MadUsa1

I have a 2006 Spec C Type 20 running the usual 345 / 340 with a 3" Milltek sports catted exhaust and the standard VF36.

I am considering upgrading to the LM400 Billet, but I'm not convinced the car will actually be any faster than the current set up - I'm concerned the increased power and torque will be counteracted by the reduced spool and throttle response.

Anyone have experience upgrading a Spec C to the LM400 Billet?

The car sees fast road and regular track use, mostly on a tight 3.5km track.

BIG FUD

iTrader: (84)

Ive got sc42 billet twin scroll Which isnt to far off lm400 trust me loads faster And you dont loose any spool i use mine for mlr sprint series also

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

Speak to Cannon Fodder aka Tyron he's running that setup on his Spec C

MadUsa1

Thanks for the feedback - are you running this on a spec C? how does it compare to the standard VF36?

Are you running a TMIC or FMIC? What sort of numbers did you make?

BIG FUD

iTrader: (84)

Yes red 04 spec c limited .

It was on a top mount but was getting heat soak on track so i went front mount with meth so all is good.Not had rolling road as i dont do figures but mapper said 430-400 ish.

Going 2.1 as we speak so should make 450bhp 470ft trq and faster spool

MadUsa1

Did you find that your sprint times improved with the SC42 fitted?

Did you get heat soak even with the Spec C auto water spray?

juggers

iTrader: (1)

You won't notice much in the torque area however the BHP will increase. If your going to do it go whole hog for the LM450 and go FMIC.

MadUsa1

I need to keep the TMIC unfortunately - regulations over here in Switzerland.

And I understand the LM450 doesn't work very well with the TMIC.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

FUD love the fact you buy a sorted car, enjoy it, then spend cash making it even better just to sell it on a few months later, your nuts....... Lol

You taking the 22b to prodrive this weekend?

juggers

iTrader: (1)

I may sell my twinscroll SC42 as I might go down the LM450 route, if you fancy it let me know.

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Got the lm450 on mine, cant really say i notice too much lag at all really, its a very small margin imo compared to a standard twinscroll set up, and yes car feels amazing to me, good power with torque to match

Shaun

Here is my VF37 vs LM400 Billet comparison:


LM450 Billet vs LM400 Billet (from above) comparison:

MadUsa1

Do you have an FMIC as well? What kind of intake are you using?

BIG FUD

iTrader: (84)

[QUOTE=stevie1982;10810042]FUD love the fact you buy a sorted car, enjoy it, then spend cash making it even better just to sell it on a few months later, your nuts....... Lol

You taking the 22b to prodrive this weekend?[/QUOTE


lolol nuts deffo

22b deffo bro

Shaun

And the last comparison is the VF37 vs the LM450 on the same graph.

MadUsa1

Shaun - thanks for the graphs, I saw them on your projects thread, a very interesting and informative read.

It's a shame you changed the intake and the FMIC at the same time though, I'm very curious what the LM450 Billet would make on the TMIC with a decent intake system.

As I mentioned, I cannot change to an FMIC so I'm looking for ways to get the most out of the standard TMIC (with the advantage of the Spec C's auto water spray.)

Anyone have experience of the LM450 on a TMIC?

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Yes front mount fitted with CAIK with filter behind the bumper with uprated samco silicone intake and bigger maf housing

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Sure there is someone on here running tmic and modified intake up around the 450 marker

Shaun

The TMIC and intake will ultimately restrict the capability of the air flow and how much power the set-up can make safely.

The reasons for my move to a FMIC and inlet changes were purely because of the safety factor of heat management. Something you would need to be aware of since you want to use your car on track.

You can extract 450+bhp out of the OEM TMIC but there are a few caveats on how that is achieved and allowances that need to be accepted.

From a safety perspective (not efficiency basis) you would be best placed to not go above the flow of a LM400 type turbo, if you intend in retaining the OEM TMIC and extracting the optimum out of your entire set-up.

MadUsa1

If that's the case, I'd be very interested to hear about it!

I'll do another search...

Shaun

See my above post.

MadUsa1

Shaun - I seem to remember you barely got above 400 bhp with the LM450 until you switched your intake AND FMIC, is that not correct?

Shaun

Yes that is correct, however, based on logic this was down to the inlet restriction as I know at least one other who has achieved well over 450bhp on the OEM TMIC. The only difference was the inlet side was changed to a decent cold air induction kit. Like I said though, this power achievement had it's caveats.

MadUsa1

Thanks Shaun, most helpful.

So, LM450 with a decent CAIK should stake me close to 450 bhp, albeit with a little more risk than I would take on if I were able to switch to an FMIC.

Let me ask you this then, if you were FORCED to keep the TMIC (as I am), would you get the LM400 billet or the LM450 billet with a decent CAIK?

MadUsa1

Do you have any more details on this? Which turbo was used? What type of fuel? Any other supporting mods?

Shaun

Personally, a LM400 sized turbo imo.

Shaun

It was a Turbo Dynamics turbo iirc. 450bhp on VPower and 480bhp on Meth mix. It was a 2.5ltr engine.

IMO it's totally irrelevant though. It's a tuner that achieves this and from his own mouth he said he would not recommend this kind of set-up to a customer. Don't concentrate on what can be achieved literally. Concentrate on what can be achieved safely and not be governed by a number of caveats.

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Sorry for thread jacking but shaun i have just posted up this thread

https://www.scoobynet.com/showthread...6#post10810126

Would you mind taking a stab in the dark with it lol or ever came across it before??

Once again sorry for the thread jack!!

MadUsa1

Thanks for the advice Shaun, sounds like the LM400 is the way to go!

Seems like these turbos always make ~400 bhp, but the torque figure varies greatly. I've seen some people report as low as 350 lb ft, while some get up to 400lb ft.

Natural variation in engines / unreliability of dynos or are there other factors at play?

What about the LM420 turbo - would that be a good choice for me?

Shaun

The dyno type and state of the engine and map seems to dictate torque (as well as atmospheric conditions). There is certainly nothing that variable about the turbo.

LM420 is another option, but you're going to increase spool time for the sake of a few extra horses. It depends on what your focus is.