I put a K&N intake and AP mufflers on my car a little while ago. When first installed, there was a definite "seat of the pants" bump in power. I don't notice it any more now though, and I was just wondering if: -
a) You get used to this stuff - the extra power is still there though or
b) The ECU has managed to "correct" all the changes, and I'm now back to where I was to begin with, but louder.

When I think about it, doesn't the ECU try and keep engine parameters at particular levels for particular throttle openings / revs / etc? Changing airflow (which is all I really did) would just result in the ECU remapping itself to try to "correct" this, wouldn't it? So I can see an immediate power increase - until the ECU fixes the "problem"....

So the question is - Is changing intake, mufflers and even headers worth anything much without also reflashing, and if a reflash is really needed to "unleash the beast", what recommendations does everyone have?

Discuss...

 

I had the K&N intake on for 3weeks and as soon as it got hot I lost power.Feels like I regained the power going back to stock,but lost some of the snap that the CAI gives you.As far as the flash for me and my car I did not care for it and flashed back to stock.I think that if Garret Lim could massage the top end and leave the bottom end alone the flash would work for me.

 

Nothing short f Supercharging will "unleash the beast"...on 3.4L cars intake, cats, exhaust, and chip will get you about 20hp...not hardly beastly gains with about 4k in mods....on a 3.6L car there is even less gains....save your cash and get suspension mods...you will make big gains over stock.

 

Agree with Newport 100%. You would have to dyno your car before and after the mods to detemine whether they made a difference anyway. Get the suspension and take your car to an autox. All the horsepower in the world won't help you become a better driver.

 

its all about seat time and seat time ^^^^^

 

The car's ECU does try to maintain a set range of conditions but only when in closed loop operation (cruising, normal driving). At WOT the computer reads directly from the map and is in open loop so there is no correction. All that being what it is, making more power on a NA engine (especially one that is very efficient from the factory) is expensive and the gains are usually minimal.

 

I'm in agreement that I am going to invest my money on my 1999 C2 into the suspension and not the engine, just not worth the money.

 

I also agree with Newport.

 

Newport for President!!!

 

now THATS funny.....I am just regurgitating info that has been discussed here in the past...its just seems like I am the only one (or ONE of the only ones) who hasnt left here and upgraded to the Turbo or GT3 side of things....

 

I'm with ya too, although maybe not for long once the TT cabs start coming around.

Do the mufflers for sound, and forget the rest.

However, the snail I installed in my trunk certainly livened things up a bit

 

Don't forget the intake Plenum for throttle smoothness... Otherwise I agree.

I did the intake for the sound...
Exhaust for the sound...
and the Plenum to smooth out the 3000rpm transisiton.

Otherwise the only way to go is Supercharger or upgrade to a turbo.

 

So you guys are telling me NOT to flash my car, been considering it after recent mods.

 

suspension and s/c is all you really need, for real gains... and exhaust for sound... the rest are just teases.
But if you are into modding and want to throw money into your car... go for it.