An intelligent discussion on upgrades

[pcproa]

okie dokie here we go
What TNC should be all about, not the multitudes of nonchalant video clips.

@GTS-Tom"

I was simply saying it becuause its good value. Instead of ripping apart the engine and rebulding $$$ just part out some interior parts and up the boost. It’s not like 650whp isn’t enougn unless you have a sponsored super drag car that wants to run 1000+whp.

Sure it’s a great value, but how much of a “race car” do you become when you strip it down. I’ve been there and I want to come back desperately.
My Datsun was completely stripped down to a paperweight. When I honestly think about the difference in driving characteristic, I didn’t gain much performance at all by stripping it. I just got extemely irritated when driving it down the street cause I could hear every sound of the engine right in front of me, every rock that I bounced over and every rain drop that fell on the roof.

@DJPyro

Werd, I can respect that point of view, and yes, technology plays a huge role in how a car performs, but I mean, realistically, we can’t argue that both weight reduction and horsepower are vital upgrades…

That being said, much like you made the comment that the GT-R is in terms of raw numbers over-weight, and under-powered, and yet it handles like a go-kart and accelerates like nobody’s business. So realistically, like all upgrades, it’s about where you take the weight off, and where your powerband is, more than just gutting it and drilling holes in it, and putting a T66 turbo on it.

I maintain that from a Ford Fiesta to a F430, there’s always room for improvement on a factory car. It’s just a matter of where, what, and how it’s applied. Factory vehicles are built with safeguards, comfort, reliability, and common users in mind. Even exotics. So really, you’re not always going beyond the engineering of the car, so much as taking that engineering to it’s fullest realization.

Of course they are both vital upgrades, but both have their places. You can up the power on a car and still Daily Drive it, but try stripping the car to the bones and Daily Driving it and tell me how much you’re annoyed with it. You remember driving around your 240 with the big ass exhaust leak the first time I met you.

I’m not saying to put a big ass turbo on the car, I’m saying to pick the turbo that will utilize most of the power band, even if it makes far less peak power than the other turbo.

@klutch

how bout torque? u can up torque as well right?

Different conversation. As Pete said, HP is a function of TQ. If you up torque you generally up horespower. Calculus will give you a better understanding of that.