Basic Mods and Tuning Question

[ngauge]

Hopefully this is the right place to post this as I am in need of some advice, as this is the first time I've thought about doing any aftermarket work on my car. Ill try to keep it short.

 

I bought my 08 XR6 Turbo Falcon second hand roughly a year ago and it's been great up until now (sitting at 136k as of writing), I've been doing research on what basic or preventative mods I should look at doing (trans cooler, battery replacement/turbo side intake, oil line etc). However a week ago I noticed a noise with the stock exhaust and after taking it to an exhaust shop I was advised ill need a new rear muffler. Obviously, being the cultured gentleman that I am im thinking about taking the opportunity and installing something with a little bit more...excitement than just replacing the stock rear muffler (xforce for example). I was also hoping that I could knock over a couple of jobs at once and get the new exhaust installed while doing the trans cooler and the battery replacement.

 

Here's where the problem comes: after talking to a few performance mechanics here in Melbourne I was advised by one that if I install a new exhaust, and/or do a battery replacement that ill also need to get the car tuned. Does that seem right? This mechanic was trying to sell me on a stage 1.5 or stage 2 kit (including a tune which he says I need) plus the exhaust which is a significant expense. It seems a bit excessive/unnecessary to me to have to get the car tuned after simply installing a new exhaust and/or doing a battery replacement? Should I even be thinking about just getting the basic stuff done, or is going with a stage 1.5 etc kit the only real option I should be considering? Perhaps the better question is: besides getting the exhaust done professionally, is the battery replacement and trans cooler installs so basic that taking it to a mechanic is overkill and I should be doing it myself?

 

Any help or advice anyone can share would be greatly appreciated.

[k31th]

 

If you replace the catalytic convertor or injectors/fuel-pressure-regulator then you definitely need a tune... anything else that changes the airflow (in via the intake or out via the exhaust) doesn't generally need a tune to suit nor does a lift-fuel-pump in the fuel tank.

 

But if you do a turbo-side intake replacement only (from a performance modifications point of view, you definitely don't need a tune, but it's a good idea to do certain mods at the same time (which almost always is including a tune) to get more than just a sound increase out of your mods

 

You can do any mods yourself if you think you have the skills and tools/products to get it done to your satisfaction.

[ngauge]

Thanks so much for the reply. I have been toying with the idea of doing the turbo oil line and the battery replacement myself (mostly thanks to the info I've read on this forum) but now that I have to get the exhaust done it seemed logical to do it all at the same time. But then the mechanics started talking about stage 1.5/2 kits which seem to include a lot of things I dont need (at least not yet). The price of those kits and the tune (which seems unnecessary at this point) is why I hesitated and came here seeking more info and advice.

 

I believe the exhaust I would get installed (assuming I go for something other than the bare minimum of replacing the broken muffler) would be a cat-back system, so I assume that means im not touching the converter? (happy to be corrected on that though).

 

Again, thanks so much for the adivce.

[El Andrew]

That's correct - if you are installing a cat-back system you will not be touching your catalytic convertor and don't need a tune.

 

There is info on here about reputable tuners if you decide to go down that path one day.  But sounds like the place you visited is a bit like the guttering bloke who came to my place to fix a single gutter leak.  Told me it would probably be easiest to replace all of the gutters and downpipes for $8.5k.  Technically would have fixed the problem...

[ngauge]

Yah that's what I thought, he seemed like a good bloke but my Spidey Sense started to tingle when he started talking about these kits and a tune as being necessary and the only way to go. Seemed a bit much for what I was talking about doing. 

[biddie_fiddler]

For what its worth, getting a mid muffler delete from the stock exhaust makes a huge difference to the sound and tone of the car. One of my favourite cheap mods I've done to my car. Cost me $100!

 

If you're not chasing big power gains, I reckon you'd be better off looking for a 2nd hand stock exhaust to fix your leaky one, and get the middle muffler removed at an exhaust shop. 

 

Yes the x-force systems sound good - but they're expensive. 

Middle muffler delete sounds good and is a fraction of the price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFVju9b6WI4

 

 

(@k31th is there a way of making embedded YT thumbnails smaller in a thread? 😜)

Edited 11/03/21 11:31 AM by biddie_fiddler
Didn't like the huuuuge embedded video view

[k31th]

How small would you want it? Lol. The width of the post box is fine... You can just make it a URL instead of an embed if you want to save space haha

[biddie_fiddler]

I feel like I'm wasting precious reply space by embedding the whole video 🤣
I'ma remove the embedded view I think

 

 

Continuing on from your post, OP, if you want decent induction noise, the battery relo and 4" intake stems are awesome! 

I've helped install a plazzy, mackielec, and antz battery relo & intake kits. They are all basically the same. Quality wise the plazzy one was mint but is on the pricey side. I'd recommend the mackielec or antz systems for awesome bang for buck products.

 

Additionally, installing these is a f%#k tonne simpler if you install them along with an I/C piping kit. The stock I/C piping, on the hot side specifically, can get in the way. Not impossible to install without I/C piping though, just real tight!

[k31th]

Haha suit yourself bud