Spending around $900. Meth, e-85, cams or turbo?

tvor · Feb 1, 2010, 12:14 PM

Alright, it's decision time. I'll be spending about 900$ on the car in the near future and need to decide the biggest bang for the buck mod that will put more further down my path.

The final goal with my car is to make in the neighborhood of 500-550whp. I plan to get a red or black most likely to achieve this goal, so I know i need a few things to make that happen, like more fuel and/or meth, bigger cams, bigger turbo.

So....I will basically have enough money for a mod or two plus a new tune, figuring the tune is 400$. So we're really working with 500$ here. Let your opinion be heard! Mods are in the sig.

Edit: I have been waffling on going e-85 for a while since I really don't want to deal with the drop to e-70 in the winter or having to drive up to chicago again to get tuned when winter rolls around with the lower octane gas. That is why I have re-opened my options to using a 50/50 meth/water mixture as my octane additive.

CWiLL · Feb 1, 2010, 12:19 PM

A set of Kelford cams will help you now and in the long run but E85 will give you the biggest gains and the fun factor of driving your car right now, when you switch you'll never want to go back to pump. Just pick up a set of injectors and a good tune and you're good to go.

tvor · Feb 1, 2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWiLL

A set of Kelford cams will help you now and in the long run but E85 will give you the biggest gains and the fun factor of driving your car right now, when you switch you'll never want to go back to pump. Just pick up a set of injectors and a good tune and you're good to go.

Check my edit above. Is it certain that there is actually a drop to e-70 in the winter? I was at an e-85 gas station yesterday and the pump did specify that there was a minimum of 85% ethanol so that would lead me to believe that they carry e-85 year round, or is that their mislabeling?

1slowassevo · Feb 1, 2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvor

Check my edit above. Is it certain that there is actually a drop to e-70 in the winter? I was at an e-85 gas station yesterday and the pump did specify that there was a minimum of 85% ethanol so that would lead me to believe that they carry e-85 year round, or is that their mislabeling?

Meth kit aquiamist with a flip map ..

CWiLL · Feb 1, 2010, 12:24 PM

I think its mislabeling on their part, Im pretty sure they all have to lower the ethanol content because of the weather/temperatures. Im not a big fan of meth but if you can find someone to install it and tune it properly that's also a good option.

buchnerj · Feb 1, 2010, 12:25 PM

Why would you want to go meth when E-85 is readily available in his area? E-85 is safer and cheaper than conventional meth systems.

AWD Motorsports · Feb 1, 2010, 12:26 PM

I would do the 9 turbo + E85.. that should fit your budget close..

Mike

1slowassevo · Feb 1, 2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWiLL

I think its mislabeling on their part, Im pretty sure they all have to lower the ethanol content because of the weather/temperatures. Im not a big fan of meth but if you can find someone to install it and tune it properly that's also a good option.

Good point install is very important but if u cant hookup the new hfs 3 then your dumb Aquamist's new HFS-3 for 2010, replacing the HFS-1

1slowassevo · Feb 1, 2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buchnerj

Why would you want to go meth when E-85 is readily available in his area? E-85 is safer and cheaper than conventional meth systems.

traveling plus cold start issues also been hearing u should run a gauge now to se how pure the e 85 is????Im not gonna lie if i can run e*5 around my area i would but for now meth will do.

tvor · Feb 1, 2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike@AwdMotorsports

I would do the 9 turbo + E85.. that should fit your budget close..

Mike

Think that will be a bit out of range considering injectors are at least 400ish and a turbo is more like 450-500. If i didn't need a tune afterwords then I would be doing that.

About e-85, like i said, it will be an ultimate PITA to try and get two tunes, one for winter e-70 and one for real e-85. I guess I could just get an e-70 tune but that leaves a lot of power on the table. It's much easier to get a 93 octane and a meth tune and then hook up my fail safe to do a map switch.

I would prefer to use e-85 personally, but unless I am missing something it seems like I'll be paying double to get tuned at worst.

Draven83 · Feb 1, 2010, 01:12 PM

go e-85 and injector wise get FIC 2150's so you wont have to worry about running out of fuel.

buchnerj · Feb 1, 2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slowassevo

traveling plus cold start issues also been hearing u should run a gauge now to se how pure the e 85 is????Im not gonna lie if i can run e*5 around my area i would but for now meth will do.

You have to adjust maybe two tables to fix the cold start issues with E-85, that is if you have any at all. I got my car tuned on E-85 in the summer and haven't had a problem on E-70 this winter at all.

I did purchase the gauge just as some insurance, but it really isn't needed. Just something that is a nice reminder and failsafe. However you can do some neat things with the gauge. I have wired up a simple circuit to the output of the E% gauge and anything below 40% ethanol the car automatically switches to my Pump gas map (93 oct) and anything above uses the E-85 map. Painless, idiot proof, and I never have to mess with the tune on the car, ever. Granted, I play here and there with some fuel and timing maps every now and then, but that is just for education.

RockmanX · Feb 1, 2010, 01:19 PM

lol to be honest you should just save it and build up like 2500 then get a real turbo and injectors and tune.

tvor · Feb 1, 2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buchnerj

You have to adjust maybe two tables to fix the cold start issues with E-85, that is if you have any at all. I got my car tuned on E-85 in the summer and haven't had a problem on E-70 this winter at all.

I did purchase the gauge just as some insurance, but it really isn't needed. Just something that is a nice reminder and failsafe. However you can do some neat things with the gauge. I have wired up a simple circuit to the output of the E% gauge and anything below 40% ethanol the car automatically switches to my Pump gas map (93 oct) and anything above uses the E-85 map. Painless, idiot proof, and I never have to mess with the tune on the car, ever. Granted, I play here and there with some fuel and timing maps every now and then, but that is just for education.

What kind of gauge are you using for this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockmanX

lol to be honest you should just save it and build up like 2500 then get a real turbo and injectors and tune.

Not much of a help. That would be nice, but I want more power now.

buchnerj · Feb 1, 2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvor

What kind of gauge are you using for this?

http://ttp-engineering.com/catalog/p...roducts_id=432

I had a logic board made at a local shop and it is what switches the map. I have it connected to the ECU via the standard analog map switch.

https://secure.buschurracing.com/cat...4be7c85d15e983

So the board gets the E% from the gauge, if the value is <40% ethanol it uses a digital switch to change the maps. All I had to do with the wiring harness for the part from BR is remove the analog switch and tie it in to the logic board.

I have a true Flex-Fuel vehicle. Heh. I need one of those stickers...