Chimaera mods??

[longjon]

Just thinking about maybe making some pre-summer mods to the new love in my life (450 chimp 1998) and wanted to know if anyone has done the same thing and what they reckon...

Firstly, I am considering some kind of a change to the exhaust system Basically I love the standard sound at the moment and don't really want to change it (as currently I can also, at a push, occasionally hear the radio), but what I do love about V8's is the bubbling you get when overrunning which i can hear in the cats but it is quite muffled. Therefore is there anyway that I can make changes to the exhaust to allow me to get more bubbling and popping but without increasing the volume of the normal exhaust. I spoke to Mike at Austec and he (very helpfully) suggested that I remove the pre-cats - anyone done this, waddya reckon - pro's/cons?

Secondly, Mike also suggested getting the ECU remapped (by Mark Adams). Which I am now considering - has anyone had a go at this? Would you recommend it?

Any info on how much paid and also the effect, if any, on insurance would be very gratefully appreciated (ie did you inform your insurance co - premium alterations, hassle, etc).

Cheers loads
Jon

[shpub]

Search for Mark Adams and you will find loads of stuff. www.t-v-r-services.co.uk has details of some of the work he has done on my cars. You have to inform your insurers. Contact them before hand. There is also details of what he can do in the bible in the upgrading you car chapter and fault finding appendix.

As for pre-cat removal... won't make that much difference to the poppoing and banging as that is caused by unburnt fuel exploding in the exhaust. This is restricted/prevented to stop poisoning the cats.

[Fly Fifer]

Re. ECU - there's one on ebay with a Tornado chip installed. Will need to be re-mapped.

I considered it but spoke to my dealer 1st who is of the opinion that it will not improve performance but will improve low rev driveability of my 98 Chim 450.

Due to my location, decided too much hassle as the recommended I get Austec to do the remapping and that's too far away.

However, if its a route you want to take, just thought you might be interested to know of this ECU on ebay.

[spend]

Just removed my pre-cats and inter changable y piece (1 minus cat). Work done by JP, nice guy and good service. Then the ceramic coating work done by cam-u-coat in Warrington, well worth a visit, only £320 for manifolds and 2 y pieces done inside & out. Coating is brilliant manifold temps down from 700C to 120C, sure its going to make a big difference to temps in the summer (particularly in the cockpit!). Next winter will definitely get the exhaust coated.

[Nano2nd]

spend, does your noticably pop back more with those mods?

how much were the mainfolds and Y piece if you don't mind me asking?

[ian187]

I put some BP ultima in mine a few weeks ago and that made it pop and bang a "good un" - maybee a cheap way to get the sounds you're after, but I don't recomend it for my car!

[chim 500]

had a mark adams chip much more grunt, bhp up to 305 from 280 very easy to drive now in traffic. hope this helps

[Big Al.]

You called?

[greenv8s]

chim 500 said:

had a mark adams chip much more grunt, bhp up to 305 from 280 very easy to drive now in traffic. hope this helps

From what I hear 280 is very good and 305 is exceptional for a standard car - congratulations!