j_bryan

iTrader: (1)

I recently had my car dynoed after the install of the MEVI and I compared the results of my baseline dyno on 12/13/02. All dynos where done in 4th gear.

My baseline dyno for my 1996 5spd included the following mods and dyno conditions:

MODS: Gforce ECU, Stillen Intake, Cattman Y pipe.
Conditions: 63.42 degrees F, 29.52 Hg, CF = 98

The MEVI dyno included the following mods and dyno conditions:

MODS: Variable Intake (Open @ 5200 RPM), Gforce ECU, Stillen Intake, Cattman Y pipe.
Conditions: 70.62 degrees F, 29.60 Hg, CF = 99

We have all read about the *peak* gains of MEVI. Here are my peak numbers:

Stock Manifold:
Peak HP 177.81 @ 5500 rpm
Peak TQ 190.50 @ 4500 rpm

VIM Manifold (opens @ 5200):
Peak HP 179.27 @ 6100 rpm
Peak TQ 178.32 @ 4400 rpm

VIM vs Stock Manifold:
Maximum loss 12.58 hp and 13.77 tq at 4800 rpm
Maximum gain 34.22 hp and 28.55 tq at 6400 rpm

With the MEVI, I gained a peak of 34 HP at 6400 RPM. Woo-hoo! However, I also noticed that I LOST 12.5 HP @ 4800 RPM with the MEVI. Doh!

Then I wanted to know what was the overall benefit of the MEVI versus the US manifold for a given RPM range. I computed the Average HP from 2100 - 6400. Here's what I found:

US Manifold+mods: averaged 139 HP
MEVI + mods: averaged 138 HP

I actually averaged less HP with the MEVI.

Bottom Line: My data seems to indicate the US Manifold outperforms the MEVI from 2100 - 5600 rpms. The MEVI out performs the US manifold 5700 - 6400 rpm. Over the entire RPM range I compared (2100 - 6400) the US Manifold averaged more HP than the MEVI.

Based on this data, it would appear that in order for the MEVI to outperform the US manifold, the RPM redline must be extended. If the redline is not extended, the MEVI produces a negligible average HP loss. However, with the redline extended, the MEVI would significantly outperform a stock manifold.

I have posted this data on my website:

http://home.att.net/~j.harleston/index_v4.html

One note: the dyno of with the US Manifold is the best of 3 baseline dynos. I only had time to do one dyno with the MEVI so there is room for some +/- error differential.

Conrad283

iTrader: (2)

wow, good report ... MEVI is truly a high rpm mod ... harold said that it's not that good for driving under 50 mph, but once you go over 50 mph, wow .... good stuff my man

cscm094

dude awesome write up.... someone should FAQ this

kwamdoo74

Excellent right up. This mod was next on my list of things to put on my max, but now since i can't raise my rev limiter without an upgraded ECU that will cause my CEL to light up. I think i'll just do the other conventional bolt-on mods. Thanks

Aaron

iTrader: (4)

definately a mod for the boosted folks tho...........more or less a waste for n/a........unless its the last one to do........or ya just want too..........it does look way cool tho

Nealoc187

iTrader: (23)

What about average HP over an RPM range which is more typical of a racing situation, such as 4500-redline. I'll do these calculations in a moment here and let you know what I come up with from my dyno plots.

nismo2020

iTrader: (1)

i would not buy one unless i was boosting

Nealoc187

iTrader: (23)

Check out the new thread I just posted... it puts things a little more in perspective if you were wondering about this mod for drag racing.

krismax

iTrader: (15)

I launch at 2500rpms ,this is not the mod for me ,this is a very helpful thread!

mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

Total area under the curve is more indicative of overall performance than average HP over a certain band.

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

ok so which one of you N/A guys wants to sell me your VI for cheap

rule of thumb.. if uncle sprinty hasn't bought it yet.. its not because he is broke... its because details are sketchy

deezo

iTrader: (3)

Hmmm..........

Well what does the VI do for regular driving? I do use my car for commuting and travelling.

Frezny

Well, based on the evidence supplied in this thread, one could assume that under normal driving conditions (4,500 rpm and less) you would see a noticable loss in power.

j_bryan

iTrader: (1)

thanks for the feedback on the post.

I posted this information simply to share the data that I have gathered and to generate discussion. I posted the data on my website so that others could do analysis and perhaps offer additional conclustions I may have missed.

I wasn't trying to imply that the MEVI isn't worth it. I'm happy with this mod, however I wanted to try to understand the overall gain in terms of AVG HP instead of peak HP because peak HP is only realized for a small amount of time (a dozen or so RPMs).

My mods also play a factor in these results, so other cars with different mods could see different results. In fact, another member has the MEVI and took out his cone intake and replaced the stock airbox to see if that improves the low end power. Hopefully some dyno numbers will follow soon.

Nealoc187- I'll check the other thread. Believe me, I hope it has good news!

mzmtg - could you compare the areas under the curves and post your analysis? I would love to see if the results paint another picture.

SteVTEC

j_bryan, thanks for the writeup! More data

Nothing. Unless you're above 5500rpm, the MEVI is actually going to HURT your performance.

Lime

Deezo, I can take that MEVI off your hands

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

bring it over yonder .. let uncle sprinty have it for belated christmas present

deezo

iTrader: (3)

This is something I need to think over.

Nealoc187

iTrader: (23)

Almost everyone does. Check out my other thread. With either manifold, 1st gear is usually just a bunch of wheelspin anyhow, so it doesnt matter how much HP the USIM has over the MEVI at 3000rpm, since the tires can only cope with a certain amount of torque anyhow, and both manifolds will overpower your tires and spin to high heaven.

Dave B

Why? It's been shown that the MEVI has more advantages for the auto compared to the 5 speed. Extra power, especially up top will do auto wonders because you guys have to labor along in much longer gears. The extra power will help you guys significantly in the last 1/8 mile, even without a raised redline.


Dave

SteVTEC

But longer gears mean that they have to drop to much lower RPM's on each shift, where they'll once again be stuck with the MEVI making LESS power than the USIM. The net effect might be a gain of nothing, or even worse performance. Plus, 5spd guys can just rev a little higher and slip the clutch more on launch. Automagics don't have that option. They're stuck at 2000rpm or so, and will probably go A LOT slower off the line. I don't think they could make up the difference by the 1/4 mile. It'd help with topping out in 3rd, though.


I should dump these dynos into CarTest2000 and see what happens. But I think the automagics would be slower overall with the MEVI, w/o boost or N2O of course

deezo

iTrader: (3)

So you're saying 96sleeper is only benefitting from the JWT ECU?

SteVTEC

I can't be sure of anything I'm saying until I test out my theory

Not sure what 96sleeper has on his car and what he's running also. Just haven't had the time to keep daily tabs on the .orgy lately.

Synki

Gotta give something to gain something.

96sleeper

iTrader: (4)

I gained 3 tenths and 4 mph in the 1/4 mile with the addition of the VIM. I am fully modded N/A except for the underdrive pulley. I have a G-force ECU as well. My 60 foot times are no slower. I am trapping higher than alot of 5 speeds with intake, y-pipe, and other mods. This mod is a definate for the auto (with ecu).

deezo

iTrader: (3)

What I need to know is how is the driveability of the car in normal driving conditions? So be it, I'll by the Gforce ECU also.

j_bryan

iTrader: (1)

SteVtec,

Here's a pic of my dynos comparing the USIM and MEVI.

BLUE is the USIM + modz
RED is the MEVI + modz

SteVTEC

mmmmmmmmmm......data


thanks!

j_bryan

iTrader: (1)

anytime.

BriGuyMax

iTrader: (1)

Just for reference, I had NO noticable difference in low to midrange power with the MEVI vs. the USIM.

My BEST 60' was done with the MEVI and my best E.T. by almost 3 tenths...also my best trap speed by 3 mph.


I don't care what "average calculated hp" for the MEVI is...it feels great, and works great, on the street and on the track.

There is NOTHING more annoying that the STEEP drop off in power up top of a USIM powered N/A maxima.

BriGuyMax

iTrader: (1)

One more thing.

Before my MEVI, Neal and I would run from like a 40 or 50 roll...and to 100 he would put a carlengh or two on me, and with the MEVI we are DEAD even.

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

so who did you sell it to?

j_bryan

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for your input. I think we all agree that the MEVI "feels" great. However, do you have any detailed dyno data to support your comment so that people who are reading this can quantify what exactly "great" is in terms of HP TQ, etc?

Dave B

Briguy never dynoed with the MEVI, but I'm pretty certain his car lost ~10-12fwhp/fwtq from 3000-4800rpms just like everyone else running the MEVI. What he says speaks the truth though, the lower power in the midrange isn't very noticeable at all. The motor just pulls smoothly from 3000 straight to the fuel cut. With the USIM, the power delivery is full of peaks and valleys. Somehow the MEVI makes the power delivery perfectly smooth albiet less midrange power. Check out how flat the torque curve is on the MEVI. You can't get much better than that.



Dave

BriGuyMax

iTrader: (1)

nobody yet....it's still on my car. And since my max is STILL in the shop, I haven't gotten an chance to part anything out yet.

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

you know i didn't get a christmas present from anyone

SteVTEC

I think a lot of you guys with the MEVI like it so much just because it gives you something that you haven't had before: top-end. 4th Gen top-end is non-existent, and for all-out highway racing it really is out of its element. The MEVI gives you a VTEC-like rush to redline that a USIM would fall flat on its face trying to get you.

My last car was a VTEC: 01 Honda Accord V6, with power curves that look like this:



Great top-end, yes. But the lack of any low/mid-range power was extremely frustrating, and the inability to even get to the top-end at all in the crowded DC area got real old real fast for me. By the time I'd hit VTEC in 2nd gear I was either...

a) already going over the speed limit
b) already coming up on traffic and needing to slow down
c) some idiot would cut me off and I'd have to back off anyways.

I'm seriously glad that car got totalled out, because I was miserable. An MEVI will still have WAY MORE low/mid-range power than my Accord did, but the fact of the matter is that it's going in the wrong direction for me. All of the top-end in the world doesn't matter if you can never get your car above 80 mph to begin with due to non-stop congestion, traffic jams, urban speed limits, etc. Hell, I'd take an engine with EVEN MORE low-end power, and tradeoff a little more top-end if I could. Like the Camry 1MZ-FE engine...



This engine would give EVEN BETTER 0-60, 0-80, and passing time performance than the VQ30DE would, although a VQ would pull on the highway above 80. But as before, I simply can't get my car up to those speeds where I am.






NONE OF US ARE WRONG THOUGH!



I'm just presenting the other side of the story so that people understand what they're losing before spending $650 on the MEVI. Maybe they're like me where you can never get your car up to higher speeds, and that $650 would be much better spent on other mods ;-)

BriGuyMax

iTrader: (1)

check your PMs

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

check your PMs

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

So you're interested in the VI? What changed your mind?