Mods completed- Good Results

Rick Simons

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Here's the tally:
Phase 1: JTL CAI BAMA Rev-X tuner, and Bama tune. Hurst shifter
Phase 2: Pypes Long Tube headers, 2 1/2" high-flow cats w/stock H-pipe. Already had a flowmaster 40 series axle-back. Revised tune
Phase 3: FRPP intake manifold & hot-rod cams w/new followers & lash adjusters. New OEM timing kit + VCT solenoids. New FRPP high-volume oil pump. Accel coils. Updated tune to suit the mods.
I wish I had done a baseline dyno run but logistics prevented it. There is an obvious power increase starting at about 2500 and running to at least 6500; that's as brave as I've been so far revving it. And the exhaust is MUSIC!!
Only trouble is shifting, mostly 2nd-3rd, which I blame on the mushy stock motor mounts. These are being replaced by Prothane units this coming weekend.
Overall I'm very happy with the results.

Ah, almost forgot! I have 3:73's ready to go in as soon as I have time.
 
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07 Boss

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Congrats, everything looks good except for that BAMA tune. As soon as you can get away from using them I would. Run away and don't look back.

Prothane units might help but they make torque braces for the transmission that keeps it from deflecting as much giving you more solid shifts. Are you using the stock shifter? What kind of fluid are you running?
 

stkjock

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:bigwelcome:

Please review the posting rules. This is not a tech topic in this board. Moved.
 

2526Bullitt

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Look up "blowfish transmission bracket" ,I bought one and haven't had an issue shifting between 2 and 3. I also have an Barton Short shifter.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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I have the Barton shifter and it's fantastic. No shifting problems at any rpm, and I still have stock engine mounts.
As 07 Boss said, run away from BAMA tunes. Brenspeed, Lund, and Lito can do a far better job. Your engine will be making maximum HP at around 6200-6300rpm so you could probably set the rev limiter at around 6750.
You didn't mention underdrive pulleys. Those would add another 8-10rwhp without any downsides.
 

Laga

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I have the Barton shifter and it's fantastic. No shifting problems at any rpm, and I still have stock engine mounts.
As 07 Boss said, run away from BAMA tunes. Brenspeed, Lund, and Lito can do a far better job. Your engine will be making maximum HP at around 6200-6300rpm so you could probably set the rev limiter at around 6750.
You didn't mention underdrive pulleys. Those would add another 8-10rwhp without any downsides.
Forget Brenspeed. They do not offer data logging. They email you a tune and that’s it. Lito will work with you until everything is perfect. After spending over $10K on parts at Brenspeed, my 05 wasn’t running right. After a few calls to them, I was told “that’s just how the car is going to run”. That’s when I emailed Lito. Within 3-4 adjustments, it ran perfect. Then we converted to E85. He has also provided a emissions tune, a 100 octane racing fuel tune, a dyno tune, and multiple E85 tunes for the seasonal changes in the ethanol content.
 

Rick Simons

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Congrats, everything looks good except for that BAMA tune. As soon as you can get away from using them I would. Run away and don't look back.

Prothane units might help but they make torque braces for the transmission that keeps it from deflecting as much giving you more solid shifts. Are you using the stock shifter? What kind of fluid are you running?

This is the kind of info I was looking for. I have the Hurst Comp Plus (not the billet) shifter and (fresh) Mobil 1 synthetic fluid. I hadn't heard of the Barton shifter before I bought the Hurst. Do you have any more info on the trans brace?
I had a feeling I was just barely wading into the tuning pool. As soon as I have time I'm going to find someone in my area (hopefully) that uses the SCT software and can do some dyno tuning. This little brat definitely has potential though!
 

Rick Simons

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2526 Bullitt, just re-read your post and saw blowfish trans bracket; thanks for that!
Laga, did Lito dyno tune your car or send you tunes?
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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Lito resides in Venezuela and does remote tuning using your datalogs. Many consider him a 3V tuning god.
 

Laga

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2526 Bullitt, just re-read your post and saw blowfish trans bracket; thanks for that!
Laga, did Lito dyno tune your car or send you tunes?
He datalogs via email. You will need a SCT, windows laptop, and wideband O2 sensor installed. He sends you a file to load into the SCT software. You hook up the SCT to car and laptop and drive around with a couple of WOT pulls. You email file to him. He makes changes, sends it back. Repeat until you’re happy. It took 3-4 times to tune mine with supercharger, cam, headers. It’s an easy operation. If you can download and install a file, you can do it. He is very good at returning emails. I have NEVER seen a bad review of his tuning.
 

MrAwesome987

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Another recommendation for Lito. I paid over 500 bucks for a local dyno tune and it sucked. Emailed Lito and he has it near perfect within 15 or so revisions.
 

ghunt81

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You don't have to have a wideband O2 for Lito, or at least I didn't. I just ran some logs with my laptop. The hardest part of it was finding a place to do a WOT 3rd gear pull to 5000 RPM like he wanted!

Good dude too, I need to send him a datalog to look at some stuff but I didn't get a chance to do it before it got really cold unfortunately.
 

Laga

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You don't have to have a wideband O2 for Lito, or at least I didn't. I just ran some logs with my laptop. The hardest part of it was finding a place to do a WOT 3rd gear pull to 5000 RPM like he wanted!

Good dude too, I need to send him a datalog to look at some stuff but I didn't get a chance to do it before it got really cold unfortunately.
What year is yours? Mine is a 05 and I did the wideband when I did the supercharger install.
 

ghunt81

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2005, I'm not supercharged though so maybe that's the difference.
 

DieHarder

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ghunt81, do you have spacers on your car? I have Brembo's and the same wheels and had to use spacers to clear the calipers.

IMG-0326.jpg
 

ghunt81

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Yes I had to run I believe a 7 or 8mm spacer...can't remember exactly because I bought both.
 

DieHarder

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I ended up using 12mm spacers but with a lip so the wheel actually had something to ride on other than the studs. Then used lug nuts w/extended centers so I didn't have to replace the studs. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-CUSTO...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Was thinking about trying to mod them (by adding material to the base or removing some to get the Brembo's to clear) but after looking at it for a while realized no safe way to do it so spacers are likely the best solution for now. Can you tell me who made the spacers you purchased? With lip or without?

Really like those wheels on your car. That blue is awesome.

Ended up purchasing an earlier set of OEM rims that will clear the Brembo's but don't like them as much as this version.
 

ghunt81

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Thanks! I really like the look of them too. When I first got them I thought I was being really unique but it's starting to look like everyone else got the same idea :doh2:Still a really good looking wheel for an OEM.

Anyway- dunno who made my spacers, they came from Ebay. Just plain old flat spacers and I also used extended thread lug nuts, but I've never had any issues. I considered extended studs but you can't find any that aren't 3" long.

Someday eventually I would like to get the SVE R350 wheels, maybe...cool with these for now though.
 

Pentalab

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Anyway- dunno who made my spacers, they came from Ebay. Just plain old flat spacers and I also used extended thread lug nuts, but I've never had any issues. I considered extended studs but you can't find any that aren't 3" long.

Steeda sells extended studs in both 3" and also 2.5"...... both made by ARP.
 

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