Ok so I am trying to decide which set of mods to do to my car next and would like some opinions from people who have gone either way. My current mods are listed in my sig and most of my driving is highway and the occasional 1/4mile.

First route would be AMS intercooler, Fighters Garage LICP, S-AFC II, and some brand of upper intercooler pipe/BOV. What kind of gains would this produce and is a upper ICP/BOV reccomended at this point?

Or, 272/264 cams, head studs, LICP, reflash, and S-AFC II, both routes would be about the same $.

Is there really that much benefit to having a S-AFC II if you already have a flash?
Is there another option I should consider? My eventual goal is 400-450WHP so I dont want to do something that is going to be worthless later on. Also there are no shops for tuning within 5hrs of me so that is another thing to consider. Thanks to anyone with suggestions.

 

boost guage

but if you already have one, then my vote is for cams

 

Sorry I left that out. I have a gauge cluster w/boost gauge.

 

do you ever plan on upgrading the turbo

 

Yeah, but not for alittle while and not to anything to extreme. I'm kinda waiting to see how the WR kit turns out and if anyone else comes out with something similar, like the one I heard Buscher is working on.

 

I would add a tuneable engine management system. You will probably need this to make over 400 HP in the future.

 

Lower Intercooler Pipe along with 272 cams with some cam gears.......... a good 'retune......you'll be happy as hell.

Upgraded turbo's are no joke........they spool like crap (all of them) and hit real hard(most of them ) and its really not something you should be looking into unless

1. you have money to blow

and

2. You drive in a straight line

 

At the point you're at, I'd personally go with a set of 272's, a reflash, and a good set of IC pipes if you can some that will work with your future FMIC. Alcohol injection is another possibility, but you'll need a custome tune for that. If you plan on upgrading the turbo within the next year, a FMIC is another good choice. If turbo plans are far away, I'd hold off on the FMIC because I think the stock one is pretty sufficient for the stock turbo. Just a few of my tips FWIW.

 

Thanks for all of your quick reply's. My biggest problem is that I have no place to tune it around here so I am stuck with mail in flashes or tuning myself. Would the S-AFC be a wise move? I really don't have the $1500 for an EMS right now.

 

IMO, id say so with 272\264, head studs, cam gears and then get a reflash or the safcII. you got to go with the cams!!! i got more or less the same exact setup now just saving up for my cams

 

i have the safc II and 21boost car pulls pretty good. tuned by Turbotrix


the only thing that ive been told that when i get my cams in im gonna do a reflash and the the safc II would basically be worthless. i would have to put the setting back to zero.

 

Thanks everyone. I'd really like an opinion on the S-AFC too. Is it a wise choice or do you feel it's unnecessary? Especially with a flash I don't want something that is going to negatively effect my tune or not be worth the money.

 

IMO, even if you had the money for a standalone management system, it would be unwise to get, since, by your own admission, there is noone near you to tune it. Same goes for getting an SAFC.

If I was in your shoes, I'd save up to go with HKS 272 cams, cam gears, and the XEDE piggyback. IMO one of the greatest advantages to the XEDE is that there is no required reflashing or custom tuning (although the XEDEflash is nice to have along with the XEDE), just load the appropriate octane/stage map into the XEDE and you're good to go. The average person can set one up in their garage and with this setup you will also be able to accomodate most future mods w/out any issues (e.g. White Rabbit turbo, etc.).

After you get that, then you can think about other goodies, but things like a bigger IC, or better IC piping will not net you a great deal of power for the $$$ invested.

l8r)

 

Everyone keeps saying to go with cam gears but I thought there wasnt much of an improvement with gears? Am I wrong or is there some other reason to get them?
Thanks for all the help.

 

sorry didn't see you had a flash already.
there is little to be gained from an safc if you already have a flash. i am not sure if a flash can account for your specific car, temps, humidity like an safc can. so i think you could get a little more out. but i would suggest you get something better if you are going to get wr or alchy. like a smart xede or aem ems. if you only go up to cams, just get reflashed.

did anyone mention a 10.5 hotside? i think it comes with the wr, but there are some good gains there, and no loss of drivability.