Does anyone have pictures of the revised airboxes used by Aston for the V8V power upgrade kit? I'm particularly interested to have a look at what the valves do - I'm assuming they open up part of the airbox casing to allow more airflow?

What I'm thinking is that it must be possible to modify the standard airboxes to operate like the 'open' Power Upgrade boxes? Maybe drilling or removing part of the casing?

Reason for the question:

I'm currently looking for a V8V to replace my tweaked 997S and I intend to have the Prodrive power upgrade done as soon as I find the right car. The Prodrive upgrade makes no modification to the intake so I thought that opening up the airboxes to match the Aston mod might liberate another few BHP? I would have thought 5-10 BHP max as most of the Aston power increase will be due to the remap for high-octane fuel (as is the case with the Prodrive). I wonder whose map is the most aggressive? My money goes on Prodrive on that one!

 

I have the AM Power Upgrade boxes sitting in my garage. I also have drilled my original boxes full of holes and installed K&N filters (the AM upgrade still uses the stock filters) - currently installed in my car. The amount of holes is probably over kill but sure was fun! I based this on the theory that an engine is just a big air pump ... I also have 200 cell cats and open exhaust (RSC).
Also the AM Power Upgrade does not require any different fuel than standard requirement.
If you drill holes try to make them symetrical .. I missed that on a few sides.
I have pictures of my "Swiss Cheese" boxes and can shoot some shots of the AM upgraded boxes tonight so you can compare. I do not throw code faults w/ the holes & box mod but I do need to be careful of running thru deep puddles as the Vantage air boxes sit low in the engine compartment.
You might want to also compare RSC/Paradyne UK (sp?)/ProDrive/Factory ECU mods ...

 

Michael:

I am going to add the 200 Cell cats to my vantage, which is highlighted in the thread titled "Finally Posting My Vantage". I have the RSC ECU re-map, the tubi stage 1 (quieter) exhaust, and Vantage N400 power upgrade kit (air box, etc).

Could you please answer the following:

1. How much power increase with the 200 Cell cats instead of stock?

2. Were they easy to install? no mods required I assume.

3. How much do the 200 cell cats increase eshaust noise? (a little, quite a bit?)

4. Is the interior noise level adversely affected?


5. No engine light on issues, misfires, or other performance issues?

6. Can I replace stock filter with K&N on the N400 air box?

Appreciate your input and feedback.

Jeff

 

JeffRB - I'll give you the straight answer and then my opinion:

1. I did not run the cat mod on a dyno therefore can not give you an exact answer. I did the cats, ECU and tried several different exhausts due to noise (as in loud) - all at the same time so I did not "break it up" to be able to give individual impressions. I went thru 2 versions of Quicksilver (QS) and ended up with a 3rd - what is probably the RSC "quiet" prototype - I think it is about 3 1/2 inches of baffle vs. QS versions that had less. Yes the 200 cells bring out the sound and let the air flow ! I did not see a quality difference between QS and RSC - both are good.
2. No problem w/ the install - will need a lift but no mods to the car. I used an independant shop and they did a great job on their first try. They (200s) are lighter and smaller too.
3. see answer 1 - think of it as blowing a trumpet w/ a rag in it vs. no rag (or a "mute" if you were a band nerd back in HS).
4. The Vantage has to be the most "quiet interior" car I have driven (for a sports car) - more then 996/997s. But yes you get more sound - I like it and removed the back parcel cover to hear more sound. Yes the 200 cells are louder but you can still use the AM BlueTooth and talk/hear just fine. I have not heard the Tubi exhaust in real life w/ either 600/200 cats - my thoughts are 200 would be louder than what you have now.
5. I did pull a code/light (emissions) one time on a very hard 1 1/2 Hr run - this was with all my mods AND my very drilled air box (most likly the cause). The car "reset" itself - which is common according to my mechanic at AM - and has not thrown a code or light since. All performance has been very good. I would love to find a 2009 Vantage and run against it. I was able to test drive several 2009 models and am very impressed w/ that car. i will not do the AM suspension mod only because it does not lower the car - but a great package. I'm also very happy w/ my car and mods (spacers are on order) so do not see the need to "trade up" at this time ... thank God they are not bringing in the 12 cyl Vantage !!!
6. Good question - I will go out to the garage and play w/ the "flaps" and see about space. My initial reaction is the K&N will fit but let me check to be sure.

Hope this helps ...

 

Thanks for the reply - I would really appreciate the pics of the airboxes.

I'm starting to really look forward to finding an appropriate car now (and a good trade-in on the 997S). I've been in 911s for 6 years now (had 3 of them) and am looking forward to a change. If I can get the Aston to match a 385BHP 997S for 'go' I'll be delighted. The Aston simply has everything else I want (looks, style, image, cachet, sound-track, interior, etc. etc.) and with the performance up to scratch the one niggle/reason-not-to-buy will have gone.

 

Mike thanks for the quick reply.

I am ok with the noise sound increase (luv the AM sound; more the better). One additional question: From your seat of the pants judgement, do you feel that you are getting more HP from having the 200 cell cats vs. staying with the stock ones?

That is my primary interest in swapping them out. With less back restriction, does that translate to more hp. RSC sent me dyno's that suggest this is so; but I wanted the more realistic appraisal of somone who is living with it.

Agree about the AMV8: great car once you marry appropriate HP with the looks and dynamic handling capability of the car.

thanks, Jeff

I would not trade for an '09, having personalized mine and the fact that HP gains are probably better in my '07 over the current '09 spec.

 

JeffRB - I want to give a straight answer and wish I had put each part on sep. and then done a dyno. Again I did the full cat back exhaust as a single piece w/ ECU change - and that was a great change. Then again I don't have a dyno and my checkbook never seems to do well when I "step into" an after market parts candy store !
I think the combo of filters, open air box, ECU changes, 200 cell cats, open exhaust - and if you bought a 2006-2008 used and did these mods ... you have saved sig. %money and have more HP than a 2009 ... maybe not a iPod connection ... but that never made me drive faster !
Do you need it ... probably not ... do you want it ... oh yes

 

Michael,

Why are you adding spacers? I just went through a several month spacer issue to accommodate the Brembo BBK. I have fronts in but no rears (yet). I ordered spacers from RSC. Stuart and Hershel are VERY nice guys but after waiting almost 4 months for them, they did not fit and needed to be machined and a taper hand filed locally to work. They included new studs that were both shorter than stock and the wrong type (they looked like BMW studs). My mechanic (Eddie at AR Auto) here sourced some from the Ford parts bin that he had to have machined to make work, if you hit the same snag let me know. He can probably make some for you too (or give you the part code and describe the modification).

 

stearnsn - sorry to hear about the spacer issues. I have done spacers on my P-cars for years - just put a set of 17mm on wife's Cayman S - they improve track and handling around curves. I tell folks this and they think I am crazy - until they drive the before and after. She was amazed. Cayman set was from Porsche, H&R also makes them but not for AM. Mansory makes them for AM but price is over the top. I ordered 16mm & 22mm w/ new studs from RSC. They quoted me 2-3 weeks delivery as they are built to order. Price was less than P-car parts. I'll keep you posted on results.

 

Those are fat! Let me know if you get any rubbing. The centering ring should be easier to deal with on 16-22mm spacers than my 10mm ones. The bolt pattern and center bore are similar to a Mustang so off the shelf Mustang ones might work. Studs are still the issue.

Also, let me know how the rears go. We cut a small hole in the shield behind the hub to get the front studs out/in but Eddie thinks he will have to take the hub apart to get the rear studs out/in. I opted to wait on the rears to see how things shake out with fronts only, I'm guessing there will be over-steer issues but we will see shortly.

 

Sounds like this is not a simple bolt-on ... hmmm ... if it gets complicated I'll use C2 (ind't shop in Tampa) to help out. The P-car stuff is simple unbolt wheel, bolt new stuff on - can be done in home garage w/ floor jack.

 

I had hoped that was the case here. If you are going wide enough for the wheel adapter type spacers it should be easy. New studs combined with the tapered center bore made the project a real project.

 

Nick I just wanted to thank you for your patience and I know Hershel is going to make sure we 'make things right' with you because of it. As you know it was the first set of spacers we had done for the Vantage, but we didn't anticipate the problems we ran into with the first manufacturer we sourced flatly failing to deliver the product. We have now got a handle on the issue with the lug bolts, and it would appear that the problem with the taper is being fixed as well. We believe this was down to the spacers being made from a published measurement which was not as accurate as it ought to have been. We're committed to getting these right and believe that we have now got a good product. Not really a money-maker for us but we felt it was important to source and develop these as we knew people would want them.

Thank-you again for your understanding with the prototyping process.

Cheers,

Stuart

 

Michael; I installed the 200 cell cats today. Performance is great, but the increase in noise is intolerable for me. What exhaust did you end up going with?

I currently have the tubi stage one eshaust, which is great by itself. But when coupled with the 200 cell cats, its way too loud for me.

I need to change out the exhast ASAP.

Your suggestions are appreciated. Also, Stu and Hershel, I need your recommendations. I want to compare the tubi stage one db data with others that are out there. I have had QS in the past, and it is a very good exhaust, but is a little bit and heavy. The tubi weighs at least 10 lbs. less.

thanks for you help.

 

Hi Jeff,

Glad to hear you're happy with the RSC cats. I'm sure we can help you out with an RSC system that gets you the sound level you want. I must admit I'm not totally up to speed on the different Tubi sound levels but we can figure out which of our systems would be best for you. As far as weight goes the RSC system is about 2 kilos heavier that the Tubi system, which is entirely down to the size of the silencer box. We don't particularly want to revise this because it changes the accoustic properties of the system and we are very happy with the RSC system in that regard. I doubt you would notice the difference with just 2 kilos though.