Performance enhancers?

[taipan]

I've been rattling about the classifieds for a while now and have had a read of most of the Vees on there. One thing that I need to ask is in adverts like this where people say they've chipped the engine to 'X' bhp more am I right in thinking this is a bit untrue?

For example, looking, and reading, about Duncan's build it took him a lot more than a simple chip upgrade to get anywhere near this ad's claim of 245bhp.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1462115.htm

What is the maximum extra horse power a chip can unleash and surely with, for example, an airbox/exhaust upgrade a remap is the way to go?

Apologies if the car in the ad belongs to someone on here. I'm only using the ad for illustration purposes and I'm not calling you a liar!!

 

[Duncan]

i think its likely that they have been told or sold that there car has that power and a rolling road graph may of been provided, the chances are an improvement over standard with a super chip and i remember reading that improved throttle response was a benefit.

superchip curves

The thing to remember is that they are typically 10-20bhp down on book figures, super chip claim 13bhp increase, which if your vee is putting out 212 means you could be on for 225.

another thing is people add bhp gains, ie superchip = +13, exhaust = +10 & filter = +10. they add this to the quoted 230 and expect 263... but the reality is they probably dont even have 230 with all the kit.

my person opinion is you will not noticably improve performance unless you can lay your hands some seriously expensive (& rare) parts then head down to SG motorsport and ask Scott to work his magic.

Exhaust, filter and chip will cost a fair bit, look and sound better, but will make little if any performance difference.

best performance upgrade i made was putting the ph2 box in the ph1!

 

[Peter255]

245 BHP on a mk1 with a QS back box and superchip! NO CHANCE! :rofl:

Getting above book figures (230/255) is costly and needs a fair bit of work. Trust me! Duncan and I have been through it personally.

Off the shelf chip is at best +~10BHP. Back box is +/- sod all IMO. Its just looks and noise. De-cats / sports cats and manifolds and full systems are required for gains, and you need mapping to take advantage. Been there tried it!

Check my thread in special projects.

Peter

 

[Kett]

Peter's moved on to bigger and better things... but many moons ago, we both had RSTuning remaps as part of a group buy from this club.
I doubt the re-map unleashed more than 5bhp, but it did improve the throttle response (which ain't a bad thing.)
Think of it as a bonus rather than a selling point.

 

[stevo]

my ph1 vee went on the rollers at 208bhp 198lb/ft torque.. thats with so called superchip, d cat exhaust and bmc carbon air filter...

 

[Jamesv6]

Peter's moved on to bigger and better things... but many moons ago, we both had RSTuning remaps as part of a group buy from this club.
I doubt the re-map unleashed more than 5bhp, but it did improve the throttle response (which ain't a bad thing.)
Think of it as a bonus rather than a selling point.

Agree with you there Kett.

I think we all know by now to ignore all the "claims". A little better throttle response after a few tweeks and trickery is acceptable. Not to mention the real cost of these is about £5.00 yet they all charge stupid amounts like £250 or more.

 

[Kett]

I think we all know by now to ignore all the "claims". A little better throttle response after a few tweeks and trickery is acceptable. Not to mention the real cost of these is about £5.00 yet they all charge stupid amounts like £250 or more.

How do they sleep at night? :evil: