canned tunes work pretty well. They like to be on the lean side and really the timing is not a very big deal.
Either way, big cam/head setups are pretty annoying and a dirt cheap turbo kit will make you faster.
Yeah, lets talk about exactly the opposite in the real world, but apparently in Moscow, everything is bass ackwards.
Canned tunes run rich.
Canned tunes have "meh" timing tables.
Canned tunes are junk and are dumbed down for people that just want something better than stock but aren't going to benefit from a custom or WB tune...even though every car will.
Dirt cheap turbo kits also aren't dirt cheap for everyone that can fab up all the pipes needed to make it work in their parents basement either. But who am I to judge; keep at this $300 turbo kit business and telling everyone the other end of the spectrum is where it's at, when it isn't.
Eddie, in the REAL WORLD...a base turbo kit, or a used one...will run you at least $1,500...as that is what most Z3 or equivalent kits ship for off the forums...maybe a little less if there are missing pieces or the kit has seen some mileage. Will a turbo kit out perform a stout heads/cam M90 build? Most likely. Is it hard on the transmission...yeah, just as bad a dumb blower setup.
You'll still break sh1t, and you'll still be wanting more after a week of beating on the new setup...been there, done that. Just a friendly heads up.
So as any of you know im building an engine for my Grand Prix, since Im going to have to buy a built trans any way i figured i would make my engine worth the money.
Tons more WHP + FWD = you should invest in a built trans and a good set of tires to put it to the ground first.
Then address the motor.
Because with a heads/cam pulley envy car...you'll grenade that trans in a month.
I wanted to run a big cam in my GP for a long time. Im planning on staying supercharged for a while, have no interest in going turbo as of right now. So Id like to get as much out of my S/C set up as I can.
Either way, big cam/head setups are pretty annoying and a dirt cheap turbo kit will make you faster.
Turbo will always be better than a full built supercharger setup..
You'll still break sh1t, and you'll still be wanting more after a week of beating on the new setup...been there, done that. Just a friendly heads up.
I would definitely upgrade to ~60# injectors.
E85 is crucial for high timing & boost.
Never buy "staged" packages, they are a huge waste of money.
JP timing chains have a well known failure rate.
Rollmaster double's are reliable for longevity, when machined properly.
You should not need any timing chain dampener with any double link setup.
That kit wants you to buy extra junk.
Also, just use stock lifters, rockers, and pushrods with your choice of cam/heads.
Comp lifters are noisy, you'll never 'see' the difference, just hear it.
Solid advice. "I'm buying a built trans"
"Make sure you invest in a built trans, yours is going to blow up!"
"I don't wanna go turbo, I wanna stay supercharged"
"Go turbo"
"My cars all broke, yours will too. Then you'll be as angry as me. Stay stock"
Lot's of great advice for the OP here.
OP, as a few others pointed out, stay away from the staged kits... they tack on expensive and unnecessary items. The IS3 heads/cam combo has produced solid results. You can expect a very potent setup and with a built trans you'll be having fun for quite awhile.![]()