500i "Gredge" - Update ...
Discussion
Well just a quick update given that the "Gredge" is 6-7 months into its upgrade. I am pleased to report that apart from a dodgy sump gasket there have been no ongoing or further issues. A comprehensive check of the car has shown no oil leaks or cooling issues since the installation of the adapted Chim / Griff stainless radiator and HD twin fans. Likewise a good look through the complete drive train including engine & gearbox mounts and U/J's showing no issues after 1000 miles.
After a power and diagnostic dyno runs the engine now shows just over 287 BHp with 308 Ft lbs of the torquey stuff so all good.
Interestingly a measured improvement of 18-20 Hp was delivered after fitting shortened and profiled carbon fibre trumpets on my engine and cam set up. Of the many engine and real power upgrades available in my opinion this is one to consider.
Am I pleased with the performance...... Yep! :-)
After a power and diagnostic dyno runs the engine now shows just over 287 BHp with 308 Ft lbs of the torquey stuff so all good.
Interestingly a measured improvement of 18-20 Hp was delivered after fitting shortened and profiled carbon fibre trumpets on my engine and cam set up. Of the many engine and real power upgrades available in my opinion this is one to consider.
Am I pleased with the performance...... Yep! :-)
maston said:
Excellent news mate, interesting about the flared trumpets too.
Have been thinking about that upgrade for my 390 (wedge1's 390 has 30 bhp on top of mine
)
To be fair, Ian, you have to add Dyno variability into the mix - it could be that yours might be more powerful than mine when tested on the same machine. I have to say that my car doesn't 'feel' spectacularly fast, which is possibly due in part to the higher-than-usual diff ratio. I have seen the speedo off the scale at 160mph though, and satnav shows the speedo to be within 5% up to 120.Have been thinking about that upgrade for my 390 (wedge1's 390 has 30 bhp on top of mine
)That said I have been in 400SEs with remapped hotwire etc. and thought they were... shall we say, not fast either... so who knows.
I have always thought it interesting that the 390s tend to run mostly-standard 350i injection parts when learned people claim that you can't get much more power out of a 3.5 with them, let alone a 3.9. Mine has standard trumpets, albeit shortened by about 15mm IIRC.
Ian, I hope you did not think I was having a dig my friend, far from it 
I must say that you have bigger b
s than me doing 160 
I trust that was on a track day ???
Just over 100mph is enough for me, any more and it is brown trousers time !!!
Ian, do you think flared trumpets would be a good upgrade on my 390 ???
Regards
Ian
I must say that you have bigger b
s than me doing 160 I trust that was on a track day ???
Just over 100mph is enough for me, any more and it is brown trousers time !!!
Ian, do you think flared trumpets would be a good upgrade on my 390 ???
Regards
Ian
Looks good - the only thing I would change is to duct cool air to the intake rather than it have the air after passing through the radiator. Maybe some sort of shiney air box round the air filter and a duct to the front - but make sure it's leaky enough to prevent a hydrolock if you had to go through a deep puddle.
Thanks Adam, there is very little room at the front now with the Griff PAS and adaptor hoses plus the coolant swirl pot and associated plumbing. I looked long and hard at the options and the amount of ambient air flow would be marginal. I have acquired a 400SE bonnet with the vents in the right place for the air filter so once it is repaired and painted it will go on which may help.
Chris
Chris
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