Hi, I kind of new in the site even though I have read a lot of posts. I was looking for the best order for engine mods for get more power and all I could find was an old thead (2004) which pretty much just said what I already know. Here is my situation. I bought the car (2003 coupe 6MT) 4 months ago from a friend and the car already have some engine mods and I was wondering what would be the best way to keep moving foward. The car already have:
- Injen Cai (I got a Z-tube and the original air box and was thinking to use that with a K&N drop in)
-Unorthodox pulley set
-Custom Ground Kit made by me
-Stillen test pipes
-Borla cat-back
-JWT clutch kit (not flywheel)
-Kinetix Plenum (the one most of you call big shinny piece of sh@$%$)
- Strup Headers (bought them since I though was a good deal $200 and haven't intall them yet)
- Also the car has a Dynatune Nitrous Kit installed with MSD window switch (100hp shot, just filled the botle once and it felt pretty nice)
I also have a additional Non-rev motor with a spun rod bearing and was wondering about get the heads worked out and maybe put some cams with supporting mods or maybe get the short block repaired and built up so I can spray (NOS) the hell out of it. Also I have not touch the drivetrain (don't know any gears specs or anything about that)
That's is my question from guys who already have done this, what would be the best route, I mean what should I do first? recomendations for cams (specs)?

I haven't take it to the dyno or have it tuned so far, in fact thats will my next mod get the Osiris and tune it (maybe after I put the headers on)... but what should I do next

Any help would be greatly appreciated...BTW I know that some of the next mod would be expensive but I looking for the best order so I don't break my banck account. Also some of my best friends are certified mechanics and planning to all the work ourselfs since the car is not a DD (I only used it 10 to 14 days per month).

 

Forget headers, you'll see very little gain with those if any, unless your turbo. Do Osiris dynotune and call it a day.

 

You definitely need a tune. As for the drivetrain:
Clutch, flywheel combo
CF / aluminum driveshaft
3.5 - 3.7 diff gearing w/ VLSD or aftermarket LSD.

 

If you've already got the intake, kinetix plenum, test pipes and cat back I would recommend new spark plugs and a tune before you do anything else. Can almost guarantee you're running lean, and you'll want to fix that before you go looking to add more parts.

 

This is more of a simpleton approach but I would just throw all of the bolt-on's in there and give it a tune at a proper shop. As well as a regular tune-up of course.

 

they're already on the car.

 

just dropin a turbokit or supercharger.

 

I still recommended a tune and tune-up at a proper shop.

 

The previous owner told me that he had cooler spark plugs (guessing is for the nitrous) would that affect the performance running w/o nos?
Also, the car have a autometer pyrometer gauge and a AEM wide band as well... what would be the numbers I'm looking for in order to know if is running lean???
Thanks for the help....

 

It should be around 13:1 at full throttle. if it goes lower than 12:8 its too rich, higher than 13:5 its too lean and needs a tune.

The colder plugs are suspect, I would pull one out and verify what exactly they are. NA VQ's actually run great on one step colder NGK's, LFR6AIX-11 would be my plug of choice for any car I was tuning. Stock is a 5 heat range. VQ's are also notorious for burning up plugs on the stock tune, so I'd recommend changing them every 25K miles if you haven't been tuned

 

You need to add a plenum spacer, surprised no one has mentioned it yet. Forget the headers as mentioned above, then get tuned.

 

Yes I know thats one of the best mod but I don't think there's a spacer for my Kinetix Velocity Manifold.... :-(

 

Oh you have the big shiney metal one? If you're serious about making power sell that to someone who is into more show than go, and get the kinetix composite V+ plenum or just a plenum spacer. The velocity has been shown to lose power compared to the other two, and is terrible at heat-soak

 

Hey the wide band was showing 13.3 -13.4 at WOT this morning (5:20am 79 °F to 81 °F) on my way to work. I guess is running lean. Can't wait to buy the Osiris and get it tune.

Also why everyone is saying to drop the headers... I mean, I already got them and will install them myself, it couldn't hurt having then, do they?

 

Headers WILL give you a little boost in performance, but will hurt you if you're not tuned. 98% of the people on this forum don't have the experience/skills/tools necessary to install headers themselves, and when you have to pay a shop $500 or so just to install them its not really worth it. Unless you're just made of money and don't care, lol

If I were you I would install the headers. Then shoot me a PM about the uprev 13:4 is a little leaner than I would like to see it