I spent some time on the phone with Stuart from RCS the other day (and he is a very nice guy), telling him that when I purchase a 2010 V8V I want to get everything out of it that it has to offer. Granted, the 4.7 offers more to start with than the earlier engine. I realize that at some point the $$ outweigh logic, but I want every bit that is there. If I lived in the UK, the Prodrive remap would make sense, as it is factory authorized. We here in the States don't have that luxury.

I later started wondering if, with all of the cats, remaps and exhaust systems out there, is there any empirical data that categorically shows the benefits of a whole system or a single piece over another company's offering? I realize that there will most likely be gains with each modified piece, but is there a true comparison chart? I am leaving the "growl" of the exhaust out of this, as that is truly in the eye of the beholder.

I ask not because I don't believe Stuart; too many have purchased and seen some gains with his systems, either pre/post MY 2007, but has anyone actually found that one system is better than another, or that a mix-and-match approach yields a better low-end torque, smoother power curve, etc.? Is there a relationship between cost and benefit?

 

dyno charts in the aston community are like virgin blondes ... good luck finding one .

Lots of claims but very little empirical data I agree (not knocking anyone here, just saying I wish there were many more dyno charts out there for the modifications that are availalble).
________
Colorado dispensaries

 

Thanks, 007Vantage.

Nor am I calling anyone out. RSC does a great business, and I have searched and not found any negatives. Same goes with other exhaust companies. Seems that on that particular part, the deciding factor is sound.

When I had a BMW, I could get a Dinan flash at the dealership. It did not void my warranty. The numbers that Dinan represented were on paper. Same with EES. These were results that were quantifiable.

Its just that everyone keeps throwing out hp increases, increased torque, better low-end speed, and an overall upgrade on ride characteristics. I have searched and found nothing to back up those claims, right or wrong, although it would seem to make sense that these contentions are valid. It would seem that a company that showed that it can back up what they say with a graph would own the aftermarket market for AM.

I wrote an email to Prodrive yesterday and suggested that, since they provide a remap for the pre and post-'08 to UK buyers, it shows that there is more there. Why don't they offer that to us, in their biggest market? The fact that I effectively void my warranty in order to buy a remap with RSC or someone is a travesty. I suggested that they should at least validate the remap process here if they will not offer the same product that our relatives across the pond get.

They told me that they will get back to me..........

 

Banton....

I am in the same place as you trying to fugure just what is and what is not...

Get back to us when they get back to you...

Seriously though the lack of ready proof to back up the claims combined with the high cost of the parts/upgrades makes one shall we say somewhat hesitant.

 

I will commend RPI for giving a very realistic dyno on their catback, and doing so on the most accurate loading dyno (dyno dynamics dynos). RPI does phenomenal work and they usually make excellent gains. Even though it only made like 6-7HP on the top end it did make excellent low end to midrange gains on the 4.3L (which is the most important area to improve upon).

But yes, for the most part I see numbers being thrown everywhere from the official aston power pack added 20-40HP or prodrives kit or etc etc. From what many people review themselves it appears those gains may be highly optimistic. I keep hearing 450HP is possible on the 4.3L yet not a single dyno shows gains. Again, not implying there is bad intent just saying it would be nice for someone to have dyno gains from beginning to end of an entire aston project (perhaps I will be one to do so as a new local dyno has opened up and I will be doing plenty of testing soon).

Perhaps a dyno database thread stickied at the top of the aston martin section should be something the moderators seriously consider. Would be a great feature for this forum.
________
LIVE SEX

 

ECU supposedly makes a round trip to Europe for recalibration. Where does it go, to Prodrive, Paramount, Rick at DMS, AM, back ally computer geek? It is hard to imagine more than one ECU remap being offered. Did RSC purchase North American distribution rights? My tech no longer mouths the letters RSC. Stuart, comments?

 

I have a dyno.

 

FYI - AM Power kit (4.3 L 380 - 400) claims 20 HP gain - no more. It is a ECU remap downloaded at dealer by SN and addition of mech. flaps to open up on air box to allow more air in at higher RPM (about +4500). No air filter, exhaust or cat changes from stock w/ their kit.

 

This power pack is for the 4.3L, correct?

 

Yes - basically what the N400 had as "engine mods" for 400HP vs. 380. N 400 was so late in NA that they actually asked folks that ordered them if the would like to wait just a little longer and they would get the new 4.7 w/ 420 HP for same price.

 

Mike,

Have you had your car dynoed?

 

I think the whole thing that the power kit includes swapping the intake manifold with the "expansion chamber" intake is a bit gimmicky. They surely could have gotten more power just out of a more aggressive tune and free-flowing intake filters and kept the stock manifold, but I guess then it would have been tough to charge $5K for it.

 

Mike-

What is the general feeling about what is still available torque and hp-wise for the 4.7? Has there been anything shown that a remap of the ECU can add? I do believe that an advanced air filter, 200 cell cats and a freer-flowing exhaust would add something to the <5000 powerband range, but I am interested in hearing what the collective knowledge regarding what a remapped ECU brings out of the 4.7L engine. What I have heard from Stuart is that the ECU tune brings some value, but I have not seen a graph. Anything quantifiable from forum members with a 4.7L that did this mod and dynoed BEFORE adding new cats, air filter and exhaust?

 

FYI - The manifold/expansion chamber was nothing more than painting it black and drilling/machining a hole, that then connected a tube set that went down to the air filter box(s) and told it to open at ~4500 RPM. I was able to look at stock and Power kit parts. I have a AM Power kit on my car and a RSC remap.

All the stuff I have done to my 4.3 and no dyno - sorry.

With my remapped ECU, Green filters, 200 cell cats and free flow exhaust - I think my car is as good as a 4.7 L - or a bit better (I have done other stuff but I think we are talking engine here). The questions would then be - how about a similarly modded 4.7 and have I run against any 4.7. The answers are no and I would love to try my car against a 4.7 in the real world.

If I commented on the 4.7 it would be just my thoughts - nothing w/ hard, measured facts - which I think is really what is being asked in this thread.

 

Tahoe, you are a cheater ... that is all

congrats on the gains though, that's definitely impressive.

Perhaps its time we think outside the box for new potential mods. Once the new local dyno is up and running I will get a solid baseline and start to dyno from there, I want to do a dyno after ever small change (I know it may seem a bit expensive, but in reality its not that much). 10 dynos comes out to roughly $750, hardly that expensive when you consider how much the mods associated with that cost, its a very small %.

Starting up a personal site just to mark the progress on my personal car on the future dynos (just for kicks) ... I'll post the url soon.
________
Marijuana Card