The Limit of Bolt-Ons
by Shell Black
 My best horsepower rating was back on 10/8/97 @140.7
at the wheels (162.5 at the crank @ 16%). This year the last two runs on two different
dynos were repeatable at 135 (161.6 HP at the crank @16%). What have I done different? I
have added The Place Cold Air Intake, Stillen Fuel Pressure Riser (and disconnected when I
could not tune in any more HP on the dyno), and Unorthodox Racing pulleys. Track times
have not been better than Houston at 15.022 in December of 97, but I have hit 15.095 and
15.098 this year at Ennis. With poor 60' times I am a consistent 15.2. With slicks I feel
confident I can break into the 14s.
What I wanted to illustrate was how difficult it is to pull HUGE
horsepower out of our car with bolt-ons. I have only realized a 16% overall increase in
horsepower over stock. Now granted my car now has 109K and is running the original motor -
your mileage may vary.
Below is the list of modifications on my car. It may be
disappointing in comparison to what some Hondas are achieving with a lot less money. As
Mike Kojima has illustrated, to get upwards to 200hp on a naturally aspirated SR20DE, you
are going to open the block and get high tech. The moral is that unfortunately you can
only get so far with bolt-ons:
| Power |
Other |
- Borla Stainless Steel Exhaust
- JWT Street Cams
- JWT ECU
- Magnecor 10mm Race Wires
- Nismo Radiator
- Place Racing Cold Air Intake w/ Stillen POP Charger / K&N
- Random Tech Cat
- Stromung B-Pipe
- Stillen Flywheel
- Stillen Header
- Stillen Over-Bored Throttle Body
- Stillen Over-Bored Mass Air
- Stillen Fuel Pressure Riser (disconnected)
- Unorthodox Racing Pulleys
|
- Eibach Springs
- Enkei RS Evolution 16X7 w/ Falken FK-04GRB 205/45-16
- Hella Air Horns
- JWT Motor Mounts
- JWT Pressure Plate w/ Stock Clutch
- Metal Master Pads
- Nismo B13 Calipers w/ Master Cylinder
- Nismo Front Air Dam
- Redline Fluids
- Schroth Ralleye 3 Harness
- SMC Cross Drilled Rotors & Stainless Steel Lines
- Stillen Valve Cover and Oil Cap
- Stillen Short Shifter
- Stillen Camber Plates & Strut Tower Brace
- Suspension Technique Front & Rear Sways
- Tokico Shocks
|
Note: Timing chain and 100% of associated parts were
replaced at 95K, and brand new tranny was installed as well.
The two dyno runs scanned in are from Team DynoTech and Area 51
Performance in Dallas Texas from 1998. The hand written notes on the Team Dynotech were
the fuel pressure settings as I was trying to tune in the Stillen Fuel Pressure Riser. It
was very easy to dial in too rich or too lean so I finally disconnected the upgrade. One
horsepower is there, but not much more.
- Dyno on 10/08/97: 140.7 HP/131.4 Torque (Pre-CAI)
- 1/4 mile Houston on 11/15/97: R/T.589, 60' 2.165, 15.022 @ 88.85
- Current Mileage: 109K
 |
 |
| Area 51 (109 Kb) |
Team DynoTech (98 Kb) |
| 
