKTiVE]

Agreed, the GTR intercooler is very sufficient, tried/tested/proven so to speak... but i dont know... i think they are quite expensive compared to getting a kit from ARC or something which includes piping and is a bolt on modification for your specific car - new as well.

Its been a while since i scouted the market for a second hand intercooler (never looked for a 2nd hand cooler) but the last time i saw a GTR Intercooler for sale it was around the $500 mark... ?

are they still the same price?

[benl1981]

Thanks again. Yes Akitive, I just want to keep it basically stock with a little more go. I like the way it goes so I don't want to introduce any lag etc. Just a bit more I'm after

I don't really like my cars to be too attention grabbing. Already with 3 1/2 inch catback it is a little noisy if at idle in carpark i.e. people turn around when you drive past them sometimes

I dont really want front mount because I know this will cost best part of 700- $1000 and I dont want to run heaps of boost. 170-180RWKW would be more than adequate.

[muaythailuke]

The R34 cooler would be a good option if you want to keep it looking stock and you dont have to worry about changing all the piping and a fmic may slighty increase lag not decrease it like you wanted. A guy I know is running a R34 side mount cooler on his RB20 and he's around 220-230rwkw(thats with all the other bolt on mods of course)

[ix9]

Standard dump, 3.5" Front pipe, 2.5" cat, 3.5" cat back, 10psi, AFCII should get you around 190rwkw

[paulr33]

changing to a fmic intercooler will add a bit more lag to the system, if you do fit a fmic be sure to do a full 3" exhaust if you dont have one to balance out the lag in the system. an upgrade to a 3" dump over the stock dump pipe and intercooler should even out the lag and return the response to similar what the stock response "lag" was like

[benl1981]

Thanks for the advice. I might skip FMIC for now. I think I may be happy with 170-180RWKW which it seems the FMount isn't exactly necessary.

Is the SAFC needed you think? How much do you lean it out if any , or richen. I suppose different for load and revs...