I went to the dyno shop this afternoon for a couple pulls. The two were nearly identical (on a Mustang dyno) -- 182 hp @ 7500, 153 wtq @ 5750. That's +19 hp and +15 lb-ft gain over my last run (which was Hondata reflash and my DIY Icebox w/ K&N filter) and +22 whp and +17 wtq over my stock baseline.

That's a pretty good gain from my diy CAI, DC header, and Random Cat (plus the TB mod, oil catch can, and diy grounding kit -- all big hp boosters I'm sure!). The operator commented on how absolutely flat the torque curve is -- 94% of peak torque is available at 3200 rpm. Hp keeps climbing basically until redline -- a testament, I think, to the high-flow of my CAI as well as the header and cat.

In all, those mods added about 30 crank hp over stock. That, combined with the big increase in area under the curves from Hondata, make them really worthwhile mods for the '04 and very complementary.

I'll don't have access to a scanner or I'd post the graph -- maybe I can scan it at the library. As for running a side-by-side with CAI and SRI, sorry but I just didn't have the time this afternoon to do all that, and neither did the dyno operator. Still, I'm jazzed at picking up 22 hp and 17 lb-ft at the wheels vs. my stock motor from bolt-on mods. Just perfect!

Now, on to handling mods -- Avon 550s, lighter wheels (looking for something in the 15-17 lbs range), slightly lower springs.

 

Congrats on the gain!

 

reading things like this make me want to get hondata, but I am still tossed up.

 

so the RT cat is probably worth more on the dyno than a cat back exhaust, correct?

 

joerockt will be so proud....

 

If you do some searches you will see that a Cat Back system is almost....... a total waist in terms of performance gains for the price. The RT cat on the on the otherhand, has similar gains to a Injen CAI. I think the exhaust will be the one upgrade I never entertain unless I go for weight loss on a TI system as 700 bucks for a 4hp gain is alot .

 

Nice numbers.

 

peter that's pretty cool. you surpassed the '06 boys

i'm looking at the CT header and RT cat this summer

 

I'm planning to do RT or Magnaflow CAT, Injen CAI, DC Header, and Hondata reflash for my 05. However, Hondata still haven't release reflash for 05 and I'm still concerning on the DC Header quality.
Did the DC Header quality improve over their last one (the one that everyone has crack issue on)???

 

He's so inspirational. I'm really happy with the gains, they're about exactly what I figured. For about $1300, that's about $50/hp -- about right I suppose. I won't be getting a cat back, too little gain for too much money, and I don't want to change the sound of the car that much. I think I'm pretty much done with the power mods. Might entertain the Hondata gasket, but that's a lot of work for a few hp.

As to the DC header, so far I've had no issues. I have the "fixed" version, plus I had it welded before installing.

Thanks for the compliments, gents.

 

What type of Dyno was this?...and what was your numbers looking like before all of this?.. Just asking because it seems kinda low.. I know that Dyno's vary depending on alot of factors..but i was thinking you would be closer the 190WHP range..

 

OH..just saw that it was a "Mustang Dyno" how simular is that to Dyno Jet? On Dyno Jet i put down 184WHP and 156WTQ and thats with Hondata/CAI/DC Header so i was thinking you should've been closer to 190WHP or over

 

In the great dyno debates, I've gathered that Mustang dynos tend to report lower numbers than DynoJet, all other things being equal. The main thing is to use the same dyno as you're doing mods and build up from a baseline. In other words, your engine and my engine started out at about 200 crankshaft hp. If that reports as 160 hp on my local Mustang, and my latest mods report as 182 on the same Mustang, that's an increase of 22 whp or about 28 crank hp (using the relationship between 160 & 200 as a benchmark).

That's all you're after when dyno-ing mods, the relative gain. It's useless to compare results from two different dyno types. Too many variables.

 

Peter,
Did you add the header after the reflash, or before? If after, how much gain did your butt dyno feel?

 

Thanks for the info man! I have some of the same mods as you and it's nice to hear some official numbers about how much power is gained

You got me excited to put on my Random Tech Cat on now

 

I will be getting hondata next month and then will dyno with the following mods:

Injen CAI
DC Header
RT Cat
Honda Heat Gasket
Jtso's tb bypass mod.

 

This is peak HP right? So How much over stock are you @6000rpms?? On Dyno Jet.. i made like 29 - 30WHP and about the same for TQ over stock @6000rpms..im curious!

 

Great info...thanks Peter. More mods to do!

 

Nice gains, especially for having relatively simple bolt-ons. Whats it like driving that badboy now, having 30 extra horses? How is it relative to stock?

 

What it's like is this: I need a V1. Bad.

 

Jlukja, I added the header after the reflash. My first dyno was absolutely stock, paper filter, resonator etc. in place -- not even my high-performance Momo shift knob. That was at about 15k mi. The second dyno was after my diy Icebox and Hondata reflash -- the hp gain was about 4, the tq about 2, all from the Icebox I'm assuming since the reflash doesn't add much peak power.

The latest was with the mods listed. To my butt dyno, the biggest difference was after adding the Random Cat, but I think that's a bit misleading because I think that mod really allowed the intake, header, earlier high-cam, and more aggressive fuel map of Hondata to work to their fullest. The cat was the last piece in the puzzle of improving the pumping efficiency of the engine. From here, without a K-Pro, I've done about all I can except the Hondata IMG which, I'm guessing, is worth maybe a couple hp. Of course, for $60, that would be $30/hp which is below my average!

Cool! I just talked myself into one last engine mod! I'm also switching to Amsoil 0W-30, mostly for the extended service life and cold-weather starting. My bro uses it in Mpls and it makes a big difference in -20F cold starting. Plus, I'm sure it's worth a couple hp! (Joerockt, I will definitely dyno after adding the Amsoil!)

 

haha, awesome. Concise, yet descriptive.

I wonder if dollar-for-dollar, the things you and a couple of others did is the same bang-for-the-buck as getting 50 hp from the Comptech SC.

4000 for 50 hp from the SC or (I'm guessing) 1500-2000 and some elbow grease for Hondata, I/H/C/E, and other boltons for about 22-30hp, while keeping NA. Hmmmm....

 

Now take it to the track...I'd love to know 1/4 mile #'s!!!

 

Hey Peter_Bigblock
What's an estimate 0-60s and 1/4miles for your car now?? Have you time it yet?

 

I don't plan to take the car to the track, just too hard on it. I bracket race a '69 Chevy Caprice 427 at the drags every now and then (runs high-11's to low-12's depending on who's driving) for my acceleration kick. If I had to guess, I would guess with me driving (I suck), low-15's, with someone who really knows what he's doing, maybe crack 14.9x.

 

Those are great gains! Congrats

I just got the Comptech gasket, might be my weekend project.

 

I've spent about $1300 on powertrain mods (not including the short shifter, stuff like that). That's about $60/whp. If the SC is $4000 and gives you 50 whp, that's $80/whp. Still, the SC is the only "bolt-on" that gives you that much pop -- my car wouldn't be able to hang with a blown TSX.

For me, I'm not a fan of adding f.i. to a car designed to be n.a. I worry about reliability of the whole power train when you start increasing hp & tq by 30% or 40%, increasing cylinder pressures, etc. The TSX is my daily driver and I plan to have it for 7-8 years.

 

Thanks, Joe. How did you decide on the Comptech vs. Hondata gasket? I know I don't even have to ask if you'll be running a dyno after the install . . .

 

Price

Its a gasket. I figured CT would produce just as much quality as hondata...

Dyno? Whats that I'm going to wait until I get the reflash and headers.

 

Header, H E A D E R!!! Don't you read posts?

 

Fawk that, its TintS and its HeaderS

 

Noooooooooooooooooooo

 

Headers would be on a V6 or V8, an I4 has a header. Joe, I think the only way to redeem yourself is to run a dyno on just your IMG so that I will know whether it's worth anything. I know, that will cost you extra time and money vs. waiting for your reflash & header, but that is a sacrifice I am willing to make.

 

You guys kill me...

 

Perhaps joe has done that ever-rare V4 swap?

 

:dog: Great, I bet you'll want a dyno on THAT now too huh Peter?