Tuning/mods

[twisty1]

Hey guys.

I've got a couple of questions about tuning and mods, etc. Excuse my lack of knowledge (and probably ignorance) but I'm relatively new to this.

Currently, on my 4speed BA XR6 Turbo I've got a BA Typhoon cooler and Typhoon lower box installed with K&N air filter. I'm planning on getting a full exhaust, fuel pump, possibly injectors (pending money) and a re-tune. Being a full time student I'm not rolling in the cash, so I was planning on doing it part by part, and installing the parts (apart from injectors) myself, with the help of friends.

Question is, if I buy the exhaust and pump and throw them on myself would I be risking a lot driving around in an un-tuned car? I've heard it can run pretty lean? If need be, we can install the exhaust and pump a day or two prior to the tune and 'baby' the car from my house to RDP Motorsport (half hour drive), would that be alright?

Also, I was planning on going down the VCM road instead of the Capa box. I can't really warrant/afford the money for a Capa box, and if I do (for some reason) need to change the tune RDP is only a half hour drive away. Can anybody foresee any problems with this?

Finally, what sort of power am I looking at with these mods and a custom tune?

Before you ask, I will be speaking to RDP about this, it's just I'd rather do it in real life (lol, irony) then over the phone and that's a bit hard at the moment with no licence.

Thanks for reading, any replies are greatly appreciated.

Michael.

Edited 22/07/09 12:13 AM by twisty1

[F6_jase]

cant see the point in doing the fuel pump if you arent putting bigger injectors in it. You might run the risk of overboosting once the new exhaust goes on, but if you drive it sensibly to the tune shop I am pretty sure you will be ok. I put my 3.5"dump and hi flo cat on and drove to work that night then back to get it tuned the next day and just took it easy and had no problems and my tune shop is over an hr away.

How much is the VCM compared to the CAPA?

[Bonjaz]

just baby it and dont boost it and the exhaust will be fine...you may get a light on your dash come up about emissions but your tuner can get rid of that, I had a full system on my car for a few weeks before a tune which was a 5h drive I just didnt feed it any for those 2 weeks or on the 5h drive. The fuel pump will be fine before a tune if you install it correct and use the right hose but your right let the tuner do the injectors. And a stage 1 capa box is worth like $300 these days and they work fine. And power wise I dont no how far you wanna push it or how much boost you wanna ram up its ass, you could get 300rwkw but the cooler prob wont like it and your injectors might not like it either, every car is different.

[Adam]

There is an additional cost with VCM. You don't just pay for the tuning because there's no box.

As above, there's no point getting a fuel pump if you're not getting injectors.

Since you're a full time student, I'd think carefully before doing any of this. Once modified your auto will need work at some stage. It might not die soon, but it will die, eventually.

[twisty1]

cant see the point in doing the fuel pump if you arent putting bigger injectors in it. You might run the risk of overboosting once the new exhaust goes on, but if you drive it sensibly to the tune shop I am pretty sure you will be ok. I put my 3.5"dump and hi flo cat on and drove to work that night then back to get it tuned the next day and just took it easy and had no problems and my tune shop is over an hr away.

How much is the VCM compared to the CAPA?

Well injectors it is then!! A VCM tune (at a different tuning company) is $600 and with the CAPA tune you have to pay for the box and then the custom tune, so I'm thinking up around a grand...?

just baby it and dont boost it and the exhaust will be fine...you may get a light on your dash come up about emissions but your tuner can get rid of that, I had a full system on my car for a few weeks before a tune which was a 5h drive I just didnt feed it any for those 2 weeks or on the 5h drive. The fuel pump will be fine before a tune if you install it correct and use the right hose but your right let the tuner do the injectors. And a stage 1 capa box is worth like $300 these days and they work fine. And power wise I dont no how far you wanna push it or how much boost you wanna ram up its ass, you could get 300rwkw but the cooler prob wont like it and your injectors might not like it either, every car is different.

That (not hitting boost) musta been hard!! Realisticly, I'd be happy with anything over 350hp, and I wanna keep it all running safe as I'm only 19 and I drive it nearly every day.

There is an additional cost with VCM. You don't just pay for the tuning because there's no box.

As above, there's no point getting a fuel pump if you're not getting injectors.

Since you're a full time student, I'd think carefully before doing any of this. Once modified your auto will need work at some stage. It might not die soon, but it will die, eventually.

My best mates dad actually owns SureShift Automatics at Geebung and he said he will strengthen if for me. I haven't really spoken to him much about it.. but what else do I need done to it so that it doesn't die?

Thanks heaps for the info guys, really informative!! Keep it coming!!

Edited 22/07/09 09:39 AM by twisty1

[Adam]

How much is the VCM credit on top of the $600 for the tune?

[twisty1]

Never heard of it. What's VCM credit?

Edited 22/07/09 10:26 AM by Adam
Quote removed

[Adam]

From what I understand you have to buy a tuning credit for your car. Each tuners licence can only tune so many cars before they have to buy more tuning credits. I guess it's a way for VCM to continue to make money from the tuners using the software. Much in the same way SCT tuners have to buy the XCal boxes.

[twisty1]

Interesting. Of all the tuners I've spoken to there were no additional costs with the tune. I'll have to look more into it though I guess. Ideally, I'd like the comfort of the Capa box, but I think VCM will suffice.

[Bonjaz]

yea dude I am only 19 (apprentice) and I love my cars especially this one and it was extremely hard to stay off the boost but in the end it was all worth it