Notices
Scion xB 2nd-Gen Owners Lounge
Second Generation 2008-2015 [AZE151]

Bolt on power or efficiency mods?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-18-2009, 02:33 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
cobb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 2,084
Default Bolt on power or efficiency mods?

Ive been look at a few things short of a turbo or super charger for more on my xb. I see the lighten pulley is offered for it and a throttle sparer from fast scion http://www.fastscions.com/Scion-2AZF...cer-tC-xB.aspx

I know the lighten pulley lets it roll up faster, but does it really give those claims and are there any on going side effects? 5hp, 6tq? I thought at one time the lighten crank pulleys were causing engine problems.

The throttle spaer kind of took me by surprise. I know with a carburator engine a space can aid fuel dispurstment in the air. But 3hp, 5tq with direct fuel injection?

What about the intake manifold? http://www.fastscions.com/scion-tc-x...-manifold.aspx Bolt on 50hp? Thats got to be a mistake.

Just looking for some stuff to do to help fuel economy a bit short of any exhaust mods. Looking for a short ram to suck in the heat from under the hood vs a cai. Think best maybe to use a reusable filter and remove the vacuum cleaner hose from the air box.

Thanks.
cobb is offline  
Old 05-18-2009, 02:42 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (7)
 
ack154's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,701
Default

RE pulleys, this is worth reading:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=248746

As for the intake mani, read the fine print... the 50 hp is on some Mitsubishi applications. I have no idea what it makes on any of the Scions, but I guarantee it's nowhere near 50 hp.

The throttle body spacer will do NOTHING for you. Don't bother.
ack154 is offline  
Old 05-18-2009, 02:52 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
cobb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 2,084
Default

Thanks. Seems there is a lot of snake oil type of products for the xb2. Guess the cai is the only real efficenicy upgrade?

Originally Posted by ack154
RE pulleys, this is worth reading:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=248746

As for the intake mani, read the fine print... the 50 hp is on some Mitsubishi applications. I have no idea what it makes on any of the Scions, but I guarantee it's nowhere near 50 hp.

The throttle body spacer will do NOTHING for you. Don't bother.
cobb is offline  
Old 05-18-2009, 02:55 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (7)
 
ack154's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,701
Default

Well I'd say the underdrive crank pulley is worth it. I have it on my tC and it makes a nice difference in throttle response. Revs a bit quicker and theoretically "frees up" horsepower. Couldn't tell you how much though. But for the money, I think it's a nice upgrade.

The CAI would be a mostly noise thing I think. I mean, there is a gain, just not a lot for what many of the companies charge.
ack154 is offline  
Old 05-18-2009, 02:11 PM
  #5  
AAG
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
DeepSouth Scions
SL Member
iTrader: (1)
 
AAG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,194
Default

Dont waste your money on those mods, they will do very little. If you havent already, mod the suspension and get better tires. The only go fast mods worth it for the xb2 is boost.
AAG is offline  
Old 05-18-2009, 02:30 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
cobb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 2,084
Default

I think you are right. Loved my supercharged tacoma. I see its discontinued for the xb, but guess I could call around til I found one.

I like the idea of the crank pulley, but sometimes I do idle and leave the ac or heat on for my passengers when I run in a store. I noticed my tacoma and metro will have the headlights dim at idle vs driving. Hate to come out to my car and find it over heated and battery died and it stopped running as boththe water pump and alternator were not turning fast enough.

Originally Posted by AAG
Dont waste your money on those mods, they will do very little. If you havent already mod the suspension and get better tires. The only go fast mods worth it for the xb2 is boost.
cobb is offline  
Old 05-18-2009, 05:27 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Steve60's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northampton MA
Posts: 279
Default

The intake manifold could be worth it. If there is anyone with this intake, on a NA, please post some info.
Steve60 is offline  
Old 05-19-2009, 06:15 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
buickid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 750
Default

The mani might be good on a FI car, as our stock manifold may be plastic. Otherwise you might need aftermarket fuel managment.
buickid is offline  
Old 05-19-2009, 03:25 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
jthistle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 176
Default

Efficiency mods that also help with performance
Pulleys: Lightweight if you don't want to deal with charging issues
Rims: Lightweight wheels take less energy to move.
Lowering springs: Less air under your car less drag
Under body panels: DIY better than lowering for less drag
Smaller mirrors: Less drag, most states don't require passenger mirror
Lose weight: Applies to car and driver

Efficiency not performance
LRR Tires: Great for mpg but sacrifice grip

Performance mods that may or may not help with efficiency
CAI, Exhaust, Intake manifold: more HP high RPM, less torque low rpm (idle-2500rpm). Usually better mpg if you drive fast but worse mpg if you keep your rpms down

Strictly performance forget mpg
FI
jthistle is offline  
Old 05-19-2009, 09:24 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
kidd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: MO, USA
Posts: 145
Default

this would help more than a header. i think
http://www.fastscions.com/scion-xb2-...-pipe-2.5.aspx
kidd is offline  
Old 05-20-2009, 02:55 AM
  #11  
Former Sponsor
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (1)
 
NonStopTuning's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 2,102
Default

Originally Posted by cobb
I think you are right. Loved my supercharged tacoma. I see its discontinued for the xb, but guess I could call around til I found one.

I like the idea of the crank pulley, but sometimes I do idle and leave the ac or heat on for my passengers when I run in a store. I noticed my tacoma and metro will have the headlights dim at idle vs driving. Hate to come out to my car and find it over heated and battery died and it stopped running as boththe water pump and alternator were not turning fast enough.

Originally Posted by AAG
Dont waste your money on those mods, they will do very little. If you havent already mod the suspension and get better tires. The only go fast mods worth it for the xb2 is boost.
NST Underdrive Crank Pulleys are SPECIFICALLY designed with all these concerns in mind. No NST pulley user has ever reported any issues of any kind with these pulleys on the tC and the xB.

All NST pulleys are designed to be excellent upgrades for BOTH street and track.

NonStopTuning is offline  
Old 05-20-2009, 03:40 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
Trader
Scikotics
SL Member
iTrader: (4)
 
A-snell's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 1,602
Default

Originally Posted by jthistle
Efficiency mods that also help with performance
Pulleys: Lightweight if you don't want to deal with charging issues
Rims: Lightweight wheels take less energy to move.
Lowering springs: Less air under your car less drag

Under body panels: DIY better than lowering for less drag

Smaller mirrors: Less drag, most states don't require passenger mirror
Lose weight: Applies to car and driver

Efficiency not performance
LRR Tires: Great for mpg but sacrifice grip

Performance mods that may or may not help with efficiency
CAI, Exhaust, Intake manifold: more HP high RPM, less torque low rpm (idle-2500rpm). Usually better mpg if you drive fast but worse mpg if you keep your rpms down

Strictly performance forget mpg
FI


What is this?
A-snell is offline  
Old 05-20-2009, 04:18 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
cobb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 2,084
Default

Looks like great advice. Guess I can not complain if my 30mpg includes 3 large adults and 2 rolling walkers?

Originally Posted by A-snell
Originally Posted by jthistle
Efficiency mods that also help with performance
Pulleys: Lightweight if you don't want to deal with charging issues
Rims: Lightweight wheels take less energy to move.
Lowering springs: Less air under your car less drag

Under body panels: DIY better than lowering for less drag

Smaller mirrors: Less drag, most states don't require passenger mirror
Lose weight: Applies to car and driver

Efficiency not performance
LRR Tires: Great for mpg but sacrifice grip

Performance mods that may or may not help with efficiency
CAI, Exhaust, Intake manifold: more HP high RPM, less torque low rpm (idle-2500rpm). Usually better mpg if you drive fast but worse mpg if you keep your rpms down

Strictly performance forget mpg
FI


What is this?
cobb is offline  
Old 05-20-2009, 01:49 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
jthistle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 176
Default

On this S2000 website there is a thread about a carbon fiber complete under body panel with a diffuser and a lot of good pictures.
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...#entry13887936
The panels keep air flowing smoothly down the underside of your car. This is really expensive. Here is an example of a DIY panel.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tray-3346.html
The DIY panel is made from Coroplast which is the stuff that political signs are made from now. Its cheap 4'X8' sheet for ~$30 and durable.
jthistle is offline  
Old 05-21-2009, 03:07 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (1)
 
TrevorS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: DE
Posts: 2,778
Default

[quote="NonStopTuning"]
Originally Posted by cobb
NST Underdrive Crank Pulleys are SPECIFICALLY designed with all these concerns in mind. No NST pulley user has ever reported any issues of any kind with these pulleys on the tC and the xB.

All NST pulleys are designed to be excellent upgrades for BOTH street and track.

Perhaps I'm weird, but I use an Agency Power light weight pulley -- no drive reduction and so no loss of accessory capability.
TrevorS is offline  
Old 05-21-2009, 05:49 AM
  #16  
Former Sponsor
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (1)
 
NonStopTuning's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 2,102
Default

[quote="TrevorS"]
Originally Posted by NonStopTuning
Originally Posted by cobb
NST Underdrive Crank Pulleys are SPECIFICALLY designed with all these concerns in mind. No NST pulley user has ever reported any issues of any kind with these pulleys on the tC and the xB.

All NST pulleys are designed to be excellent upgrades for BOTH street and track.

Perhaps I'm weird, but I use an Agency Power light weight pulley -- no drive reduction and so no loss of accessory capability.
Nothing wrong with the AP pulley. We sell a very similar stock diameter crank pulley called the NST CR-Lite Crank Pulley. This pulley is very popular with those using the TRD SC.

If you want to go one step further and get better power delivery to the wheels as well as better gas mileage, you can step up to the NST Underdrive Crank Pulley.

If you want to go two steps further, get better hp and tq delivery, get even more weight reduction, and have no worries about lights or batteries, you can step up to the NST Underdrive Crank Pulley AND NST Alternator & Water Pump Pulley Kit.

Either way, good luck and have fun with all your projects!

NonStopTuning is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MRE
Off-topic Cafe
3
02-16-2016 11:26 PM
SkillFreeJake
Scion tC 2G Aero & Exterior
17
07-27-2015 12:34 AM
drobins27
Scion tC 1G Drivetrain & Power
10
02-02-2015 02:10 PM
eric_m
Scion xA/xB 1st-Gen Drivetrain & Power
79
03-17-2013 12:21 AM



Quick Reply: Bolt on power or efficiency mods?



All times are GMT. The time now is 11:11 AM.