Any idea would be appreciated. I have 97 Auto with Stillen/Frankencar, Budget Y-pipe, UDP pulley, and VB Mod.

I just got back from driving the Volvo V70 XC AWD with 54T engine (232 lbs from 1500-3500).

Is turboing the VQ the only solution?


Armand

 

A cold air intake might help if you are only interested in lowend. Either injen or Place Racing.

 

lower your gear ratio -convert to 5sp

 

ECU!!! ECU ECU ECU

get it ...you will see....

 

a cold air intake won't do anything

supercharger/turbo is the only way to get that kind of low end torque
turbo usually gives more high end after spooling up
s/c would give lots of low end

 

A SC doesn't do much at low rpm (at least not until about 2.5-3 krpm), since boost is proportional to blower speed, and the SC blower is coupled to engine rpm via the belt. So low engine rpm = low blower rpm. You do get some additional power at low rpm with a SC since you are pumping more air into the engine than otherwise, but a turbo can give better low end power. But the response is not as instantaneous as with a SC.

 

the cheapest mod that would increase your power will be Nitrous

 

Our VQ's are designed mostly for low-end and mid-range power. There are neat mods to do to gain the top end (exhausts, forced induction, and MEVI). I think the limiting factor to your low-end power is mainly your own bias towards other cars. An AWD car will always give you a more low-end torque sensation. Drive around in a Civic or Integra and your Maxima will feel super torquey all over again.

To answer your question to what mods you can to gain on the low end, there are only a few mods that will give you nominal power gains:
UDP
Lightened Flywheel (manual trannies only)
Ground wires
ECU or piggyback chip
Lightened or smaller diameter wheels and tires
Gear ratios
Throttle body modification

 

I have to correct myself. When I wrote this I was thinking of centrifugal superchargers. But it is true that Roots type and twin screw blowers provide significant boost at low rpm at the expense of high rpm efficiency.

 

But....perhaps Kevin's answer was the one I need (but not necessarily what I wanted).



FYI, I have your grounding wires, Kev...., and I have put on the UDP as well (been there for about 2 months now). I notice that your grounding wires do improve my mileage during normal driving so it's worth it.

My job requires me to travel around the country most of the time, and I got the Volvo V70 when I was in Denver, CO. I drove to Boulder to take pictures of another .org member's ride, Miasma, which has the Cefiro headlights.

Took the pictures, then went on I-70 towards Grand Junction...and I notice I have to take evasive manuvers to avoid other cars. Then I realized that I was still doing 74mph *going uphill*, and it downed on me that this Volvo engine seems to be extraordinarily strong. Poped up the hood, saw the engine code, went back inside, opened the glove compartment,....and there it stated: 232 lbs from 1500 up.

No wonder.

SC will actually lower torque in low rpm (below 1500rpm) due to its parasitic loses, based on what I read. Turbo will sing until there is no tomorrow, but you won't feel it until you hit the boost (3k rpm upward).

Perhaps, the best way to cure this is to save money and buy the V70 R. This Volvo station wagon need not be pretty, but it's definitely a very nice car to drive.

Kevin: I don't have any friends that has Integra and such....

 

a'pexi s-afc.

 

Really...

 

How do i change my gear ratios on my A/T?

 

Hmm.. my friend has an 850 R that I drove around a few days go. It corners a lot flatter than my Max, and understeers less, but i could definitely feel the turbo lag. If I remember correctly the specs are something like 240 hp and about 230 torque... I keep trying to convince him to chip it, but he's obsessed with putting "two 10's in the trunk." Dumba$$.

 

Increase lowend torque and sensation?

1) Put the stock intake back on. You'll be surprised how much better it feels coming off idle thru 5500rpms.

2) Get a JWT ECU.

3) Increase displacement (yeah right)

4) Install a Roots SC (yeah right)



Dave

 

That's for sure I let the VTEC drivers ride with me and they're stunned at the torque. Then again I'm nearing 250fwtq at the crank.