Tuning advice please
Tuning advice please
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Discussion

davelittlewood

Original Poster:

312 posts

162 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
P*****g it down so no fun today...

I've started down the road of some basic performance tweaks and hope to do some more over winter.

So far all I've done is put on a K&N filter and smooth bore inlet pipe from ACT (and it does run a little smoother).

Next step is to replace the trumpets and put in a thermal plate and maybe change the plugs to 6's (my 7's look a bit sooty) Might get rid of the precats too.

How far can I go with the standard CUX before the standard maps restrict the effectiveness of the mods?

As the mods I'm making are all about improving the air flow into the engine will the MAF compensate (or will the standard MAF top out so I loose the top end power?)

I'm not planning to go TC or SC so I don't think I need to change the CUX (yet! it does require a cold reboot some times....As soon as it goes I'm off to Dom's for an MBE).

Dave

Richard 858

1,882 posts

164 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
Morning Dave,

I'd have thought the standard AFM should cope with what you're planning to do initially but it might be worth giving an expert a call just to check (Mark Adams, Jools, Blitz etc.) Although there's alot of weight behind the "ditch the 14CUX" argument I'm running C38 supercharger, intercooler, 440cc bosch injectors & larger AFM all on a remapped 14CUX and getting 430 hp at flywheel, so they do have decent capability and shouldn't necessarily be written off. I do agree that if & when it, or the distributor / coil can't cope anymore then it might be time to change to an aftermarket unit. However, for now there's plenty of life in the old dog yet !!!

TV8

3,529 posts

204 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
If your North of Watford, give Jools Spitfire4v8 a call. Check all is working as it should be before spending to much money. Heads would be my choice to change if everything else is fine. Then £250 to Jools to remap if the map is showing out of range on Rover Gauge.

QBee

22,470 posts

173 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
Digging around on your profile, I see you have a 450.
Induction mods shouldn't max out the 5AM AFM.
You will need a remap of the 14CUX if you change te AFM to a 20 AM, or the injectors to bigger Bosch ones, but you shouldn't need to do either with a 450.

Stage 3/4 heads will make the biggest difference, as will a 72mm plenum and shortened trumpets or blended base, but you can spend a lot of money without gaining much power or torque.

I agree with TV8 - go see Jools at Chesterfield and have a good chat over the possibilities and costs, while getting a base line RR graph so you know where you have started from.

davelittlewood

Original Poster:

312 posts

162 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
QBee said:
Digging around on your profile, I see you have a 450.
Induction mods shouldn't max out the 5AM AFM.
You will need a remap of the 14CUX if you change te AFM to a 20 AM, or the injectors to bigger Bosch ones, but you shouldn't need to do either with a 450.

Stage 3/4 heads will make the biggest difference, as will a 72mm plenum and shortened trumpets or blended base, but you can spend a lot of money without gaining much power or torque.

I agree with TV8 - go see Jools at Chesterfield and have a good chat over the possibilities and costs, while getting a base line RR graph so you know where you have started from.
Anthony,
Cheers, I live in Rugby but my mum is in Sheffield so I'm through Chessy' quite often.

Richard 858

1,882 posts

164 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
Dave, another plus point is that you have what is regarded as the strongest (cross bolted block) engine in the range (if it's in good nick) to breathe on which is also likely to have pocketed pistons allowing you to change to a more aggressive cam profile cam if you choose to.

QBee

22,470 posts

173 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
Have a think about what you want to do with the car before you spend thousands of your hard earned. It's easy to get carried away and waste money.

General cruising and going to car shows - keep the cash in your pocket and spend it on fuel and detailing
Fast B road stuff - make the car a bit more responsive, lighten the throttle pedal, perhaps improve the brakes
Track days - torquier cam, bit more bhp, bigger brakes, track wheels and tyres, roll cage, adjustable dampers. You need handling.
Santa Plod - supercharge or turbo charge.

If you want to talk the latter, go see Richard858 or get a copy of the most recent Sprint magazine.

If you just want your car to go faster on the public road, sort out the handling first.

davelittlewood

Original Poster:

312 posts

162 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
Had the engine rebuilt by Dom 3 years ago, new cam (stock), followers and vernier timing chain set + Gaz Golds.

I'm after fast B road with the occasional track day.