ok, so i'm starting the first mods to my 99 Sentra SE...the first is a cold air intake, followed by headers, followed by an unorthodox underdrive pully....and then probably a new exaust system. (and someday new shocks/coilover)
my question is, given these few upgrades, will i be able to really tell a marked improvement in performance in normal street driving? i don't plan on ever racing it, or putting in turbo or anything, i just wanted a little extra power for my everyday driving. i know i'll be gaining a handful of horsepower for these few upgrades (and spending probably about $1200ish), and could tell using a Dyno...but i'm just curious if i'll hit the gas pedal and really be impressed, or at least satisfied, with what i've done. also, any other upgrades i should think about (<$500) are appreciated.
The simple answer would be yes and no. The pulleys don't really give you the feel of gaining anything, although the dyno will show a bump in hp with them. The header and CAI will give you a feel that the car is pulling better and faster. The thing with such upgrades is that you won't feel the F&F kind of bump in power, although there will be a bump. Just because you can't feel the gain doesn't mean the car didn't gain any power. A visit to the track or a dyno will prove it though.
A few more things you could do to gain power would be getting JWT S3 or S4 cams, which alone will cost you about $500 new. You could look for used JWT cams in the classified section here or on http://www.sr20forum.com and maybe save a few bucks.
Good luck.
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"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist".
Depends on how perceptive you are. I was thrilled with just advancing my timing on my 93 XE, so if I were in your shoes I'm sure I'd love doing those mods. I'd probably do exhaust before the pulley, just to complete the more air in/more air out equation. Maybe do the CAI and header at the same time, since the combination of the 2 is better than the sum of each one alone so you'd feel a decent improvement.
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I say the best bang for the buck is the Header, the car revs up faster, and you actually notice you hit that 60mph mark quicker. next is Cam, but you'll need to get exhaust for that too.
I have I/H/E/C, and i'm more then happy with the power that my engine is developing right now. It's not enough for me to go *holy crap!*, but it's enough to put a grin on my face everytime I floor the pedal.
Before you start, I'd recommend a tune up so you have a good basis for comparison.
Spark plug check
Ignition wire check
Set idle and timing (17 deg)
Check MAF ground
Air cleaner
Fuel filter
Bolt-on mods work together to increase the volumetric efficiency of the engine and consequently the power. Generally speaking, low rpm power is sacrificed somewhat.
Take full advantage of the mods with a change in the engine management system (I recommend JWT). You will get crisper throttle response, better power across the rpm range, and a higher rev limit.
Mods which decrease rotating mass increase acceleration without increasing horsepower. This includes light pulleys, light flywheel, and light wheels/tires. Larger diameter wheels work against this.
^^^Good advice. Do a good tune up and switch to synthetics before you start performance modding. Oughta be good for a couple horse itself. Proper maintenance is a wonderful thing. A happy car is a quicker car than a neglected one. :P
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