Next big upgrade

[PRG3k]

If you're worried about warranty at all with regard to aftermarket parts, then wheels and tires are the mod for you as they're about the least amount of sh*t you can give a dealership when it comes to mods.

A good set of tires will allow you to achieve another level of performance w/o upping the horsepower. Hooking better at lower speeds or out of corners gives you a big sensation of down low grunt. It can throw you back in the seat and grant many smiles while also instilling confidence.

With good tires, these cars are very big front runners off the line and more powerful cars are often tasked to running us down on the back end instead.

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[AR306]

@AR306 is there any particular reason for the intercooler? I am looking for primarily asthetic mods for the time being. I don't have a tune on the car...Yet, and I watch my charge temps from time to time and they seem ok, usually about 10degrees above ambient at the most as long as I'm moving. I've read a decent amount about the FMIC upgrade but thought it was more so important when you're tuned or have other performance upgrades.

I have the pony pack ecoboost which has a grill very similar to the California special (from what I can tell only the color is different). I very much like the grill for the time being but a grill swap does intrigue me for a farther down the line upgrade. I really want one that has the round aux lights like the S197 had but haven't seen any on the.market. I've been contemplating looking into custom mounting some off the shelf ones behind my grill.

I do like your point about lowering being a PITA. My first car was lowered and it was quite a pain at times. I'm so hung up on this issue because I want to close that wheel gap up just a bit but dont want to ruin my car over good looks. I may take that advice and just do wheels for now. Also I am not sure if you were exaggerating or are unaware but lowering the car shouldn't affect the engine warranty. They would basically have to prove the lowered or the work done caused whatever engine issue. Not trying to be a smart ass but warranty is something I've been reading a lot about recently after buying this car so I thought I'd just pass on some knowledge.

I didn't say lowering will void your warranty.. I was referring to a tune.. I don't trust this platform enough to risk it unless I'm prepared to put a new engine in it if necessary.

 

[yomamma219]

Oh ok I was a bit confused my bad haha.

I think I am going to go with some new rims. Im thinking I'll put some summer tires on and save my factory wheels and tires for winter time. Is there anything of concern when im swapping the factory rims and tires back on after storing them for a while? Other than just checking air pressure I mean.

 

[AR306]

Oh ok I was a bit confused my bad haha.

I think I am going to go with some new rims. Im thinking I'll put some summer tires on and save my factory wheels and tires for winter time. Is there anything of concern when im swapping the factory rims and tires back on after storing them for a while? Other than just checking air pressure I mean.

I honestly wouldn't know.. never had winter tires, it's 90 degrees where I live year round Lol.

Dammit, I had put the mod bug to bed but now you got me thinking about getting an intercooler and strut bar again.. I haven't made up my mind but I'm still leaning towards trading in so I'll just have to resist until I've made a decision either way. :frusty:

 

[yomamma219]

Do you competitively track your car?

If not, I'd say don't do it! Resist the urge. Trust me I was so tempted to go with an older GT but then I thought about it and there is no where I could realistically, safely use 450hp on the road. I think the EB is a great car. I get 30mpg when I'm relaxed on the highway (25 when I'm not) plus I have no problem breaking the rear loose when I really want around town.

Looking at your car the only reason I see for a trade in is for a premium model. But that is a completely personal preference. I just really wanted leather and nicer stereo when I got mine.

 

[AR306]

Nah I don't track my car at all.. I just enjoy the hell out of it whenever there is open space Lol.. otherwise I'm stuck in traffic 90% of the time. While premium trim would be nice, that's not what I wanted.. I originally wanted a GT manual.. Insurance put that out of the question so I decided on a V6 manual 051A.. but the EB's were so much faster for less money on mods so I decided on a EB PP Manual.. but the dealer couldn't find any in state that were base, all were premiums stickering for $30,000+ so I ended up with a EB automatic with 19'' wheels with a sticker price of $28,500 and while I love the way it looks and it drives well, I'm not happy with it at all Lol.

 

[yomamma219]

Wow that sounds almost identical to my story haha. Except I was really looking for leather with the PP and manual. I was looking used though and actually walked right past my car on my first deal visit cuz they didn't have any price on it yet. Turned out it checked almost all the boxes. It just had the wrong PP (pony not perf) but I really love the different grill so I decided it was a good trade and I could duplicate the performance package aftermarket.

Sounds like you are primarily wanting a manual? If so I suppose it is a valid reason to swap cars. I will say I have loved having manual but will admit about once a week I just want the lazyness of an auto

 

[ForYourOwnGood]

Man I'm totally the opposite, I went looking for an EB but I wish I had bought the automatic now. I enjoyed it a lot more when I rented one, just feels like a much better match for this motor. I've never wanted an auto before, I used to do 6 speed swaps on 4th gen F-bodies for people when I live in cali actually. But this car just seems more peppy with it, maybe its just the ridiculously tall gearing they put in the manual.

 

[AR306]

The base manual comes with 3.31 gears, the base auto comes with 3.15 gears.

The "faster" argument is another reason I decided to forego waiting for a manual and got the auto.. I've come to realize that speed isn't everything.. the experience of the drive itself is more important to me (now.. Lol) and rowing your own gears just adds to that experience even if it can be annoying at times..

Sometimes at work I get to hop into Class B trucks and I find driving those big turbo diesel manual trucks more enjoyable than driving my own car.. heh.

 

[Regs]

It's not a placebo effect. You notice it the longer you keep your foot down. 3rd gear and up is where I feel it picks up over stock. ETS intercooler on mine.

When you think about it, air-to-air can only cool the inlet temp down to as much as the ambient air temps. So 85-95 degree day, and you're sitting still, those temps are going to rise quickly.

The only thing I might consider in a daily driver is delivery pressure drops. If aftermarket intercoolers can provide less turbo lag because of better flowing air, plus higher capacity, then you have a advantage.

 

[Hiei]

When you think about it, air-to-air can only cool the inlet temp down to as much as the ambient air temps. So 85-95 degree day, and you're sitting still, those temps are going to rise quickly.

The only thing I might consider in a daily driver is delivery pressure drops. If aftermarket intercoolers can provide less turbo lag because of better flowing air, plus higher capacity, then you have a advantage.

This is something that has been giving me a crazy complex as of lately, if the intercooler can only lower to ambient temps then how is that actually giving you a performance boost ? I've been driving on Stage 1 with a stock intercooler and it honestly doesn't perform that bad . . . at 80-85 Degrees I have CAT of 94-96 degrees . . . It even cools down pretty quick if you keep driving too so I'm honestly thinking of just getting a down pipe and skip the IC until proven otherwise .

 

[Regs]

This is something that has been giving me a crazy complex as of lately, if the intercooler can only lower to ambient temps then how is that actually giving you a performance boost ? I've been driving on Stage 1 with a stock intercooler and it honestly doesn't perform that bad . . . at 80-85 Degrees I have CAT of 94-96 degrees . . . It even cools down pretty quick if you keep driving too so I'm honestly thinking of just getting a down pipe and skip the IC until proven otherwise .

I would agree. I would consider the IC only when upgrading the turbo. Then it might be worth your money. Charges pipes, turbo blankets, heat shields might be better to upgrade to keep the exhaust and engine bay heat from soaking in.

I would love in two years to go Vargas stage II with a 93 octane tune. At that point I will upgrade the IC.

 

[Marvinmadman]

Wow.

 

[Chez]

When you think about it, air-to-air can only cool the inlet temp down to as much as the ambient air temps. So 85-95 degree day, and you're sitting still, those temps are going to rise quickly.

The only thing I might consider in a daily driver is delivery pressure drops. If aftermarket intercoolers can provide less turbo lag because of better flowing air, plus higher capacity, then you have a advantage.

The thing is, with a larger intercooler the charge temps will drop MUCH faster after you get going again, and it will also rise slower while sitting still.

 

[Regs]

Well don't mind me trying to talk myself out of a semi expensive upgrade. I usually buy cheap everything.

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