What engine mods?

[HFB]

OK

So now I think I've finished the handling and bracing upgrades for the time being;

Meiseter ZetaCRD coilovers
Matt Brace
Ultra Strut Brace
AD08R's all round
(not done the poly bushes as unsure as to how much difference they will make to improving handlng at this stage)

I was looking to turn to the engine to see what relatively easy/cheap mods can be made to give a little more power

All I have done so far is
New plugs (Denso OEM)
MAF clean
ECU re-set
Markiii pipe
New (OEM) filter

Have been reading that new decat manifolds offer no improvement
nor does sports panel filters or cold air induction systems (sound improve but not much to the bhp supposedly)

So what little mods would make a differencr?

I do not want the huge expense of 2ZZ swap, Turbo or any other big engine swap, but wondered if there are some small upgrades that are worthwhile?

For example, would a new engine management set up make an improvement, and is it a quick swap in/re-tune?
 I am doing a few tracik days and booking instructions every time to make me drive faster, but I did feel a little inferior at recent Car Limits day when lots of cars were Turbo/2ZZ or other swapouts leaving me languishing in 4th/5th on the timed runs in the afternoon)

So to summarise

Engine improvements :-
Cheap
Reversible
Easy to fit/do
Additional bhp

Thanks

HFB

[shnazzle]

You fell over on the first hurdle; cheap.
Natural aspirated = lots of cash for little gains if any.
You did the right thing in prioritising handling.
Markiii, manifold, good oil, fresh filter and sparks all make it go as well as it should, but not better.

MAF mod is relatively cheap and gives you a tiny bit more torque to play with mid range.

Then there's piggyback ECU, but that isn't even worth it until you've done the intake and exhaust mods and then have it mapped for your car...mucho el casho.
Take my car for example (and many others like it as written on this forum) ;

Markiii, k&n panel, decat stock manifold and emanage blue mapped give me a whopping.. Hold on tight... 15-20hp!! Total cost, approximately 500 quid. And only because I got lucky and didnt need a remap on the emanage. Add another 400 to that easily.

Other cars on here have stg1 cams, standalone ecu, exhaust manifold, intakes, polished throttle bodies... So talking thousands of quids now... For 180-190hp at an absolute MAX.

[1979scotte]

If you were 4th or 5th at car limits then you were bloody quick.
The car that came 3rd had 40 more bhp than you.
The car that came 2nd 200 bhp more.
The car that came 1st 150 bhp more.
That proves to me that more power isnt the answer and more training like you are doing is the way to go.

If i were you and really wanted more power i would save for a 2zz swap.
For a track car like yours it would offer best bang for buck.

Patricks post above is spot on.

[HFB]

Thanks guys.....very helpful info.

Not 100% if it was 4th or 5th Scotte, but either way didn't realise you guys in front of me had so much more power......makes me feel a wee bit better about the results.   s:) s:)  

As much as I'm enjoying the car, I don't think I'd feel happy swapping out the engine and all of the potential issues/headaches that could follow from engine transplants.

If I were to spend that sort of cash (which I don't plan to do) I'd probably sell the 2 and but a Megane Turbo or summat like that and upgrade the handling again.

For now, I'm happy to stick with the car I have and just enjoy it for a couple of years and learn how to drive better.

Off to Cadwell on 16th and will look at doing a Bedford day soon as well. (Wonder how long my AD08's will last?   s:D s:D  )

Cheers all

HFB

[1979scotte]

Do you remember your time?
I really regret leaving the list in the PUB.

[JoeCool]

There is really no point 'opening' Naturally Aspirated Engines for power upgrades IMO. You just spend money hand over fist and in reality, any mods you make need to be supported end to end. Just putting cams in (£300-600 a pair) will need a remap to make proer use of them. Trying to rev the engine higher t make more power means lowering rotational mass, lightening and strengthening pistons, con rods, adressing valve train like valve springs..... Unless you've got ten grand you want to waste and want a race engine, it's just not ever worth it.

PARTICULARLY when there's an engine sat in a boing corolla that has all of this done, properly engineered, in a sealed box and ready to go. Called the 2ZZ-ge.

Beyond intake and exhaust modification, the only options I would ever consider involve superchargers, turbo chargers, or just swapping the engine out wholesale for the high performance variant. Anything else will just end up feeling like a waste of money. If there were cheap and easy gains to be had, Toyota would have engineered them into the car at the outset.

[HFB]

Do you remember your time?
I really regret leaving the list in the PUB.

No mate

I just recall being mildly surprised at coming in above midway in the group.

IIRC I think my previous best run was 1.07 something and then did a 1.04 ish and there were 3 or so getting very close to breaking the minute barrier.

HFB

[1979scotte]

If you did a 1.04 then you were only 1 second behind me.
I have 90bhp on you but i did have t1r fitted which arent anywhere near as grippy as the AD08R.
It was the first time i had done anything like it and i was pleased with my final time.

[shnazzle]

Another AD08 convert hehehe.
Now there's a good mod..

[HFB]

Another AD08 convert hehehe.
Now there's a good mod..

Agree.....made a definite improvement over the Yokahama S-Drives/C Drives that were on the car before when on track.

Now I have a spare set of wheels, I will be replacing the AD08's with 888R's once they are worn out and keep the S/C drives for pootling on the road.

HFB