Need some 5SFE upgrade advice

[sickof5sfe]

Ok so basically what i am wanting is a small list of things i can do with the 5SFE to make it look nicer (such as headers/exhaust/intake) and give it some better throttle response. I am not looking to boost the power on this thing as i am no fool and i know it isn't possible to make huge hp numbers without dropping the dough. All I want from you people out there are some ideas for some FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE upgrades to the 5SFE to give me some better sound and looks. I am wanting to eventually upgrade to the 3SGTE but do not have the money right now as I am paying for college. I know i'm going to have to spend some money in order to get a little bit more from the engine in the response and sound department so just give me some ideas on things you know of...

[PETC]

Here's a picture of my old 5SFE, and if Tred comes on here he'll show you his... which was just insane... Anyways, all I did was wires, intake, exhaust, and painted the valve cover shittily, and it looked great. Just keep it clean and basic and it'll look nice.

If you want a budget NA screamer save some money up for headowork and cams. A lot of power in the 5SFE is locked away in that stupidly retarded econo-head.

[sickof5sfe]

yeah i'm not even that interested in spending money for the cams or headwork...not really worth it in my opinion although they would sound cool and gimmie a little bit more get up and go. So, specifically, what headers/exhaust/intake/wires packages did you use that's mainly the info I'm after, I already know what I want to do to it I'm just having a tough time finding it all

[bean]

mr2liter has header + b-pipe for 130 shipped. Thats really all you can do w/o cams or valve job.


and don't you dare ask about an intake unless you wanna get TomsMR2 to make some more.

and for the love of God, search.

[sickof5sfe]

that might not be a bad idea...could you or someone give me a link to where I can buy that from him? And for exhaust...i know TKO makes one that isnt exactly worth the money and Greddy used to make the SP muffler for N/As ...are there any other muffler's that can hook right up...just so I can get rid of that nasty stock muffler look and get something shinier and possibly better sounding? (without being ricey of course)

[PETC]

He's no longer making the intakes, which is really too bad, because they were top notch products. He's really busy with real life stuff, and hardly has time to send me any of his prototypes anymore.

[sickof5sfe]

Originally Posted by bean

mr2liter has header + b-pipe for 130 shipped. Thats really all you can do w/o cams or valve job.


and don't you dare ask about an intake unless you wanna get TomsMR2 to make some more.

and for the love of God, search.

I already have my intake, all i'm wanting is some good ideas for exhaust,headers, and sp wires now ( i believe mine have gone bad). MR2liter's look pretty good so maybe i'll invest in those since they arent too expensive. I have done lots of research on the exhaust but I havn't found anything that is a good deal for the money and that works well for N/A

[bean]

you can buy toyota wires from Lithia Toyota of Springfield, a board sponsor.

[te51levin]

Originally Posted by bean

you can buy toyota wires from Lithia Toyota of Springfield, a board sponsor.

Thanks, bean. And even if I was not selling them, I would recommend staying with stock Toyota wires (as well as cap, rotor, etc). They just fit better, work better, and last longer. And there's no power hiding in gimmick wires anyway.

As for getting more throttle response, you might try a few basic things...

1) Sea-Foam treatment, clean the throttle body
2) Send injectors out to be cleaned
3) Basic tune-up with cap, wires, rotor, plugs, fuel filter, PCV valve, and valve adjustment
4) Experiment with different base timing settings; a few degrees more advanced may (or MAY NOT) be worthwhile
5) Header (tri-y, 4-2-1 style) may improve response and power
6) Exhaust, as you've mentioned
7) Open-element air cleaner may help. Experiment with different length intake pipes for best overall power.
8) If you have the budget, a lighter flyhwheel will help response

I'd highly recommend that you make the effort to quantify the results of your changes. I use Streetdyno for that - it's a free dyno simulation program that uses your ignition pulses as you accelerate to produce a very repeatable dyno graph. I will not go into the details here, but if used correctly, IF the user take the time to get ACCURATE info about the weather, tire diameter, gearing, and vehicle weight, and IF the user tests under consistent conditions (always with a full tank of fuel, always on the same stretch of road, etc), you will get very repeatable results that will show you exactly where you are gaining and losing power.

If you're interested in trying it, my Streetdyno tuning page is at http://te51levin.superjamie.net/streetdyno.html - though I haven't updated anything in a while.

[sickof5sfe]

yeah a lot of this stuff I kinda already new I just wanted to see if there was anything else that others new...so for the most part the research I've done pretty much showed the most I can do with the 5SFE while not spending too much money...and I sorta accidentally ordered the SS autochrome exhaust system for the N/A and Turbo even though it has 3'' piping...hopefully it won't effect my torque too negatively..

[te51levin]

It shouldn't. Scavenging takes place in the header (or manifold), not in the main tubing, so larger main tubing should not really hurt torque output.

[sickof5sfe]

ohhh thats good to know, yeah i was planning on getting MR2liter's headers and those for sure would be an improvement..either those or hotshot

[bean]

ahh forgot timing, yah TomsMR2 advanced him and runs 93 I think, says it helps a lot. no prob Aaron, one MR2 washes another...

[sickof5sfe]

wait...what is this about timing you're talking about?

[te51levin]

Originally Posted by sickof5sfe

ohhh thats good to know, yeah i was planning on getting MR2liter's headers and those for sure would be an improvement..either those or hotshot

Well, they *may* be an improvement, or may not. I've been surprised before, and my seat of the pants dyno is all but useless, so I'm really big on measuring and quantifying changes objecctively to KNOW whether you've improved or harmed your performance.

Originally Posted by bean

ahh forgot timing, yah TomsMR2 advanced him and runs 93 I think, says it helps a lot. no prob Aaron, one MR2 washes another...

So let me get this straight...if I get a 2nd MR2...they will wash each other? Gnarly! I gotta go ask the wife if we can buy another car...

Originally Posted by sickof5sfe

wait...what is this about timing you're talking about?

Ignition timing on all but very new cars is usually adjustable. The factory-recommended position sometimes/usually puts the advance curve a few degrees behind what's optimal for that engine. Advancing the base timing a few degrees usually/sometimes can improve response and/or power.

I cannot stress enough the need for objective measurement of these changes. Unless you are exactly duplicating the dyno-proven efforts of someone else with the exact same engine and management system as your car has, you will not know whether the changes you make do any good or not unless you dyno test after each and every one. Dyno runs cost a lot of money, so I cheat and use StreetDyno instead. A Gtech Pro is also very acceptable, though they cost $200, and Streetdyno is shareware that runs on any Windows laptop...and I'm cheap...so I go with the shareware

[sickof5sfe]

yeah..frankly with the 5S im not too picky..i am pretty good at noticing when the car is performing slightly worse than normal...I don't want to make an already slow engine slower but if i can add a few good looking parts and have them sound good while lasting till i get my turbo then i'm game

[PETC]

I doubt those headers will even seal properly to a 3" pipe...

[sickof5sfe]

yeah that's what i'm kinda worried about...i want to be able to do all the exhaust work myself without welding and shit..but that kinda system probably won't hook up properly like yer sayin..so yeah i'm a little ticked at them for not letting me cancel my order on that but wutever...I'll have the 3S someday and then i wont have to worry about finding parts..cuz they're everywhere!!

[bean]

Originally Posted by te51levin

So let me get this straight...if I get a 2nd MR2...they will wash each other? Gnarly! I gotta go ask the wife if we can buy another car...

only if its an automatic.

[Just Wong It]

5s is a pretty bad ass motor.. for what it can with stand.. i beat the crap of my 5s day in and day out.. haha i love that motor..