Next Steps
 

I have recently upgraded my 86GN, mods are TE44, Alky Injection, 42# injectors, could air kit and XP fuel pump running 24lbs of boost. Beyond buying a bigger turbo, which I believe would require a different torque converter, what else could be done? Given that I keep the same turbo and other new components I just purchased, with exception of bigger injectors, which I think would require a new calibration or chip. I know a better intercooler would be one step, but what others? The only thing that comes to my mind based on what I've read would be new heads and throttle body if needed, CAM if need be and exhaust headers if needed.

I'm relatively new to the whole scene. I've had my 86 GN for about 4 months now and prior to that never owned a performance car, so I'm in the learning phase and trying to pick up as much knowledge as possible and I'm pretty sure, even though I have no previous experience working on or upgrading my own vehicle, that I have the aptitude.

It is actually pretty funning that I don't know more about internal combustion. I worked for 4 years writing drivers for the fuel, evap and ego subsystems. Hell I even submitted an ROI for an algorithm that eliminating calibration for cold starts in a quick sync application. Unfortunately I didn't follow through with it and left Ford before our IP group had a chance to submit it. Based on the maintenance fees they did not follow through with it. The other dampener I was more interested in being an embedded C programmer, understanding the low-level drivers and understanding how the RTOS(real time operating system) worked than learning about the fuel and spark control algorithms. I now wish I would've taken the time to learn more about the combustion process as related fuel delivery/timing and spark timing, and what happens in the chamber. I didn't realize that it has the level of complexity it has, relatively speaking. Sorry for the long winded babbling.

I have no real good reason for the further upgrades, I don't race my car more often than not I have my wife and 3 kids are with me, other than I want to see where I can take my car and even if I don't make any more mods it is nice to know what options are out there.

Hopefully, this isn't too long. I appreciate any feedback.

Re: Next Steps
 

First, welcome! I hope you are enjoying your car.

You've thought through this pretty well. First question is: Have you looked at the "Performance Recipes" on the web site? They might give you a few ideas that you haven't already thought of.

In addition, here are a few other thoughts:
- Heads aren't worth much without a cam.
- And intercooler is a LOT easier and cleaner to install than an torque converter.
- A torque converter would wake the turbo up more, but mostly from a stop. Once the car is moving at speed or the converter clutch is locked up, no difference would be felt at all.
- Since you don't drag race, an extremely high stall converter would not be necessary.
- Small turbo upgrade might better than a larger one in your case.

Re: Next Steps
 

Scott,
Thanks for the feedback. I have looked at some of the recipes and I will review them again. Thanks for reminding me that they are there.

Also is there anything archived with regard to tuning basics or general information?

Re: Next Steps
 

There are years of data archived pre-Forums. It just takes a little work and patience to seek through it and find what you want. A link is provided via the front of the site via menus. Let me know if you have difficulties.

Re: Next Steps
 

Scott,

I took a look at the archives(tuning) and some of the recipes. In the archives there are bits and pieces of information that needs to be put together, maybe I didn't dig deep enough to find a particular sequence for tuning.

What I realize from reading the archives is that I have some more learning to do.
For instance, I hooked an OTC SPX scan tool up to my car yesterday and the car started idling differently and I started seeing via my scan master the knock retard go to 24.5degs. This may be normal it may not be normal, maybe it is the ECU being commanded to a be a in diagnostic mode. Maybe I had the wrong OTC scan tool. Just a lot of unknowns. I guess I could've went through the archives and got some information on scan tool. My point is, I think I need to do a little homework before I mess around with modifying anything, hardware or the tunable parameters that come with the chip. My car is tuned fine as of right now, Bruce Alred did my upgrades and tuned it for me. It was quite expensive too, that is why I would like to learn this some for myself for any future upgrades. However, I will not modify anything until I'm confident enough and have some concurrence from others that it is indeed the right step.

Thanks for the info.
Charles

Re: Next Steps
 

welcome to gnttype

Re: Next Steps
 

Make sure it is in ROAD mode. See http://www.gnttype.org/forums/showthread.php?t=8291

Re: Next Steps
 

Hey Scott, have you ever used a SPX OTC Genisys? I've never seen an OTC 2000 or 4000, so I don't know how similar or dissimilar these are compared to the Genisys. The reason that I ask, I powered on and off and there did not appear to be anyway to configure it for a non diagnostic or road mode. I looked on OTC's website, however, I was not able to find any useful documentation on the Genisys.

Re: Next Steps
 

I haven't used one of those. You might see if you can find any answers among the manuals at http://genisysotc.com/literature.php If not, a call to SPX might be in order. The feature might not be documented,

Re: Next Steps
 

Thanks - a call to these guys is probably the way to go. I've ask the techs at work and none of them seem to know its capability either.