What to expect?

[Samyo]

Hey guys, I was wondering whether or not the current performance upgrades provide much of a power gain. I know the Versa is no rocket on wheels, but I would like to see more power. I am considering the stillen exhaust, from the clips I've heard I prefer the note over the tanabe. I also want to get an AEM intake. I was wondering whether or not I would see much improvement. I've heard that headers are in the works? I'm not very interested in modifying the appearance of the vehicle, performance upgrades are what i'm looking for.

[Ever Victorious]

Neither the Stillen nor Tanabe exhaust will do a darned thing for your performance. they are both axle-backs, which will do absolutely nothing.

AEM is working on a full cat-back, still.... no eta on release date.

A CAI will give you a little, not a lot. For you to keep it naturally aspirated and get LARGE power gains, you're going to need to sink in a lot of money... exhaust, headers, CAI, BBTB, ECU remap or SAFC, higher compression, forged internals...

[Samyo]

So for now best bet is to get a CAI, and I guess get a local, reputable shop to make me a homemade cat? 600+ for an AEM cat isn't exactly in the budget, granted I would love a stainless steel pipe all the way back. Headers would be nice. New throttle body could be done. Fuel pump could be changed but what use would that be without a remapped ECU?

[Ever Victorious]

Actually, you wouldn't need to swap out the fuel pump unless you were turboing it. You do, however, need to remap the ECU at the same time as replacing the throttle body, since the car has a Drive-By-Wire throttle.

And yes, a reputable local shop can make you an exhaust. You may want to buy a few random mandrel bent pipe sections in the diameter you want from Summit Racing and take them in with you, as a local shop will only be able to crush bend a system in shop.

[Samyo]

So with the CAI and a homemade 3' inch cat with mandrel bends I can expect a few more horses than before? I would want a good resonator on it so I don't sound like a weed whacker. I don't have any ill conceived turbo dreams.. my DIY skills are almost as limited as my budget. I just want a little work done.

[Ever Victorious]

3" is way too large for a NA 4-cylinder. 2.5" max... and given that it's a 1.8L and you have no immediate plans for higher compression, I personally wouldn't go over 2.25".

My last V6 had 2.5" catback, which was well matched to the engine.

[biggie]

Have to realize on the 1.8 all these things (hundreds of dollars) will net 10-20 hp at the most. Definately not great and barely noticeable.

[Ever Victorious]

*edit... reread the last post*

Yeah, that seems about right. 10-20 HP on a car that's 122 HP and 2800 pounds to begin with IS noticeable, but it's certainly no turbo.

[biggie]

*edit... reread the last post*

Yeah, that seems about right. 10-20 HP on a car that's 122 HP and 2800 pounds to begin with IS noticeable, but it's certainly no turbo.

Its just the realization that eventually everyone can/will get that without boost MOST 4cyls will never be fast. Usually all it takes is a ride or two in a car with 250+ hp (keeping the weight about the same, 2600lbs or so).

[Ever Victorious]

Well, cars these days need to go on a diet anyway.

I recently read an article that said that in 87, the average car weighed 3000 pounds and had 115 HP.

The average for last year was 4100 pounds and 225 hp or something like that.

I will grant you that driving a more powerful car is fun, but it's also not always practical. Doing a few mods to a 4-cylinder can give you some of that fun, without sacrificing much in the way of practicality.

[biggie]

Well, cars these days need to go on a diet anyway.

I recently read an article that said that in 87, the average car weighed 3000 pounds and had 115 HP.

The average for last year was 4100 pounds and 225 hp or something like that.

I will grant you that driving a more powerful car is fun, but it's also not always practical. Doing a few mods to a 4-cylinder can give you some of that fun, without sacrificing much in the way of practicality.

Actually Nissan just put out a statement that they are going to try to cut down on weight in the coming years.

And as for not practical, its true sometimes. That's why I have the Versa to not put money into and other cars that will get performance mods. But I will admit doing anything to a car makes you feel good and sometimes will even make you think you are much faster than before the mod. And the pleasure of that, in varying degrees per person, is what we all go after as car enthusiasts.

[frankoV]

Just drive a mini-van for 15+ years then go to a car.

Even the Versa's 1.8 makes me feel like I'm driving Daytona!

[versaspeed.com]

Anytime you open the intake and exhaust you help......as long as both are done right. With either the AEM or Fujita you get cold air to the intake and that is worth some HP and TQ unlike the short systems which suck in the hot air from the engine and you lose HP and TQ.....with the Exhaust you let more exhaust out and because these are tested with the Versa and tuned accordingly you get enough back pressure to add some more HP and TQ unlike just spending money on a “muffler” and adding it because “it sounds better”. So in the end the car will breath better and that relates to better throttle response etc.. On my Versa it was like the car had asthma before the mods after it revs easier and has much better pick up and a lower stall speed.

I do these two items first to all my cars that I have right now, then move on to handling and braking.

Hope this helps you out.