kinds of gains to expect...

[PROTEGE_ES]

What kind of gains would I expect with the following:

J-spec intake cams
Mazdaspeed exhaust cams
J-spec intake manifold
J-spec pistons
AEM short ram intake
Racing-Beat cat-back exhaust system
4-1 header (don't know which one yet)

btw, I drive an automatic as well, if that changes anything.

thanks!

 

[uclap5]

im gunna make a guess at 150... maybe. for a manual.

 

[mp5jeff]

the cams have shown no increase on dynos acctualy i think people have lost power, if you get those get adjustable cam gears also, what comp ratio pistons you want

 

[twilightprotege]

needed on top of that are cam gears and a standalone ecu. you should hit 140-150 no prob. dont look at my results too closely. i have a stock exhaust and my cams need dialing in

 

[akhilleus]

dont bother with the intake manifold its probably more trouble than its worth. Definately cam gears and instead of the manifold have a port and polish/ angled valve job done. I will have cams going in soon and hope to see some nice gains. I have never heard of people losin power formt hem though.

 

[twilightprotege]

fingers crossed my cam gears will be sent today (monday) (yippy)

 

[akhilleus]

i cant wait to hear what happens

 

[twilightprotege]

ditto! i'm thinking at the moment depending on what sort of results i get from tuning the cams with cam gears, that decides on what i do next to the car...

 

[Installshield 2]

If you are going with the ZE pistons...You won't gain anything other than maybe 5whp and a detonation problem potential...You absolutely have to get proper engine management upgrades to get gains from raised compression...There is no easy way around that, lots more compression with stock tuning equals nothing but spent money, headaches, and potential problems...notice that decent power gains are not a product of that equation...

Increased compression gains are much more closely correlated with tuning than say boost increases...Bad mild boost turbo tuning still gets decent gains, just not the most...but increased compression only squeezes what you already had tighter, and flame expansion, flash points, spark timing in relation to crown location and a number of other variables rapidly alter...Again you have to get the ECU to be able to understand what you changed...which basically means a programmable standalone...

With a standalone added to your list, you double the price but will get very substantial increases in output, most likely doubling that as well...But don't even bother with pistons unless you also plan on fronting the bucks for the tuning upgrades...

 

[PhatTrax]

As far as emissions go. if i get j-spec cams and get my a/f ratios properly tuned with cam gears, will i have any troubles passing the sniffer? I want as much possible power out of my car n/a while passing sniffer in Cali.

 

[redfyre]

For what you are about to spend, why not just go turbo? Hi-Boost make one for the auto tranny.

 

[Installshield 2]

As far as emissions go. if i get j-spec cams and get my a/f ratios properly tuned with cam gears, will i have any troubles passing the sniffer? I want as much possible power out of my car n/a while passing sniffer in Cali.

you don't tune the air fuel ratio with cam gears...you tune the powerband...It is true however that with playing the powerband, you can get better or worse emission output....

But ECU is what tunes the A/F ratio...through that the fuel needed is based on output of various sensors...the J-spec cams will hurt emissions overall most likely...not severly, but enough for a sniffer to notice it is not stock...But luckily with the parts under the head cover, no tech will really know what you did...which destroys all the CARB bulls***...But either way if you have to pass sniffer tests, you have to be able to control the A/F through a ecu upgrade of some sort...and you will not be able to get maximum output while staying emissions compliant...Its tricky man, you will see gains though...

 

[PhatTrax]

you don't tune the air fuel ratio with cam gears...you tune the powerband...It is true however that with playing the powerband, you can get better or worse emission output....

But ECU is what tunes the A/F ratio...through that the fuel needed is based on output of various sensors...the J-spec cams will hurt emissions overall most likely...not severly, but enough for a sniffer to notice it is not stock...But luckily with the parts under the head cover, no tech will really know what you did...which destroys all the CARB bulls***...But either way if you have to pass sniffer tests, you have to be able to control the A/F through a ecu upgrade of some sort...and you will not be able to get maximum output while staying emissions compliant...Its tricky man, you will see gains though...

ahh, ok

i just hope they don't start checking ecu crc's like i've been hearing they will be starting. then they can check the ecu for modifications.

 

[14LBS]

Just get a turbo........

 

[twilightprotege]

just move to australia...what's an emissions test????

 

[Brian MP5T]

Do It Aussie Style

Move to Australia and get a turbo.

 

[twilightprotege]

even better!

 

[Installshield 2]

Just get a turbo........

No turbo kit for the protege is currently CARB legal...None have an EO number yet...so none are legal in CA yet...

FM is the only company that i know that is in the testing process...So they will probably be legal for Cali owners in the future...But the process can and will take a very long time...

 

[PhatTrax]

No turbo kit for the protege is currently CARB legal...None have an EO number yet...so none are legal in CA yet...

FM is the only company that i know that is in the testing process...So they will probably be legal for Cali owners in the future...But the process can and will take a very long time...

yep, so atm turbo is out of the question. and i'm not a fan for turbo lag either so i want to do what i can to get as much power from my motor while staying emissions legal.

 

[mp3moose]

I've got the pistons on my stock ecu without any problems. She drives like stock. No great power gains without getting ecu help, which I plan to do, cams, and cams gears though.
Moose