Hi Everyone
I have been planning on doing the following mods to my Evo 2011.
-Intake upgrade
-BOV
-Inter-cooler upgrade with piping upgrade
-Cat-back exhaust
-COBB Access Port for proper tuning (This upgrade will be last on the list)

I have a few Q's and I am hoping you guys can help, I am fairly new to the world of turbos.

If I do these mods in stages (ie exhaust first, then intake, then intercooler etc) do I have to get the car tuned each time after each mod? If this is the case it will prove to be expensive.

Ideally I would like to do all my mods in one sitting and get the car tuned one time. But this is not reality.

I was told that each time I mess with my air vs fuel ration I need to get the car properly tuned...

Or do I have it all backwards? Do I need to start with the COBB first???

Thanks

 

I have a bad case of "while I'm in there" so anytime I'm doing a mod in a certain area, I end up doing other mods that are now less difficult because the car is taken apart anyways...

 

Do all your mods at once that way you only have to tune your car once. Each mod you do after a tune effects the tune in one way or another and does not allow for the full benefits of the new mod. Throw it all on and get her tuned...you wont look back.

 

If money is no object then do it little by little. If that's not the case then wait to acquire all the mods you want and get it tuned all at once. You'll save time and money that way

 

If you have an AP then you can reflash in stages for free.

Get the AP, flash stage 1.

Get an exhaust, flash stage 2.

Get an intake (and intake piping if you want), flash stage 2 with the proper intake map.

Then save up for your intercooler, 3 port, upgraded diverter valve, and then get a custom tune.

 

Hey thanks for the feed back. Much appreciated.
I have a neighbor who has an sti and he was telling me to start with the Cobb first.
I really found no sense in that...I figured the access port should be my last modified soil can safely get the car tuned- am I in the wrong here?

 

A reason to do the Cobb or other AP first is you can/will hurt you engine if you modify the airflow without a retune...getting too lean is very dangerous. Cobb and others have off the shelf maps for various states like a tune for no mod, a tune for cat back and etc. Then again just like ddawg said go get a custom for your engine tune once you get past the simple generic type bolt ons

If you enjoy tinkering like some of us you will do it piece-meal...If you can't wait go for the home run...either way should be good fun

If you decide on stages just like ddawg1130 suggested from all my research sounds right to me

 

Any bolt-ons you install, you will not have to tune for. It is not until you delve into the more hardcore modifications, i.e. cams, turbo and e85 that you will need a tune or your car will run like crap.

 

honestly, depending on what you get, you can do the intake(as long as it doesn't change the maf housing) cat back exhaust, IC, and IC piping with out the tune. Honestly you biggest gain will be a tune, so i would get the COBB AP first. Like already said, you can run the cobb with the stock car, and you will gain a decent amount of HP over the stock tune by doing this. Do Cobb first, then exhaust and/or intake next. IC piping, and IC don't matter when. Depending on the BOV, if its not recirc, you will need a tune.

 

Thanks for all the advice.

Looking forward to the next several months...

 

I'm all about do stuff in logical stages based on your desires, but I'm on opensource fan, so doing it without a AP.

Here's how I did mine:
--I did my intake with no tune, I was picky to get an intake that I knew would work on stock tune

--I did my CBE, still no tune, as I knew it wouldn't affect my AFRs enought cause a problem

--I did IC piping and FMIC, still no tune, because I knew it would work with no worries, but I didn't expect gains, without a tune

--I installed my TP and got my tune later that day.

--Post tune I installed my boost and wideband gauges. I would of done the gauges before the other mods, but I was waiting for my DSG gauge pillar and my savings took a vacation for awhile why I bought a car for my mother-in-law and a car for my wife after 4 months of random stuff breaking on her old car. But, gauges first would of been wiser IMO.

Now, I'm stock piling. I'm planning on getting, but not installing: pump, injectors, DP, and turbo before installing and tuning at the same time.

What I've gained by this staged route, fun daily driver that I enjoy, yet built some confidence to decide to spend a lot more on the platform.

 

I personally couldn't wait until I could afford all the parts to start modding. So I bought parts one at a time until I got to the point I needed a tune and had the cash for it. I actually did GTworx springs, RCK and rear sway first since I don't like the look of the Evo as a 4x4 and I'm more interested in going fast in a turn than in a straight line. . Then I got the ETS intake and months later got the UR cat back. I just ordered a test pipe, ETS UICP and 3 port so I'm getting my first tune next Friday and can't wait. As far as the Cobb, that was my first choice but then some people here said a dyno tune from a pro is better. Cobb is nice because you can do it yourself but I was told a dyno tune with get the most out of the car. Search around here. There are parts you can do pretty safely and there are parts you should do and get tuned quickly. Some opinions differ but you will get an idea. With my intake and exhaust I played it safe and didnt go WOT. some say its ok. I just didnt chance it. But now that I'm doing the test pipe I figure time to get tuned. Plus the car feels slow to me so I'm hoping that I can feel a difference after the tune. Many say you don't need the BOV until you get a bigger turbo. The ETS intake makes a nice sound as well.