Nos
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 0
From: California
Originally Posted by LMSguy
I disagree with this statement. I just think the right type of person hasn't owned one yet.
You get a guy who has built highly modified cars before and they're not going to be afraid to get into the guts of the engine.
You get a guy who has built highly modified cars before and they're not going to be afraid to get into the guts of the engine.
But this car has been out since 98 - it's been 7 years. How many more years do we have to wait? Now, if you take into consideration Japan's history of this GS, then I concur with your statement...
I will give you a counter example: 2003 Mitsu Evo 8. The first year it hit the US market, there were hundreds of fully modded engines putting over 400HP. Fast forward, to 2005 and Mitsu puts out it's own specialized MR model in the US with an FQ400 model (400HP) overseas from the Mitsu factory with the same 280HP engine in the 03 model! It's a combination of parts availability, past R&D, and a demand...
Those stars don't align for the GS market hence, it's not a good modding platform...
Brent
i haev to agree with bliu on this. of course everyone feels different, but i think everyone has a limit on how much to go for the car. guess bliu and i share abou the same level of limit for the car. yes if someone want they can make the gs4 a total track car with FI and tons of suspention and gut out evertyhing, yeah just like team lexus.
but i think there is a point of marginal returns. i guess at that point it's time to get something else and save the money and hassle. to me, it's like tc and lsd, perfect. anything faster? i would get the m5 or the e55. something like that
but i think there is a point of marginal returns. i guess at that point it's time to get something else and save the money and hassle. to me, it's like tc and lsd, perfect. anything faster? i would get the m5 or the e55. something like that
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 0
From: California
Originally Posted by rominl
i haev to agree with bliu on this. of course everyone feels different, but i think everyone has a limit on how much to go for the car. guess bliu and i share abou the same level of limit for the car. yes if someone want they can make the gs4 a total track car with FI and tons of suspention and gut out evertyhing, yeah just like team lexus.
but i think there is a point of marginal returns. i guess at that point it's time to get something else and save the money and hassle. to me, it's like tc and lsd, perfect. anything faster? i would get the m5 or the e55. something like that
but i think there is a point of marginal returns. i guess at that point it's time to get something else and save the money and hassle. to me, it's like tc and lsd, perfect. anything faster? i would get the m5 or the e55. something like that
I am willing to bet, without any research on it, you can slap on a tighter SC belt on that E55 and get another 30 HP....Name a mod to the GS that would produce the same results...that's why the GS is not a good platform to mod - economically, I should add.
Brent
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
The thing with cars like these is they are just starting to be reasonably priced where younger people who are more apt to mod them can finally afford them.
I mean how many people can afford to tear into a 40,000 car?
Now how many more people would be willing to do this to a 15,000-25,000 car?
I get this school of thinking from my experience with the Lincoln MarkVIII platform.It is a great car that originally sold for about 40,000 but they didnt hold their resale for crap.Now you can find them for 3,000-10,000 and there are people all over starting to mod them .
And NO by my statement is any car a good platform to mod.
I think the reason we differ in our opinions here is because you are looking at it from a standpoint that there aren't too many products you can buy and put on to make power.
Where as I'm looking at it from a standpoint where I look at the potential of the engine.I know the capabilities of the valvetrain, the flow potential of the head and the stoutness of the shortblock.And I know what I can do to it, to make more power.
Wow, I'm ranting here.Sorry.
I mean how many people can afford to tear into a 40,000 car?
Now how many more people would be willing to do this to a 15,000-25,000 car?
I get this school of thinking from my experience with the Lincoln MarkVIII platform.It is a great car that originally sold for about 40,000 but they didnt hold their resale for crap.Now you can find them for 3,000-10,000 and there are people all over starting to mod them .
And NO by my statement is any car a good platform to mod.
I think the reason we differ in our opinions here is because you are looking at it from a standpoint that there aren't too many products you can buy and put on to make power.
Where as I'm looking at it from a standpoint where I look at the potential of the engine.I know the capabilities of the valvetrain, the flow potential of the head and the stoutness of the shortblock.And I know what I can do to it, to make more power.
Wow, I'm ranting here.Sorry.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 0
From: California
Originally Posted by LMSguy
The thing with cars like these is they are just starting to be reasonably priced where younger people who are more apt to mod them can finally afford them.
I mean how many people can afford to tear into a 40,000 car?
Now how many more people would be willing to do this to a 15,000-25,000 car?
I get this school of thinking from my experience with the Lincoln MarkVIII platform.It is a great car that originally sold for about 40,000 but they didnt hold their resale for crap.Now you can find them for 3,000-10,000 and there are people all over starting to mod them .
And NO by my statement is any car a good platform to mod.
I think the reason we differ in our opinions here is because you are looking at it from a standpoint that there aren't too many products you can buy and put on to make power.
Where as I'm looking at it from a standpoint where I look at the potential of the engine.I know the capabilities of the valvetrain, the flow potential of the head and the stoutness of the shortblock.And I know what I can do to it, to make more power.
Wow, I'm ranting here.Sorry.
I mean how many people can afford to tear into a 40,000 car?
Now how many more people would be willing to do this to a 15,000-25,000 car?
I get this school of thinking from my experience with the Lincoln MarkVIII platform.It is a great car that originally sold for about 40,000 but they didnt hold their resale for crap.Now you can find them for 3,000-10,000 and there are people all over starting to mod them .
And NO by my statement is any car a good platform to mod.
I think the reason we differ in our opinions here is because you are looking at it from a standpoint that there aren't too many products you can buy and put on to make power.
Where as I'm looking at it from a standpoint where I look at the potential of the engine.I know the capabilities of the valvetrain, the flow potential of the head and the stoutness of the shortblock.And I know what I can do to it, to make more power.
Wow, I'm ranting here.Sorry.
We need more guys like you!
If you can figure out a way to slap the TRD head on the engine and modify the hood - you have me as a customer! It's already used for the Tundra and it's ready-made. I think the tough part is cracking the ECU codes to utilize the new flow rates...that thing is like freaking Fort Knox! But you may not even need to worry about the ECU...
Brent
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
What is the big deal with the TRD head, and why would it not fit under the hood?I cant imagine the physical dimensions of the head being any larger?
I'm pretty sure we can pick up at least 70-100 HP from doing the heads, intake and headers.
The head is where most of the power is to be found.A good port job along with a good valve job is going to pick up a significant amount of CFM gain.So as long as we find a way to get more fuel to go with the added air we'll have a winner.
Even if no one finds a way to get into the computer we can use a larger injector or possibly bump the Fuel Pressure a bit to get the extra fuel in there.Obviously to do it correctly it would be done while monitoring the A/F ratio.
I'm pretty sure we can pick up at least 70-100 HP from doing the heads, intake and headers.
The head is where most of the power is to be found.A good port job along with a good valve job is going to pick up a significant amount of CFM gain.So as long as we find a way to get more fuel to go with the added air we'll have a winner.
Even if no one finds a way to get into the computer we can use a larger injector or possibly bump the Fuel Pressure a bit to get the extra fuel in there.Obviously to do it correctly it would be done while monitoring the A/F ratio.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I have a 125 shot on the sc430 and havent had any problems. We dynoed the car at SRT to see the progression of hp and tq. The baseline hp was right where we figured at 242. With the nitrous shot the hp shot to a little over 300 but the tq figure was insane 419 ft/lbs. Personally, I've used nitrous on my cars and never had a problem. Mo thought the 125 shot would be the limit of the stock pistons and rods. The concern he had with nitrous was the instantaneous torque numbers stressing the drivetrain parts compared to the progressive nature of a turbo.
My two cents.....Weny
My two cents.....Weny
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 0
From: California
Originally Posted by LMSguy
What is the big deal with the TRD head, and why would it not fit under the hood?I cant imagine the physical dimensions of the head being any larger?
I'm pretty sure we can pick up at least 70-100 HP from doing the heads, intake and headers.
The head is where most of the power is to be found.A good port job along with a good valve job is going to pick up a significant amount of CFM gain.So as long as we find a way to get more fuel to go with the added air we'll have a winner.
Even if no one finds a way to get into the computer we can use a larger injector or possibly bump the Fuel Pressure a bit to get the extra fuel in there.Obviously to do it correctly it would be done while monitoring the A/F ratio.
I'm pretty sure we can pick up at least 70-100 HP from doing the heads, intake and headers.
The head is where most of the power is to be found.A good port job along with a good valve job is going to pick up a significant amount of CFM gain.So as long as we find a way to get more fuel to go with the added air we'll have a winner.
Even if no one finds a way to get into the computer we can use a larger injector or possibly bump the Fuel Pressure a bit to get the extra fuel in there.Obviously to do it correctly it would be done while monitoring the A/F ratio.
BRent
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Originally Posted by NT2SHBBY
riiiiiiiiiiiight...and thats why NOS is banned at any legitimate racing event right? and how is NOS bad for the car? did you not read what I wrote b4? NOS=WHIPITS FOR YOUR ENGINE!!!!
talk to anyone who runs or ran NOS, and ask how many engines they went thru.....I know many ppl who will tell me NOW that NOS ruined their cars....
btw just so you know whipits are bad.....mmmm k?
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 77
From: FL
Risks of using Nitrous
1. Too much power being added too soon
2. Activating the system when the engine rpm is too low ( or stationary )
3. Fuel supply failure ( including fuel pump and solenoid failure or blockage of the jet etc. )
4. Over advanced ignition timing
5. Added stress to engine and drivetrain components which already may have issues.
#'s 1,2,and 4 can all be addressed as part of tuning or using a nitrous control unit.
#3 is the one to worry about.
#5 is a concern for anyone that has purchased a higher mileage used vehicle and is unsure of the maintence habbits of the previous owner.
Using Nitrous is just adding another system that has the ability to fail under your hood. There is no controling the possibility of the failures listed in point 3. $hi* happens and there are risks to adding Nitrous no matter the steps taken of insuring a good installation.
You have to pay to play.
1. Too much power being added too soon
2. Activating the system when the engine rpm is too low ( or stationary )
3. Fuel supply failure ( including fuel pump and solenoid failure or blockage of the jet etc. )
4. Over advanced ignition timing
5. Added stress to engine and drivetrain components which already may have issues.
#'s 1,2,and 4 can all be addressed as part of tuning or using a nitrous control unit.
#3 is the one to worry about.
#5 is a concern for anyone that has purchased a higher mileage used vehicle and is unsure of the maintence habbits of the previous owner.
Using Nitrous is just adding another system that has the ability to fail under your hood. There is no controling the possibility of the failures listed in point 3. $hi* happens and there are risks to adding Nitrous no matter the steps taken of insuring a good installation.
You have to pay to play.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I agree with what you are saying. The Zex wet system I use will not allow N20 to be injected if gas pressure falls off in the solenoid and vice versa. The system is activiated at wide open throttle only via the tps switch. The lexus ecm is capable of retarding the ignition automatically if preignition is present and I put in octane boost or a mix of 50/50 race gas depending on mood.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
fuel pressure switch protects against fuel pressure.window switch will keep you in the safe zone.as long as you do a tune up on the car before u install anything you should have no problems.. NOS is banned from racing? 
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
Originally Posted by BLiu
It's NOT a big deal...BUT I think there are clearance issues...I had my eye on going the EXACT route you described with the TRD heads...but my GS is a daily driver right now and I have to wait until I get an additional car to afford leaving the GS in the shop for long periods of time...and, of course, that little problem called "money"...
BRent
BRent
My point was that a different head isnt neccesary.Why open that can of worms if you dont need to.There is plenty of power to be found in our stock head.
Sorry to keep doing this but I'm going back to what I know with the 4.6 DOHC engine.That engine has been out since 93 and still no one makes an aftermarket head for it.The main reason is these 4 valve heads flow so well and respond so well to port work.
My suggestion is to find a spare head and get it ported when the funds allow.Then when you have a few days take it to a reputable shop that has experience with DOHC engines and have them do the swap for you.It shouldn't take them more than a couple days.