Johnny50

Hi all.

Am looking for some advice aboput my 98 uk car.

I'm about to swap my TD04, for a VF34, I'm already on decat, itg panel filter, and i know i'll need to change to a bigger fuel pump.

I'm also considering getting the Power Engineering ecu upgrade too, once it's all done. So it's mapped correctly.

But is there anything else i should consider/do, at the same time.

I'm a touch clueless. So i'd like to get all the parts first, then chuck it on to get done.

Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Johnny

[Edited by Johnny50 - 11/17/2003 8:31:29 AM]

AndrewC

Personally speaking I would consider changing the uppipe whilst changing the turbo, if nothing else it makes the job easier as you can just pull the turbo and uppipe out as one piece.

Tubular uppipe does seem to have a performance benefit.

If you then want to port/change the headers it's easier too.

Andrew...

Johnny50

I never considered the up-pipe actually. Thanks for that.

Still not sure about injectors or anything. I'm presuming i'm on 380's, but would it be worth upgrading them at the same time ??

scoobylav

Remind me not to race you next time I see you Johnny

Johnny50

@ Ian..

Wagon power all the way mate !

Anyways...you'll always win...especially with the old man cheering you on in the passenger seat.

RRE

Is there any idea in changing the up-pipe when you're staying on original headers? I'm asking because i'm changing my TD04 to a TD05 next month. I would like to stay on the original headers to keep spool-up time down, but would there be any gain in going for a new up-pipe?

Thanks in advance

Rasmus

scoobylav

Thats my old man cheering me on

Johnny50

Quality Ian !!
And there was me thinkin your old man liked goin fast.

Rasmus, Sorry, i cant answer that question..
I'm not technically minded like some !

AndrewC

Rasmus,

I run a front entry TD05 with an H&S 2" uppipe and OEM headers, I can't say what benefit the uppipe gives on its own as I changed them at the same time, but looking at the OEM uppipe I can't believe that gasflow hasn't improved.

Andrew...

MarkT

Johnny
i've just done almost exactly what u want to do on a MY98, except with a VF35. I have exhaust, headers, induction, uprated fuel pump, I've changed to colder plugs, cleaned the fuel system, (up pipe is std I think).
If u have a knocklink & boost guage & a dawes for boost control just slap it all on & wind the boost up gradually to about 1.2 bar (about the limit of the topmount intercooler) or until the KL starts flashing.
Goes like a train all the way to red line - much faster than TD04.
A remap is obviously the best way but wasn't really an option until this group buy started (still expensive tho) - it'll only be the icing on the cake tho - it'll work fine without as long as at sensible boost levels & u watch the KL.
Can't really comment on the VF34, but the 35 comes in just under 3000 and I have over a bar at about 3200,3300 - so not much worse than std.
Hope that helps
Mark.


[Edited by MarkT - 11/17/2003 5:49:25 PM]

carlos_hiraoka

IIRC MY98 came with the grey 380cc injectors so you might want to check your fueling ..... something that a simple piggyback unit could also solve.


Carlos H.

Johnny50

Thanks for the replys fellas.

I dont have a Knocklink, but should be getting one soon.
I'm waiting on guages arriving, so they should be done prior to all this work.

Mark, did you just leave the standard injectors in ?
I'm guessing, even if i go to the next size up, the remap would allow for this. (he hopes)

Johnny

Johnny50

Bttt for any more suggestions please.

MarkT

I am on the std 380s with an uprated pump - fuelling fine - still showing rich at 1.2 bar boost. I think too much heat is the problem before the fuelling is.
Bigger injectors & a remap would be ideal, but not a cheap option.
I think the topmount and the fuelling are giving a ceiling of 300 to 320. Change them all if u want to get more, but that's probably at least £1500 worth with a remap to suit - think a new gearbox & clutch will be next on the list as well !!
350 and more is prob easily achievable if u have deep enough pockets.
Mark.

Johnny50

Cheers Mark.
I wont be changing the intercooler yet.
But i think i'll definately change the injectors, to what size though, i'm not sure.
I can get a set of 550's, but not sure if they're too big.

Also, i'm not looking to get any mental power out of it, just a nice safe, noticeable gain would be nice.

RICH WILD

I'm inclined to agree with Markt there, providing the pump is uprated, heat is a bigger enemy than lean mixture.

The standard top mount is ok to a point. I noticed a tremendous difference in mine (97 with TD05) when I uprated the top mount to the MRT one. Knocklink activity now only gets serious around 1.7 bar.

Day to day I run 1.4 quite happily and I have just had my headers ported and a flexi uppipe, so we'll see what difference that makes when it goes back on. Last time out I got 344bhp @1.4 bar, so hopefully, with the ported headers and wotnot I should see 350.

I started running it to 1.6 when the colder weather started, but the gearbox lasted about 3weeks

Rich

Johnny50

Hi Rich,
Is your MRT still a top mount ?

If i was to go for an intercooler, i dont think i'd want to go for a FMIC.
Would changing to an STi5 cooler be an idea ?

RICH WILD

Yes, it is the top mount. It has a hugely thick core and is bar and plate rather than tube and fin.

I can mail you a pick if you want. It's quite nice

STi5 upgrade would possibly be slightly better, it has a better core but causes more of a flow restriction IIRC, but it's not a patch on the MRT TMIC.

The advantage over a FMIC is the reversibility (5 mins), the fact that it keeps the car more standard looking and also you'll be slightly less paranoid about it getting damaged. Obviously the power potential isn't the same as a FMIC though.

Johnny50

A pic would be great thanks Rich.

Ive been reading the thread on the fmic thats in Drivetrain, it's still gonna work out at about £600 though at least.

If you mail me the pic, could you also let me know roughly how much it cost ?

Thanks mate.

Johnny

Tone Loc

iTrader: (1)

From memory the list price for the MRT ones are about £850 , but for soem reason i have £650 in my head. Could be the AVO one?

I have seen Rich's MRT TMIC and it really is a lovely looking thing. However if the group buy does go ahead for the hybrid FMIC and for about £520 delivered can you really say no? Having said that i am a little worried about how low it sits, don't fancy parking to close to things at the front as i have visions off ripping the bottom of it .

Tony.

Johnny50

Hi Tony.
At the price quoted in the group buy, i would be mad to say no i suppose.

Keeping the tmic still appeals to me, as there's no telling whats under the bonnet.

I'll see if they can pull anything off with this group buy.
I'm in no rush, as i've not got all the other parts yet.

You got any clue about injectors ??

Johnny50

BTTT for any more advice please.

Tone Loc

iTrader: (1)

If your going to keep your TMIC i'd say a good injector upgrade would be some 440s. You could get some of these for about £100 plus another £30 for the fitting kit. With the ecu remap, turbo and injectors a nice figure of maybe 325bhp could be had (1.3 bar ish). If you go FMIC then 550s are the more obvious choice......

Tony.

Johnny50

Thanks Tony.

I've changed my mind from the Power Engineering ecu, and now think i'll be going for GEMS.
So i rekon i'll also be going for that Hybrid fmic that there may be a group buy on.

Injector wise. I've been offered a set of 550's for a decent price.
So they look a go'er too.

At the moment, the parts to go on the car may be..

VF34. (definate)
uprated Fuel pump.(definate)
Fuel Reg. (definate)
possible fmic, or uprated tmic
440's or 550's
and then GEMS fitted and mapped. (definate)
Presumably, if i go for a fmic, i'm also looking at some sort of induction kit too.

With these fitted ,i'd be more than happy to see 280 bhp. Not sure if i would get more though ??

Tone Loc

iTrader: (1)

280.... i'd say more like 350 (with the 550 injectors). Not sure about the spec of the turbo tho, plus it depends what boost you want to run. If you would be more than happy with 280 bhp i'd say forget all the stuff you listed, it will be a big waste of time. You could get that power figure for far less money. Then again you always have the scope for more....

Tony.

Johnny50

I see what you're saying.

But i'm kinda in the mind that, if it's all there, and i'm not running it all to it's full capability, then it should be quite strong.
And if i do ever want to turn the boost up a bit or whatever, then i've got that option.

Saying that...350 would be nice.

Turbo_Steve

LOL Saying that, 400bhp would be nice.
Oh dear, I'll need to rebuild the engine. Suppose I might as well go the whole hog and go for 500bhp.

Oh, gearbox is shredded. Better put a stronger one in? Good for 600bhp, you say? Oh, well, I can up the boost then...etc etc etc

Johnny50

I know what you mean Steve.

But getting married in May next year...so that'll put an end to everything to do with the car..

scoobylav

You had better believe it Johnny

Johnny50

Ian.. Bummer eh ?

Nevermind... if i can get all my bits fitted first, i'm laughing !