Hello,

I may have posted this in the wrong place before, so I'll try again.

This is my first time looking into getting a bit more power out of my Lancer 2003 ES (automatic). I bought my 2nd Lancer new back in the time and it's served me well.

My car is getting a little boring so I'm looking into spicing up things a bit and need advice.

I have absolutely no mods on my car except I just bought some nice 17inch wheels and sports tires, which I'm loving. So what can I do to get a little bit more juice? A few questions to start with, please bare with me as I don't know a thing about modding a car.

- I've looked into some air intake systems, someone told me that I need a water valve to keep water out of the system in wet days, is that true?

- I don't want a muffler, don't want the rocket sound coming out of the rear end, at least not quite yet. Is installing air intake will do ANYTHING in terms of HPs if I don't install a new pipe all the way?

- Will air intake improve my gas mileage?

- Will lowering my car make it uncomfortable? Will lowering about an inch work with my stock struts?

- piggyback ECU? Would it help without air intake and exhaust?

That's it for now, I guess. Depending on what responses I get I might ask a few more questions. Perhaps one day I'll learn enough to find my way around and even help others.

Thanks,
genes|s

 

- I've looked into some air intake systems, someone told me that I need a water valve to keep water out of the system in wet days, is that true?

Get a short ram intake, and you don't have to worry about water until your car is submerged to the hood in water. At which point the intake is the least of your worries. They're cheaper, easier to install (some cold air intakes require you to remove the bumper to install them) and the benefits are the same.

- I don't want a muffler, don't want the rocket sound coming out of the rear end, at least not quite yet. Is installing air intake will do ANYTHING in terms of HPs if I don't install a new pipe all the way?

General consensus, absolutely no HP gain from intake or Exhaust.

- Will air intake improve my gas mileage?

Yes. It did for me anyway. How much depends on how dirty your old filter is/was. Intakes will make your car louder, however. Not a lot.

- Will lowering my car make it uncomfortable? Will lowering about an inch work with my stock struts?

Lowered cars are less comfortable, yes, you feel the bumps more, lots more, depending on your drop. Lowering on stock struts works, just a question of how long it works before they go kaput.

- piggyback ECU? Would it help without air intake and exhaust?

I'd say yes, because it adjusts fuel mapping, intake and exhaust help also. This is supposedly the most worthwhile mod for the 02/03 lancers short of turbo. Keep in mind once you get a piggyback, you then have to run mid-grade or premium gas, depending on octane. If memory serves the piggy requires minimum 90 octane.

 

Go turbo or go home. Unfortunately none of the currently available bolt-ons provide significant gains, at least considering their cost. This doesn't mean you shouldn't buy them though, just that they don't increase the HP that much. Some people like the sound of an intake or exhaust.

 

Thanks for the info. I kind of figured that short ram is fitted at the top. It's not the coolest part of the car but it's more air.

What brand of short ram is considered good choice in 03's? I've seen some no-names for pretty cheap. Would going cheap hurt my engine in any way?

When you say no significant increase in HP, are we talking around 5 to 7 horses or less?

As far as mileage goes, there's got to be something wrong with my car because it takes around as much as an evo does so going bigger air in-take may actually help. I don't always drive rough and besides, you can't do much rough with a stock car.

Lowering my car may not be the best option as I have a child seat in my car too. Out of curiousity though, what does the wheel spacer do for my car's looks and handling?

Piggyback ECU's are not all expensive and as far as I've read here, it is pretty easy to install too. Perhaps short ram and a piggyback would give me sufficient boost to make my car comfortably quick. I'm not aiming at 800 horses any way and I don't mind putting in better quality gas in my car.

Is piggyback a brand or is this what after-market ECU's are known by? If so, what brand in considered a good choice?

Do I need to change fuel lines or anything else with the ECU or would ECU alone with short ram be good enough?

Finally, I've heard/read that installing bigger air intake without high-power exhaust can make my stock muffler/pipe explode, over time? Is that true?

 

We're talking about 0-1 HP.
Spacers do nothing for handling. They just push the wheel out further.
An intake + a piggyback is maybe 5 WHP, you'll notice the increase in noise but it's not like you'll notice how quick your car is all of the sudden. If that seems like 500$+ well spent, go for it.
Piggyback is a style, not a brand. RRM, Greddy, Haltech and Apexi make piggyback ECUs.
Fuel lines have nothing to do with this.
I have no idea who told you that and they deserve to be shot for spreading such stupid information.

 

Depending on the piggyback, the RRM V1 i'm thinking of, you have to splice wires and run a vacuum line, which requires getting through the firewall. Not terribly easy, but not impossible either.

 

One step at a time. I want to know how this particular one would do? http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=350116003716

 

It's hard to tell what size that air filter is, they've got it standing up. The RRM intake cone filter has a huge base, like 4 or 5". The original intake I had was like that, but the filter was only about 3 - 4". Take it for what it's worth, maybe not a big deal.

Also of interest, the description says it's mandrel bent, when clearly it's welded

 

Good point, I sent him an email, probably not going to receive an answer.

In the end it won't hurt the engine if it's a cheapy intake, just won't give me anything other than louder engine.

What can I do to get like around 8 to 10 HP on my car without too much modification?

Also, do I have to relocate the battery for short ram?

 

No you don't have to relocate the battery for an intake. There is no easy way to gain 10 HP.

 

lose the interior trim, spare tire, rear seats and get lighter wheels, you'll gain 10 hp in weight savings, but that's not easy. And you're not gaining anything

 

Unfortunately if I remove the seats, I'll have to sleep in the car too

I guess I'll keep looking for some more intakes. Looks like all good ones are bit more money.

 

Is this performance chip a scam? http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=220417360632

Appreciate the help.

Nevermind, a simple google search reveals that this thing is indeed garbage.

 

I have a lancer GTS Myself, there are a few ways you can go, One you can purchase a header, at RRM, a Crank Pully, SRI or CAI, as well as exhaust, these are the easiest to install and well basically known as the bolt ons, I'd recommend taking that path first, if you want a really easy way to go get the crank first or the SRI/CAI, otherwise your moving into some more manual labor moves.

 

He has an 03, not an 08+.