Is It Worth Tuning Non-modded N/a Cars?

[Birnie]

After changing (years ago) from a slightly modded GTST, standard ECU, to an un-tuned Power FC....

I obvisouly noticed a better midrange in power and better drivabilty overall.....even before tuned...and even better after!

My question is this,

If i have a, lets say, a 2000yr, 1.8 Corolla, is it worth adding a piggy back to punch in some extra timing and getting that better feal?

Would it work?

Are NA standard cars already at their optimum or are they running super safe where you could squeeze some extra omph outta them?

What are your thoughts?

[NISZILA]

NA cars won't lean out as easily as a turbo car, so they don't have to be as careful with the tune I guess. There are always things you can do with an NA though, like advancing the timing for instance.

[Marco-R34GTT]

Advance timing, good exhaust and headers, cam, up compression...

[scathing]

Are NA standard cars already at their optimum or are they running super safe where you could squeeze some extra omph outta them?

All OEM cars are tuned conservatively. You can always find a little extra by tuning the ECU, especially if you're willing to always run it on a higher octane fuel. Then there's removing inherent restrictions like the intake and exhaust if you're willing to put up with a bit more noise.

As for whether its "worth" it, its up to you. You'll still need to spend money on it, and you won't see the gains you would on an FI car. If you have to have more punch and you can afford it, then do it. But I get the feeling you've got better things to spend your money on than getting a handful of fwkW on a $600 outlay with an A'PEXi S-AFC.

[Free_Spirit]

its kind of not worth the money as gains will be minimal. plus if you get some dodgy installation than things start stuffing up which leads to more problems. maybe just keep it stock

[NYTSKY]

I had a very clean EF falcon.It was one of my most enjoyable cars.

Full exhuast

Headers

XR ECU and fuel reg

Cam

Valve springs

Lowered springs

KYB shocks

Nice wheels

I wish i never sold it.

Not the fastest thing in the world,but it sounded horn and was a great drive.I only mod inline 6s though.4s dont do it for me.

[R32obsessed]

Its definitely worth it You will see roughly 14+kw gain from intake + exhaust

Sky is the limit. plenty of go fast bits for them! more than enough market and experience out there

twincam.net will be the best place to ask around

[Yo-Yo]

I love the power delivery and throttle response from my z...

but nothing compares to the rush when the skyline's on boost .

Most n/a 4 banger posers add a cannon and leave it at that.

I would do;

2.5" exhaust

good size extractors (not too large)

hi flow panel filter

adjustable cams

decent Air/Fuel management

[Marco-R34GTT]

Go all out and bolt a blower on it...

Mega grunt/huge torque and a horny zorst note to boot!!!

[Haysey]

in the end its going to be a 1.8 corolla, put a better flowing exhaust on it, filter, spend some money on suspension parts and put some nice work rims on it....

no point in modding the engine with a computer etc to get 5extra fwkw

[Birnie]

Thanks guys,

the 1.8 litre Corolla was just an example.

I don't know if i'll bother.

Stock isn't too bad and i wanna keep good fuel economy.

Time to take ye olde R33(turbo) for a fang ... schweeeeet

[mystery_kid]

modding N/A is big money for little gain

it's alright if you're balla

[Johnny]

i had an r33 gts-4 non-turbo with the rb25de engine

it had pod, zorst and unichip ecu which made a ridiculously pathetic 78awkw!

a full 2kw gain for 900bux

[dori34]

^ thast cause its a 4wd Lol

my rb25de pulls ~120rwkw - i only have 2.5" catback exhaust & pod filter

Edited March 24, 2008 by whyte

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

i had an r33 gts-4 non-turbo with the rb25de engine

it had pod, zorst and unichip ecu which made a ridiculously pathetic 78awkw!

a full 2kw gain for 900bux

:laughing-smiley-014:

[Johnny]

its true whyte, lots of drivetrain loss!!

dosent matter my new r34 gtr vpec2 has taken care of that problem!!

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

^^^ and how!

[Birnie]

Thanks for all your replies.

I guess i was hoping for some sort of easy piggy back ECU that could easily be tuned from the passenger seat....leaving AFR's and punching in an extra 5' of timing or something for $500??

I'm more interested in an increase in low-midrange torque feal, upgrades.

Not interested in top output power ( i guess i shoulda stated that earlier)

Thinking i'll just leave it as is.

Cheers big ears.

Birnie

[Modena]

After changing (years ago) from a slightly modded GTST, standard ECU, to an un-tuned Power FC....

I obvisouly noticed a better midrange in power and better drivabilty overall.....even before tuned...and even better after!

My question is this,

If i have a, lets say, a 2000yr, 1.8 Corolla, is it worth adding a piggy back to punch in some extra timing and getting that better feal?

Would it work?

Are NA standard cars already at their optimum or are they running super safe where you could squeeze some extra omph outta them?

What are your thoughts?

It's like giving a fat boy a pair of Nikes and asking him to run quickly... won't happen. So why bother?

[Kinks]

worth tuning an NA car? it's not even worth driving one....

ok ok.. some of us haven't earned our boost wings yet. I'm glad my first car was a charade i probably would have killed myself in anything quicker