I have an 03TL-S and I recently installed some Megan Racing headers (4th batch)and a drop in stock replacement K&N air filter. I was wondering, what's the next step from here. I am for the most part trying to stick to the simple mods as I do not want to blow the engine and money as well. I was thinking about an exhaust kit. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Ryan

 

You won't have to worry about blowing up the engine with any simple bolt-ons. If you have the $$$ save the exhaust for last if you are looking for hp gains. Exhuast is mostly for looks and sound.

An Unorthodox Racing pulley is great. You can look at the Excelerate vendor for this. He gives a good price for this.

Another cheap mod with minimal gains is a Cold Air Intake. INJEN, AEM

I would go for the pulley first. It helps out throughout the entire RPM band. It gets you to VTEC a lot sooner.

You already have one of the best gains mods on in your headers. I hope that helps out a bit.

BTW...I have all of the mods mentioned (exhaust,pulley,intake,headers) and I love it!

 

I forgot one more thing...If you are concerned with $$$ exhaust will be the most expensive mod with the least amount of gain...something to think about.

 

thermoblok spacers are a great cheap add on too, and your engine will only benefit from them. I have I/H/E/P/S grounding kit and iridium plugs and my car never felt better. These cars take very well to mods. they stay reliable as well.

 

#1 buy a cold air intake or comptech icebox ill be the best for you combined with your headers.. after that you can go with Ur Pulley they are the 3 best mods..
And after check for spacers and stuff like that..

 

Since you have headers, get a cold air intake next. This will make the headers that much more productive as you will be taking in more cold air for your engine to combust with the gasoline thus producing that much more exhuast flow through your headers. These two mods compliment eachother best. Plus you can get auditory and aesthetic value on top of the power increase from the intake....and only power from the crank pulley. Their gains are similar as well.

 

However, it is debatable how much of a hp upgarde a CAI is over the stock set up with the resonator removed and a high flow filter. My advice is remove the resonator along with keeping your high flow filter and invest in a UR crank pulley. The difference in hp between a CAI and the set up I described above is probably negligable though we have no dyno results to prove this. Logistically it cannot be that big of an upgrade.; the only thing missing as an "air scoop" that would funnel the air into the filter. If you are looking for scheer performance this would be the route to go. The exhuast only provides aesthetic value and a sweet rumble.

 

I think the stock box with resonator removed and high flow filter still really restrictive compared to a Cai ...

 

I'm glad you came to your senses and said the UR pulley next. (missed that he had a K&N filter huh?)

I'm always glad to read your well thought out responses dude! BTW...how's the car repair coming? Sorry off topic...

Sooo...ummm...yes, the pulley. Do the pulley next!

 

Defend that statement if you would.

 

the fact that the stock airbox/tubing has all kinds of "bumps" and bends and shit probably disturbs the airflow... plus the CAI sucks up the air from a lower point where airflow is better...

 

^^^well said. Thank you.

 

The pullies slipped my mind... Thanks so CAI and pullies.... best way to go...