What performance mods first.

[Ulikefishsticks]

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So the K8Stingerstore just started their black Friday sale. I am looking to get my first few significant mods. I have narrowed it to a few options. My car is mostly stock. I have a Micro Blue GT2 AWD and a few visual mods.

1. Cold Air Intake+JB4/Bluetooth+plugs ~500+619+150=$1269
2. MBRP+Cold Air Intake 594+~500=$1094
3. MBRP+JB4/Bluetooth+plugs 594+619+150=$1363
4. Ark Grip Exhaust - $1600

There is a massive difference in price between MBRP and Ark Grip and not sure if that price difference is worth it for Ark over MBRP. I just find it difficult to judge any sound from exhausts from youtube videos.

I also have to take in to consideration my skills and my situation to being able to either put these mods on myself or paying someone to do it. The exhausts I will have to pay someone to do as I don't have a lift and it would be annoying doing it with a couple of ramps. The intake+JB4 is something I could manage on my own, however the spark plug swap does NOT look fun.

I will eventually be getting all these mods just looking for what I buy first during the black Friday sale.

Does anyone have any opinions to weigh in? I just want someone else to help nudge me in a certain direction.

 

[Hockster]

Exhaust. It never makes sense to me to force more air into an engine without the ability to get rid of it.

 

[CKeeler]

Go MBRP. The Ark exhaust sounds too tinny in higher rpms, whereas the MBRP keeps a nice deep tone

 

[Toddasaurus]

^I agree with that logic; however, I don't think it applies to our cars quite like that. There is still tons more room for more boost with everything stock, hence seeing roughly 400whp on a piggyback alone, and that's only map2 with the JB4.

I noticed a really good gain with just a JB4 and an intake on mine. I've since installed a full cat-back exhaust, along with secondary downpipes. Those also made a nice difference, but not as big as the tune by itself.

 

[Drudge]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but would an intake and secondary downpipes be comparable to an intake and full cat back?

 

[CKeeler]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but would an intake and secondary downpipes be comparable to an intake and full cat back?

One of the big corks in the bottle is the under axle pipes and the stock mufflers. Doing a catback frees up the flow. Secondary down pipes would still be subject to the low flow of the factory pipes if not replaced

 

[Drudge]

One of the big corks in the bottle is the under axle pipes and the stock mufflers. Doing a catback frees up the flow. Secondary down pipes would still be subject to the low flow of the factory pipes if not replaced

Thank you again for the help CKeeler. I really appreciate the info.

 

[Toddasaurus]

^Agreed. Midpipes/Secondary downpipes are pointless unless you already have a full cat-back installed. The stock mid/sec DP's actually aren't very restrictive, so the gains are minimal anyway. Spend your money elsewhere first, then do those last. And get cheap ones, like the OBX pipes! They're just as good as any other brand, and cost half as much. Lol.

 

[Intelliburn]

So the K8Stingerstore just started their black Friday sale. I am looking to get my first few significant mods. I have narrowed it to a few options. My car is mostly stock. I have a Micro Blue GT2 AWD and a few visual mods.

1. Cold Air Intake+JB4/Bluetooth+plugs ~500+619+150=$1269
2. MBRP+Cold Air Intake 594+~500=$1094
3. MBRP+JB4/Bluetooth+plugs 594+619+150=$1363
4. Ark Grip Exhaust - $1600

There is a massive difference in price between MBRP and Ark Grip and not sure if that price difference is worth it for Ark over MBRP. I just find it difficult to judge any sound from exhausts from youtube videos.

I also have to take in to consideration my skills and my situation to being able to either put these mods on myself or paying someone to do it. The exhausts I will have to pay someone to do as I don't have a lift and it would be annoying doing it with a couple of ramps. The intake+JB4 is something I could manage on my own, however the spark plug swap does NOT look fun.

I will eventually be getting all these mods just looking for what I buy first during the black Friday sale.

Does anyone have any opinions to weigh in? I just want someone else to help nudge me in a certain direction.

Don’t let the plug replacement concern you. It isn’t bad at all. It took more time for the cold air intakes for me then the plugs. There are great threads in the forum to help you with the necessary parts so that you don’t have to take the intake manifold off. It’s not bad at all.

 

[Kamauxx]

Skip the $150 for replacement plugs. I ran a JB4 on Map 2 from March 2018-October 2019 for almost 20k miles on stock re-gapped plugs and never had a single issue.

 

[Intelliburn]

Skip the $150 for replacement plugs. I ran a JB4 on Map 2 from March 2018-October 2019 for almost 20k miles on stock re-gapped plugs and never had a single issue.

I got my Densos for $60. I considered regaping stock but I think the Iridiums are better suited for higher boost on the higher map settings. I figure if I have to pull out plugs I might as well just put in the Iridiums.

 

[Toddasaurus]

I got my Densos for $60. I considered regaping stock but I think the Iridiums are better suited for higher boost on the higher map settings. I figure if I have to pull out plugs I might as well just put in the Iridiums.

Stock plugs are iridium. They also have a projected tip, unlike the Denso's or HKS. Said plugs also need a smaller gap than the OEM NGK's. The only downside is the heat range.

 

[Ulikefishsticks]

So I have decent pump gas near me and pump e30 also. Will stock plugs that are regapped be able to handle the higher jb4 tune's?

 

[Intelliburn]

Stock plugs are iridium. They also have a projected tip, unlike the Denso's or HKS. Said plugs also need a smaller gap than the OEM NGK's. The only downside is the heat range.

Ok. Maybe it does make sense to stay stock. I just went by what everybody in the forum suggested. Terry@bms probably has thoughts on whether stock plugs can work at higher maps.

 

[Intelliburn]

So I have decent pump gas near me and pump e30 also. Will stock plugs that are regapped be able to handle the higher jb4 tune's?

Check with Terry @ BmS

 

[cncBilly]

Skip the $150 for replacement plugs. I ran a JB4 on Map 2 from March 2018-October 2019 for almost 20k miles on stock re-gapped plugs and never had a single issue.

What did you gap the stock plugs to pls?

 

[Kamauxx]

What did you gap the stock plugs to pls?

.025 if I remember correctly. It's been a while.

 

[Toddasaurus]

FWIW, I gapped mine to 0.026" - been running them with my JB4 since July.

 

[turboAWD]

jb4 is probably the single biggest gain you can get. Then maybe intakes? I've heard 0.2 seconds in the 1/4 quoted by some. Exhaust, probably only if you're willing to go all the way (full turbo-back), deal with the headaches of CELs, and REALLY push the boost (i.e. also doing intercooler, WMI or E30 or similar, etc). Exhaust is the lowest bang-for-buck of all the mods, IMHO.

 

[Ulikefishsticks]

jb4 is probably the single biggest gain you can get. Then maybe intakes? I've heard 0.2 seconds in the 1/4 quoted by some. Exhaust, probably only if you're willing to go all the way (full turbo-back), deal with the headaches of CELs, and REALLY push the boost (i.e. also doing intercooler, WMI or E30 or similar, etc). Exhaust is the lowest bang-for-buck of all the mods, IMHO.

I think i'm looking at only JB4 for performance and slightly intakes also. The big thing I want from the exhaust is the sound. Stock sounds fine, I just wish it was louder. That will probably be something I get in the spring. I will probably be grabbing the JB4 and K&N Intakes before the weekend is out.