I've upgraded the suspensions (Koni FSD, Powerflex Bushings), and tires (BGF G-Force Sports) on my 03' JCW MCS.....now I'm ready to start looking at doing some power adding mods.

The problem I have is that since it's got the JCW package on it, it's already got the full JCW exhaust, JCW pulley, JCW tune, and JCW cylinder head. It also has a Pipercross intake on it.....and other than that, it's all stock. The 03' JCW's didn't come with the bigger injectors or JCW intake.

So it has most of the basic power adding mods already.....I would like to add a little more power, but I don't want to spend a ton of $$$$ for stuff like a new cam, and other things that cost a bunch of money, and require a lot of tuning to get it dialed in. Also....I don't want to kill my fuel mileage.

I run 91-93 fuel right now….and I sometimes I will get a little pinging in the summer with the AC on if I run 91, so I just run 93 most of the time. I know I can go with a smaller pulley like a 17% (JCW is around 14 I think), but I’m worried that I’ll have to run 93 fuel all the time…and it’s not all that easy to find in my area. Plus, I’ve heard that the JCW pulley are a royal pain to get off. I’m currently getting 12-13 psi of boost at WOT.


Are there any easy mods I can do that won't cost a lot of money, or should I just leave it alone?

 

A "Tune" is probably your best bet them.. Granted they run around $300-$450 depending on who and how they do it.. The 17% pulley may get you more power but it will be all up top in the RPM's... Tune should get you more power everywhere...

 

Cam's are relatively cheap

Get a cam and header and you'll be happy for a while

 

Just throwing this out there and seeing if it sticks...

What about the 380cc or 550cc injectors in combination with a new tune? Hi flow cat + header? Lightweight flywheel?

you could also head towards weight loss direction which would make your car handle better.
Shorai Li-Ion battery
Enkei RPF1s

 

JCW pulley is 11% if I'm not mistaken, so you could get a 15%?

@GPToyz: If he have the JCW package, chances are that he already have the 380s

 

in his first post he stated that the 03 didn't come with the bigger injectors

 

I was thinking about getting a 15% pulley for it....but there are two things I'm worried about.

1. I've heard nothing buy horror stories about JCW pulley being next to impossible to remove. Most guys end up cutting them off....what a pain.

2. I have to run 93 fuel in the summer time when it's hot out or I will get a little engine pinging every now and then.....I''m afraid that if I go up to a 15% pulley, it will ping all the time unless I run 93. And in the midwest, 93 is not that easy to find most of the time.

If I'm getting 12psi of boost now...what will I get with a 15% pulley...15psi? How much will I notice an extra 3psi of boost? How much HP gain?

 

The extra boost with the jcw head/exhaust will not be noticable with the 15%
you have a few options... imo..get the 17% and get a custom tune...bigger injectors would be a good idea IMO....
or, if you want to stay OEM you could get the 380's installed, and then show the dealer have the full jcw210 package installed (most will allow ANY CAI, but some dealers caution against getting the jcw 210 tune with the pre2005 computer), and get the jcw210 package tune....a quick 10 hp gain.
BUT you will get more power with a custom...and as you discovered, you might be needing more fuel to make more power...one of the ways the computer tries to deal with the heat is to enrichen the mixture...but the stock duty cycle is pretty much maxed out.....so then the ecu begins to pull timing....
One thing you can try is did you switch to JCW plugs? a cooler plug might help reduce ping in hot weather....
one more thing...just be sure the motor is worth spending the $$ on....get a compression check done...
if you found a used gp intercooler/diverter....it might help on the hotest days too...I LOVE spending OTM (others peoples Money)!! Comes down to $$ available and how power hungry you are!!

[QUOTE] If I'm getting 12psi of boost now...what will I get with a 15% pulley...15psi? How much will I notice an extra 3psi of boost? How much HP gain? __________________/ [QUOTE]
that rule is pretty true with the stock S head, but the JCW head, even though it is only mildly ported DOES flow better..so yields lower boost #'s but makes more HP than a similar S.

 

Then like most said, a tune would be good! It may help with your heat problem. Still, I find it strange that you have to run on 93 and still have pinging! A water/meth injection wouldn't be bad if the tune doesn't solve this. It would lower the temp and increase the octane rating a bit!

 

This is a no brainer either get a smaller supercharger pulley, and/or GP intercooler. Both will be nice improvements and be reliable.

 

Way.....what kind of boost numbers do you typically see with the 15% pullleys on the on the R53's with the JCW heads? I'm getting right at 12psi now....goes to 13psi during the cold winter months.

 

15 psi! The size of the pulley determine the boost, as you get the s/c to spin faster. The head flow better, but won't influence the boost the s/c produce!

 

get nitrous? its cheap, its cold and it burns. there are kits on amazon for 4 or 500 bucks that will make you an easy 50whp on the stock tune. thats what i want next

 

I've played with nitrous before (200hp on a small block camaro). Awesome power adder for the track, but for the street it's not really practicle. The bottle takes up lots of room, it's a pain dropping the bottle off all the time to get filled, and you can only use it at wide open throttle.....which is good for racing but thats it. I like the idea of a different tune and/ or a new 15% pulley, at least with those mods you get the increased power over a wider range....not just WOT.

 

+1 for a pulley upgrade or a sport tune.

-Jorge