d4rklit3

Hey guys, I want to introduce myself since im new to this forum. My name is Paul and I live in MD. I have recently made the desicion to buy a TSX in the coming months and I just want to gather information. I've been driving german cars ever since i started driving but now since its time to buy my own car I dont want to deal w/ the upkeep on those European cars cuz they are expensive to maintain. I've decided to go w/ a TSX for my next car but I have a few concerns about it. MAINLY, my concern is that of most japanese cars (esp. Hondas) is that they have a low bottom end power band and I'm wondering if I do go w/ the TSX how to do a some low key mods (SLEEPER) to bring up the torque and low end power. I was thinking underdrive pulleys and maybe a chip of one exists, I'm not sure what else. My main point for this car is for it to be quiet smooth and comfortable but still have some oomph when i need to get somewhere or show up some punk kids in their hooked up rice boxes.

I also have a question about the motor, the 2.4l iVtec. Is this the same motor from the Prelude SH? or the S2000 (thought im not sure if the S2k has the 2.4 anymore or at all, im not to knowledgable on hondas) but I want to get power out of this motor but still have it be quiet (no exhuast!).

So if u guys could let me know about these questions and any other information that i may find usefull pertaining to a TSX.

THanks!

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Paul, welcome.

To answer your question, very few, if any, of the bolt-on modifications provides a noticeable gain in the power below 3000 rpm. You will have to settle for being willing to rev the motor a little more to get more power out of it. That said, Hondata's ECU reflash is likely your best bet as it lowers the VTEC changeover point and provides a solid mid-range boost in power (over 30 hp at 6000 rpm). The reflash is completely undetectable unless you do tell someone or unless you blow your motor from over-revving.

As for the motor, the motor shares its basic layout with the other K-series motors used throughout the Honda line-up in cars like the Civic Si, the RSX Type-S, and the 4-cylinder Accord, though obviously it has a larger displacement and unique head.

d4rklit3

SO underdrive Pulleys wont help that much? I'm so used to having power @ 1950RPM on a VW 1.8T. Another question is the break in period on this car.. i know for vdubs and bimmers u should keep it < 3000-4000rpms while breaking it in. but the Honda's barely make any power at that range. is there a different protocol for breaking in Honda motors? Does the Accord Euro-R have the same motor? if so how differently is it tuned (i figure european versions of cars often have more torque though i cant be sure w/ a vtec motors.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Underdrive pulleys will help, but the 5 hp and slight amount of torque is not going to dramatically change the nature of the car.

As for break-in, there are a lot of different camps on this issue, but it seems that generally accepted procedure is to progressively build up to a higher rev point until you reach 600 miles. Try searching as there are several threads about break-in procedure that should be helpful.

Finally, the EuroR has a 2.0L version of the K-Series motor that makes more horsepower, but less torque.

d4rklit3

thanks a lot!

raheel616

go with pulleys they dont help much but they do help enough, with NST pulleys i have i recieved 7-9 whp throughout the whole powerband, which did help it slightly


heres a link to them
http://www.nonstoptuning.com/pKitHonTSX.htm

if you do want my dynos with them i will find you my link and post them up

BU

Stupid question
How many pulley in your set of NST pulleys kit ?

Reach

NST offers a crank and alternator pulley,
UR offers a crank, alternator, and power steering pulley.

I'd say there's good (dyno proven) gains with either set, just depends if you want to get all 3.

clee109

getting low end torque from a Honda seems to be the quest of everyone who drives them. But in my experience in Honda 4 cylinders nothing is really going to substantially aid the situation other than a super charger. Pulleys help to a degree, lightened fly wheel makes for quicker acceleration which in turn leads to hitting the power band sooner and sometimes that gives the feeling of more low end. But as far as getting substantial low end power seems to be a bit of a myth for Honda's on a budget. I'm sure I'll be proved wrong on here though lol

raheel616

the PS pulley is more of a cosmetic thing then performance imo but NST will release a PS pulley if theres a good amount of interest guaged in it.

raheel616

2

PJS

Torque is a factor of displacement and stroke.
The K24 is a long stroke engine, so it'll always be lower in torque than an equivalent short stroke engine.
SC or TC'ing is the only way to get more, but even then it'll still be limited by comparison.

http://craig.backfire.ca/pages/autos/horsepower - may be of interest.

raheel616

here are my NST dynos stock vs. pulleys



hp curves
[


torque curve

BU

That is impressive

on that dyno run, were there any other mods already on car (ex. header, exhaust, CAI...etc.) ?

raheel616

like i said that is stock dyno vs just pulleys dyno

S14 n Tsx

welcome.

raheel616

yea see i think i got a pretty good gain from NST

BU

You sure did in all range
I'm writing it down on my wish list

vidgamer

You just have to get used to revving those Honda engines a bit more than you would larger engines. Why do you have to stay in the low RPMs when you want to go fast? (Once past break-in, of course. I don't understand what break-in has to do with it -- I wouldn't make comparisons based upon when you're supposed to take it easy!)

But to add some power to the TSX and still keep a stock sound and feel, what about headers? Hondata? Drop-in K&N filter?

raheel616

headers would mainly give mid range power, what hes looking for is short ram(heatsoak problem), best bets would be hondata and pulleys for now cause they give more power through out the powerband.

NST FTW in my books

8civic

I second the NST pulley idea. I have used them in my own cars for several years and people on the new Civic forums have been ranting and raving about them constantly over the past few months as well

aaronng

Pulleys also work like a lightweight flywheel. They reduce the amount of rotational mass. And that type of benefit is not detectable on the dyno. Go for the pulleys. Remember to get the replacement accessory belt from Gates as we..

hrj

iTrader: (1)

Icebox gives more punch at bottom end.

raheel616

comptech ice box serves as a sri, and comptech has gone out of business, i honestly would not want to buy comptech because of the lack of customer service that will be available

aaronng

It's an ice box man. What customer service do you want for that? If you broke your box while installing, that's not even covered under warranty.

raheel616

i know that but some buyers tend to be skeptical about that stuff, say you break a part and need a replacement, there is no comptech to fix it, i'd rather invest in an Injen Mr technology intake which can be converted to sri and you have the same plus better effect then a comptech ice box

aaronng

If you break a part, you have to buy a new part from comptech. The bolts used are the same as the stock ones on the airbox. If you are comparing an exposed SRI with the Icebox, the Icebox wins except for noise.

JTso

iTrader: (2)

No, it's not. The flow path of the Icebox is as long as any CAI with the inlet extended down to the fender well. The inlet of a SRI setup terminates inside the engine bay and the flow path is shorter.

jwood_06TSX

I don't have that inlet tube attached (i left it on my 04 when i traded it in) so would i need to worry about heatsoak if i only have the little rubber connector stickingout just below the air box?

AamirCWITR

In regards to under drive pulleys, why do you guys suppose Honda does not use light weight pulleys when they only cost maybe $50-100 more to make and offer almost +10 hp and +10 ft of torque?

jiggaman

wow raheel, those NST pulleys give some pretty damn good gains. do you need to use a different size belt?

raheel616

o hmm i always thought of it as an alternative to sri

raheel616

Yes you do, the belt part number is K070673

JTso

iTrader: (2)

It's not as bad when comparing to SRI, but I would extend the inlet lower with a length of tubing/elbow.

PJS

Because $50 OEM cost translates to probably $500 min in showroom.
Car manufacturers build cars to a price with a DFR* attitude.



* Do 'Fine' Rightly.

jwood_06TSX

Thanks JTso, do you know the diameter on that inlet tube off hand? I will just go to home depot and find some piping and make one myself.

8civic

There are literally 100 things that the factory could probably do to make the car more fun, efficient, better. Adding a little here a little there would lead to a car that is thousands more expensive. The factory does not care about you or I or any other tuner/enthusiast. They want to sell as many cars to the average Joe, point A to point B, driver as possible.

1slicktL

if i was to get the pully would it make my a/c all retarted because i had the UR pully in my 04 accord and the ac was hot as balls when i am at a stand still...

Alfie

I had UR pullies on my AV6 as well...and I never had that problem. Could've been a completely different problem that you were blaming on the pullies. It'll underdrive the AC a bit, but it shouldn't be hot as balls.

JTso

iTrader: (2)

I used a 3" dia pipe during my stock airbox mod test. It fits perfectly inside the rubber elbow but I would use a large hose clamp to secure it in place.