so i glanced over the stickies for these two sections but they are so over the place with no "if you're looking for this then this is what you want" or vice versa. so i have an itch to modify something and my wife's xa is the butt end of it right now since i drive it a lot and i feel that it is absolutely gutless, but i am coming from a world of late model gm v8's. i don't want it to be crazy, just have a bit more oommmphhh when i put my foot on the gas. i've been looking at somethings on fastscions and i am wondering what would be the best CAI and exhaust. i am looking to do headers and cat back but still retain the stock cat, i don't feel like i wanna mess around with it being that it is more of a dd even though i don't have emissions inspections where i live.

what is the best header as far as fit, finish, quality, and performance that mounts to the stock down pipe without problems. also as for the cat back, i want something that has a deep tone, none of that angry bee's in a can ricer sound, very low drone with an automatic, has good performance, and will last a long time without rusting. i live AZ so salt on the roads isn't a factor.

for the CAI i read that the fujitmo or something like that and injen are good ones. i was leaning towards the injen myself. looks like it retains all of the stock mounting hardware like the evap. i also read that the k&n typhoon is a good performer. i dont want a SRI, and the typhoon looks like the filter is around the same area where the injen CAI filter would be and it also almost 100 bucks cheaper. i have had good results with k&n in the past and like their products.

also, what are your thoughts on LW under drive crank pullies. some like em, some don't. i have also had good results with under drive pullies on n/a cars. any of you running them? if some of you could shed some light on these subjects i would greatly appreciate it.

 

well after a few hours online searching, i will be going with the k&n intake, strup header, magnaflow cat back.

anyone have an experience with the wpn-r intake manifold with dyno perhaps?

 

wow this is f-ing rediculous. 108 and views with no comments with advise. will a piggyback be needed when upgrading to a I/H/E and possibly the wpn-r intake manifold? can the stock ecu programming handle the needed adjustment for fuel and spark?

 

LOL

 

Lol

 

the reason nothing has been answered is because all of this has covered somewhere in the recent past. basically if you want anything other than looks or sound out of the 1nz-fe engine you gotta go boost. all the bolt ons in the world are only going to slightly (by slightly i mean hardly) increase the overall hp of your car. it will change hp at different rpm ranges but overall it wont help much. basically work on the suspension and chassis and have fun in the corners. unless you got about $3500 to boost....

 

Ya when I posted that, I had barely been looking into parts and was wondering if there was more out there then what I was seeing. I don't like to boost unless the car already came with it. But here is where I stand:

1. K&N CAI, corolla TB upgrade with weapon-r intake
2. Header, catback or axleback
3. Greddy emanage ultimate since it has the ability to advance timing
4. Gude cams

I figure with this setup I should be around 120whp. I can be happy with that. After I am done with that I will be doing the suspension with springs, sway bars, lower braces, strut bars, wheels and tires.

 

try to contact toy box racing (.com) they have done more for the 1.5 than anyone else ive seen as of yet. they are more towards boosted applications but they can point you in the right direction. the corolla throttle body also proved to be about as useful as stickers on your car but it does make a difference on the butt dyno. from what ive heard the weapon r is the only intake that is made for the 1nz-fe but i think that a 2001 corolla intake will fit. idk if it has any performance advantage but it is metal and IMHO looks way better than our plastic intake mani. just my $.02 but i dont think that those bolt ons will get you to 120hp. thats boost numbers on these engines (light boost but it is boost numbers). if you go through with it try and get a dyno day and let us know about your numbers!

 

if you plan on going with a simple coil spring setup then dont go below 2". most autocrossers use about 1-1.5" lower springs. unless you can find someone to make a short stroke shock and strut for our cars then its kinda wherever. also, from what i have heard the front sway bar is more than enough because our little cars have tons of understeer. most people just do a rear sway and are happy with that. as far as wheels and tires go.... that may be a bigger performance advantage than the simple intake and exhaust you plan. a lightweight wheel will give you less rolling mass therefore "unlocking" a bit of extra power. i personally like my drag wheels because they are only 14.5 lbs a piece but there are some (way) more expensive Japanese alternatives that look great.

 

Ya I know these little engines don't unlock big numbers with simple bolt ons. With that I am hoping that all of those thing mentioned above with a set of mild cams from gude can get me close to the mark. I read through that diy on clubxb and the corolla TB improved zero on the dyno but he felt the car a bit more "free" so to speak. Also you have to think that if you put a bigger bore TB on but don't match the bore of the intake it will essentially be the same as if the stock TB is on so I have been thinking of a way to open up the intake bore to match the TB. Also, from what I have been reading that the stock ecu can support all of the things I wanna do but it does not run optimally for timing and AFR so I hope to cure that with the emanage since the most power you can have is to have the timing spot on and most manufacturers run a conservative timing curve and run a bit rich.

As for suspension thanks for the tip on the sway bars. For spings I was gonna look into the TRD springs, they claim to only drop an inch and that is perfect for what I am looking. A lil more performance but not drastic and look good.

 

You can make the engine sound more aggressive (intake, muffler), you can shift the power band a little from one rpm range to another (header), you can push the throttle faster and farther (or get the corolla TB– same thing) but none of that will make the car fast or quick. Supercharger is probably the only bolt on mod that makes measurable difference.
Build the turbo motor, or build the head with larger valves and cams if the cost is not important.

 

The TRD springs are a great idea but u will probably want to go lower if u run 15" wheels. They just have too much wheel gap. I went with dropzones which fav me about 1.75" at first and now have settled to about 2". I'm still running stock shocks/struts but want to go with the koni front struts for the echo and possibly the gr2(?) rear shocks. That is unless I go racelands which will give about the same drop I have with new shocks/struts and more travel if you leave in the helpers.

 

eventually i wanna go with the optional trd wheels, i think they're 17 or 18's. i just dont want springs that are so stiff they feel like they belong on a racecar. i want a drop but be functional, plus the car is already pretty stiff for being stock, i can feel every imperfection in the road.

 

Usually aftermarket springs make the ride better. Just make sure that if u go 17" you get the aspect ratio correct. I think 18" are to big IMHO and will kill your acceleration.