Performance enhancing upgrades - what first ?

[John Mac]

A number of recent threads have been mentioning various "upgrades" to improve performance.
For the newer "S" owners amongst us is there a "short" list of where to start, what to have, and how much did it cost? From the affordable to the Bank loan.
Improvements that have given you a noticable before and after feeling.
A touch of Viagra in the tank so to speak - but lets leave Optimax off the list this time.
Thanks.

[Pies]

Make sure the car is serviced plugs etc ok

get the injectors cleaned first £ approx 100

then go from there

[Podie]

1) Driver training
2) The brakes
3) The engine...

[John Mac]

Pies,
Happened to call into the garage today to ask about having the injectors cleaned and was advised to initially put a can of PROTEC into the fuel tank, this is a fuel line/injector cleaner and was highly recommended to avoid high garage costs (friendly garage) - cost £5.74
Intend doing this tomorrow and take out for a run to "clean through"
Anyone else used this?

[HarryW]

Might be worth a try of an 'injector cleaner' additive with a tank of petrol as suggested. I've alwasy been a little sceptical myself as any decent brand of petrol aready has cleaning additives in it AFAIK .

Harry

[Podie]

HarryW said:

Might be worth a try of an 'injector cleaner' additive with a tank of petrol as suggested. I've alwasy been a little sceptical myself as any decent brand of petrol aready has cleaning additives in it AFAIK . Harry

Agreed...

[Pies]

But how do you knowif the injectors are working properly ?

You cant unless you take them out

[HarryW]

Pies said:

But how do you knowif the injectors are working properly ? You cant unless you take them out

I assume a lot of the expense may be in the removal of the injectors. The actual testing on the rig is minimal 10 minutes on time, but obvious there's capital to be re-couped on the equipment. I know the cleaning, if required takes longer. Colin did yours come up just with the clean or did any need stripping down and the needle/spring/seals doing .

Harry

[Pies]

Mine came up fine without striping them apart

I had poor spray patterns and weak flow

Flow is up by an average of 8% and a max of 13%

Spray pattern is now good

[Podie]

Pies said:

I had poor spray patterns and weak flow

See a doctor...

[kevin secker]

Harry,

How's the "go faster" suspension working out?

Kevin

[Podie]

HarryW said:

Pies said: But how do you knowif the injectors are working properly ? You cant unless you take them out I assume a lot of the expense may be in the removal of the injectors. The actual testing on the rig is minimal 10 minutes on time, but obvious there's capital to be re-couped on the equipment. I know the cleaning, if required takes longer. Colin did yours come up just with the clean or did any need stripping down and the needle/spring/seals doing . Harry

Had mine done at Austec... unfortunatley mine were flowing very well anyway... but now they are all spraying the same and in a good pattern...

Paul cleaned them two or three times to ensure they were clean, and flow tested them before and after. Each cleaning cycle is about 10 minutes.

[S3 Kieran]

Podie said:

Had mine done at Austec... unfortunatley mine were flowing very well anyway... but now they are all spraying the same and in a good pattern... Paul cleaned them two or three times to ensure they were clean, and flow tested them before and after. Each cleaning cycle is about 10 minutes.

Can't believe the NGS left this unguarded

[Podie]

S3 Kieran said:

Podie said: Had mine done at Austec... unfortunatley mine were flowing very well anyway... but now they are all spraying the same and in a good pattern... Paul cleaned them two or three times to ensure they were clean, and flow tested them before and after. Each cleaning cycle is about 10 minutes. Can't believe the NGS left this unguarded

I build it up, but no one knocked it down. Disappointed!

[joospeed]

teehee..
performance enhancements for tvrs? .. always always always driver training first then suspension then brakes then engine .. engine performance is the worst way to make your car faster .. but improved throttle response , better fuel consumption and big bar-talk figures are always exciting ..

[Podie]

joospeed said:

... better fuel consumption..

[joospeed]

Podie said:

joospeed said: ... better fuel consumption..

lol .. well only if you don't use the extra power !! hahaha .. point taken

[Podie]

joospeed said:

Podie said: joospeed said: ... better fuel consumption.. lol .. well only if you don't use the extra power !! hahaha .. point taken

although to be fair, since it's been tinkered with (and hence running properly) economy (or lack of) doesn't seem to be affected too much

[HarryW]

kevin secker said:

Harry, How's the suspension working out? Kevin

Very well, still gots lots of playing to do, but base setting with very little damping dialed in, it is probably 100% better than the old ones already .
To be honest even with that setting it will probably go round corners faster than I dare , can only get better with fettling, awesome comes to mind .

Harry

>> Edited by HarryW on Thursday 26th February 20:41

[lordb]

Had new adjustable suspension (Spax) fitted this month and have to say that IMHO this has to be the best thing you can do to an S - the difference on mine was transforming, I can go around some corners 10/15mph faster now, soooo much more inspiring. But, if all you want is straight line power, then of course Im talking B#####ocks so just buy a big V8 wedge.

[gets off his box]