performance mods
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INTAKE
ENGINE DRESS UP
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EXHAUST
ENGINE
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RACE HEADERS
NOS
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TURBO
FLUIDS
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Beginner's Guide to Engine modding
Well here is the beginner's guide to engine modding in about the order it should be done, potential power gains (with other mods and by itself), and a few places you can buy them. This upgrade list is engine/intake/exhaust only, no suspension/tires/clutch/etc. All potential gains estimations are obviously product dependent, but still provide a rough estimate. Note: only LEGAL modifications are included.
Intake
You have the option of either getting a cold air intake or short ram intake. Cold air intake has longer piping but will pull air from outside the engine bay, while short ram pulls the ambient air from the engine bay but has shorter piping. Lots of companies make intakes for the 2008+ Lancer. Injen, Takeda, RRM, AEM to name a few. Intakes aren't great at providing power, but combined with other modifications make for a great supporting mod.
Potential gains (by itself): Cold air intake 1-2 whp throughout the rev range, Short Ram 1-2 whp at the peak
You also have the option of getting a drop in performance air filter combined with a Ralliart snorkel. This will provide about 1 whp.
Where to buy:
http://www.autoanyth...1A2576A0A0.aspx
http://autoplicity.c...CFTBgMgodTXcAEw
http://roadracemotor...products_id=331
Exhaust
There are 3 main types of exhausts you can get: header back, cat back, and axle back. Axle back replaces the muffler and tip and is more for sound than it is for performance. Cat back and header back are the two more performance minded exhaust modifications. Cat back provides increased diameter piping from the catalytic converter to tip and muffler replacement, while header back provides a high flow catalytic converter also. There aren't a whole lot of options for pre-made exhaust systems. Injen and Greddy and RRM and Borla make some, and you can also find some on ebay. I'm sure there are others. Most pre-made systems are pretty expensive for what you get. The best bang for your buck is a custom exhaust system made by a muffler/exhaust shop, you can get twice the work done for half the price. The most common NA exhaust piping size is 2.5". You can get a 3" exhaust, which changes the exhaust note, but unless you are preparing for a turbo build I wouldn't recommend it. It reduces the back pressure too much, which will move the power band from the middle rev ranges to higher up.
Potential gains (by itself): axle back 1-2 whp, cat back 3-4 whp, header back 4-5 whp
Potential gains (with intake): axle back 1-3 whp, cat back 5-6 whp, header back 7-8 whp
Where to buy:
http://www.autoanyth...CFa5DMgodt3YAmg
http://www.maperform...CFYtDMgod10sAtw
http://roadracemotor...roducts_id=1924
Crank Pulley
A lightweight crank pulley doesn't create any horsepower, but it allows more power to be transferred from the crank to the wheels. Power is lost rotating the heavy stock crank, but by using a lighter material there is less power lost just rotating the crank. A lightweight pulley also allows your crank to reach higher revs faster. To my knowledge, right now only Alutec and RRM make these pulleys for our cars.
Potential gains (by itself and with other mods): About 2 whp
Where to buy:
http://roadracemotor...roducts_id=1301
http://www.rpw.com.a...&tmpl=component
Header
Probably one of the better mods for the NA. The header replaces the stock exhaust manifold. Lancer owners have two options, a 4-1 header or a 4-2-1 header. A 4-1 header will shift power gains to the top end of the rev range, while a 4-2-1 header will increase power along the lower and middle rev ranges with a little top end increase also (not as much as 4-1 though). Supercircuit is to my knowledge the only manufacturer of the 4-2-1, while RPW, RRM, and OBX all make the 4-1 header. 4-2-1 is recommended for CVT owners, while the 4-1 is recommended for M/T.
Potential gains (by itself): about 3-4 whp
Potential gains (with cat back/header back exhaust): 8-10 whp
Potential gains (with axle back exhaust): 5-6 whp
Where to buy:
https://www.facebook...65557?ref=br_tf
http://www.racingpar...ERS-2008/Detail
http://roadracemotor...products_id=289
http://www.rpw.com.a...uemart&Itemid=1
Throttle Body
You can either install the TB from a 4g69 engine, or you can have your stock ported and polished. The 4g69s can be found on ebay or at junk yards. As far as I know there is no aftermarket TB, but I could be wrong. You will get better throttle response with this install.
Potential gains (by itself): 1-3 whp
Potential gains (all previous mods): 4-5 whp at peak, power band may not change much
Where to buy:
Car-part.com
Ebay.com
For Sale Forums
Intake Manifold Swap
There are no aftermarket intake manifolds to replace the plastic manifolds the NAs were given, however the Evo X turbo manifold will bolt up. You will lose low end power, but will gain top end with this swap. You can also have custom manifolds made up, I know Wilson Manifolds will do it but I haven't asked other companies just yet. This is a mod I personally can't decide if it's worth doing or not.
Potential gains (Evo X turbo manifold): About 4-5 whp at peak, lost power throughout the lower range.
Potential gains (custom made): 3-6 whp? (unknown, don't know anyone that's tried)
Where to buy:
For Sale Forums or ebay
Wilson Manifolds
Camshaft upgrade
The best option is to have a custom camshaft made up specifically for you. I actually asked around a lot of places and got quotes for around $700. You can have regrinds made by Brian Crower. These cost around $500, plus the cost of 4b11/12 cams to regrind. The Evo X camshafts will drop straight in with no extra parts required (except possibly new tappets, depending on current wear). They are made for turbo application though, and even though they will provide power gains will not be as effective as custom made cams. All camshaft upgrades will require a good tune. DO NOT get the Brian Crower 272s without upgrade valve springs/lifters and cam sensor.
Potential gains (by itself): 5-8 whp (depending on custom made or Evo X)
Potential gains (after all other mods): 10-25 whp at peak, depending on Evo X or custom made and depending on quality of tune
Where to buy:
For Sale Forums
http://www.camshaftshop.com/
http://www.briancrow...ishi/4b11.shtml
Intake
You have the option of either getting a cold air intake or short ram intake. Cold air intake has longer piping but will pull air from outside the engine bay, while short ram pulls the ambient air from the engine bay but has shorter piping. Lots of companies make intakes for the 2008+ Lancer. Injen, Takeda, RRM, AEM to name a few. Intakes aren't great at providing power, but combined with other modifications make for a great supporting mod.
Potential gains (by itself): Cold air intake 1-2 whp throughout the rev range, Short Ram 1-2 whp at the peak
You also have the option of getting a drop in performance air filter combined with a Ralliart snorkel. This will provide about 1 whp.
Where to buy:
http://www.autoanyth...1A2576A0A0.aspx
http://autoplicity.c...CFTBgMgodTXcAEw
http://roadracemotor...products_id=331
Exhaust
There are 3 main types of exhausts you can get: header back, cat back, and axle back. Axle back replaces the muffler and tip and is more for sound than it is for performance. Cat back and header back are the two more performance minded exhaust modifications. Cat back provides increased diameter piping from the catalytic converter to tip and muffler replacement, while header back provides a high flow catalytic converter also. There aren't a whole lot of options for pre-made exhaust systems. Injen and Greddy and RRM and Borla make some, and you can also find some on ebay. I'm sure there are others. Most pre-made systems are pretty expensive for what you get. The best bang for your buck is a custom exhaust system made by a muffler/exhaust shop, you can get twice the work done for half the price. The most common NA exhaust piping size is 2.5". You can get a 3" exhaust, which changes the exhaust note, but unless you are preparing for a turbo build I wouldn't recommend it. It reduces the back pressure too much, which will move the power band from the middle rev ranges to higher up.
Potential gains (by itself): axle back 1-2 whp, cat back 3-4 whp, header back 4-5 whp
Potential gains (with intake): axle back 1-3 whp, cat back 5-6 whp, header back 7-8 whp
Where to buy:
http://www.autoanyth...CFa5DMgodt3YAmg
http://www.maperform...CFYtDMgod10sAtw
http://roadracemotor...roducts_id=1924
Crank Pulley
A lightweight crank pulley doesn't create any horsepower, but it allows more power to be transferred from the crank to the wheels. Power is lost rotating the heavy stock crank, but by using a lighter material there is less power lost just rotating the crank. A lightweight pulley also allows your crank to reach higher revs faster. To my knowledge, right now only Alutec and RRM make these pulleys for our cars.
Potential gains (by itself and with other mods): About 2 whp
Where to buy:
http://roadracemotor...roducts_id=1301
http://www.rpw.com.a...&tmpl=component
Header
Probably one of the better mods for the NA. The header replaces the stock exhaust manifold. Lancer owners have two options, a 4-1 header or a 4-2-1 header. A 4-1 header will shift power gains to the top end of the rev range, while a 4-2-1 header will increase power along the lower and middle rev ranges with a little top end increase also (not as much as 4-1 though). Supercircuit is to my knowledge the only manufacturer of the 4-2-1, while RPW, RRM, and OBX all make the 4-1 header. 4-2-1 is recommended for CVT owners, while the 4-1 is recommended for M/T.
Potential gains (by itself): about 3-4 whp
Potential gains (with cat back/header back exhaust): 8-10 whp
Potential gains (with axle back exhaust): 5-6 whp
Where to buy:
https://www.facebook...65557?ref=br_tf
http://www.racingpar...ERS-2008/Detail
http://roadracemotor...products_id=289
http://www.rpw.com.a...uemart&Itemid=1
Throttle Body
You can either install the TB from a 4g69 engine, or you can have your stock ported and polished. The 4g69s can be found on ebay or at junk yards. As far as I know there is no aftermarket TB, but I could be wrong. You will get better throttle response with this install.
Potential gains (by itself): 1-3 whp
Potential gains (all previous mods): 4-5 whp at peak, power band may not change much
Where to buy:
Car-part.com
Ebay.com
For Sale Forums
Intake Manifold Swap
There are no aftermarket intake manifolds to replace the plastic manifolds the NAs were given, however the Evo X turbo manifold will bolt up. You will lose low end power, but will gain top end with this swap. You can also have custom manifolds made up, I know Wilson Manifolds will do it but I haven't asked other companies just yet. This is a mod I personally can't decide if it's worth doing or not.
Potential gains (Evo X turbo manifold): About 4-5 whp at peak, lost power throughout the lower range.
Potential gains (custom made): 3-6 whp? (unknown, don't know anyone that's tried)
Where to buy:
For Sale Forums or ebay
Wilson Manifolds
Camshaft upgrade
The best option is to have a custom camshaft made up specifically for you. I actually asked around a lot of places and got quotes for around $700. You can have regrinds made by Brian Crower. These cost around $500, plus the cost of 4b11/12 cams to regrind. The Evo X camshafts will drop straight in with no extra parts required (except possibly new tappets, depending on current wear). They are made for turbo application though, and even though they will provide power gains will not be as effective as custom made cams. All camshaft upgrades will require a good tune. DO NOT get the Brian Crower 272s without upgrade valve springs/lifters and cam sensor.
Potential gains (by itself): 5-8 whp (depending on custom made or Evo X)
Potential gains (after all other mods): 10-25 whp at peak, depending on Evo X or custom made and depending on quality of tune
Where to buy:
For Sale Forums
http://www.camshaftshop.com/
http://www.briancrow...ishi/4b11.shtml