I am going to finally install my Cattman headers and before I start, I was just wondering what else It would make sense to check or replace before I dig into it. I am going to replace the Front Lower Subframe Bushings w/ ES Bushings, but I was wondering if I should do anything else while I am under there.

Any help is MUCH appreciated

-Ryan

 

an oil change.

 

dyno before and after? for personnel records.

 

do the main motor mount inserts and the subs, if you haven't already done so

 

cams + race gas lol

 

Mine are going on Thursday Night after work....Wideband bung installed, Ceramic coating all 3 pieces, Got all SS hardware(washers ,lockwashers), gaskets, Dual Simulator, It's that time....Had them for a year now!

 

OK cool, I have the ES motor mount inserts in my trunk and the ES Subframe Bushings on order.

What is this business about a wideband o2 bung? Is this necessary? I was planning on just having it tuned with an Apex'i VAFC2 or NEO.

-Ryan

 

No it's not really necessary, but it will allow you to see what your AFR is during tuning...I have a Innovate LM-1 and I'm learning a little more on using it to monitor my WOT AFR. I doubt if I tune it with a neo, SAFC or VAFC. Hate chopped up my harness, will up performance with bolt ons and reflash till I reach my goal. Then if I'm not in the 13's I'll tune with an AFC....

 

with an intake, headers/y-pipe, and a tune, you should be in the 13s

 

Cool! I'm an auto.... How much more Hp do you think can be gained with that combo once it's tuned? Rough estimate!

 

ohhh you're auto.. my bad, i assumed you were 6 speed for some reason to get 13's, you might need a catback too depending on how good you can launch.. there's this girl in maryland with an auto that ran a 13.9 with intake, headers, and a catback, and that time was looked at as very good for her mods.. she was really good at launching though from what i can remember

a good tune usually gets you around 15-20 hp

 

If you take the intake manifold off during the install, which makes it easier to reach the rear back exhaust manifold, you can always check your plugs and coils.

Also, I'd find some engine harness wiring in case you need to extend the connectors for your primary O2 sensors to reach the O2 bungs at the bottom of the collectors. During my install, I cut the rear back harness off completely, added some wire and soldered it back so that it reached the bung comfortably. The front back I just cut back some of the harness wrap from the main ECM harness to give more slack for the O2 connector.

 

It's also about some practice, she was good because she was at the track every week.

In terms of whp for 5.5 Gen autos, I think Nmexmax was the recent high with about 244 whp or thereabouts. IIRC, I think E55AMG hit 250+ whp or at least close to it, a long time ago. Both of them have SSIM, piggyback, and spent significant tuning/dyno time though.

 

My best time with a stock suspension, CM Y-pipe, CM Catback, WS Hi Flo Cat, Injen Inake, UR pulley, and grounding kit was 14.8 sec/1320 ft, .527 RT, I think my 60ft time was 2.21 in "D". From now on I'll be in 3rd or manually shifting it, but I'll be working on the launch and my RT with a bit of throttle control to keep from lighting up the front tires during the first 60-100' and I'll have my progress/Illuminas set @ 5 F/R with 22-24 psi on air in those front tires. Tonite is CM header night so we'll see what's up in a week or 2...

 

LOL@ rear "back" and front "back". I guess that was before I had coffee.

 

sway bar bushings can also be replaced.
get an o2 bung welded just in case.

 

Dynos please.

For a fellow AE owner .

 

practice helps ALOT it getting your launches down

 

Wow this thing with headers is a beast! My Injen Intake roars again! The roar kinda left when I installed my CM Catback/WS Hi flo cat...I guess the scavenge was offset with the larger diameter tubing and the precats which was hendering the flow. The more I can get "out", the more I can get "in"! The Rpms build so much quicker now I'm almost(I said almost) scared! Sounds like supercharged bimmer under acceleration....