Thread: Bolt on HP upper limits?

I drive a 93 Classic. It has a JDM engine that runs great- it needs more power. I hate to pull out a perfectly good engine for a swap.

I've seen old (4-6 year old) threads with guys making 170 whp on boltons and C3s. Is that still the maximum possible bolt on power for an original SE-R? I was hoping to get to 180 at the front, which I think could be done with the right tuning, but I'm not sure. Should I just go with a VE swap?

Put some sr16 pistons in with a nice header and cams and cam gears. 180 is possible.

i think you would be starting, powerwise, with a stockish ve,then you could achieve with a built ve...

Yeah when it comes to n/a, you cant beat the a ve motor. You would spend 3X the amount to make what a bone stock ve motor puts at the wheels if you kept your de motor.

DE for n/a use is soo old school.

VE can be had for around $750 picked up if your local to a supplier but realistically looking at around 900 at your door.

DE boltons

Header-$120 for ssac
Intake- 100.00 for shortram and pop charger
Exhaust- $250-400 depending
Flywheel- $200
Pullies- $200
JWT C3 cams- $600
Valve springs and retainers-$275

Thats 1840 and without a tune which you would need to even make great power and this might net you 170-180whp at the most.

VE- $900
ECU-$250
RPM trigger-$100

Even running this through a stock de manifold and exhaust and intake there are people that make around 170whp, add in an intake, exhaust and header, and your up to around 185-190whp or so maybe more.

So again debate what your looking to do. Again n/a de's are the past. If your just looking for a bit more power then do simple bolt ons and be happy, If your really looking to make good power n/a, the VE is the only way to go.

i wouldnt ditch the DE so fast my DE makes decent power(167whp no tune), and now im throwing a Turbo set up on it. Yes the VE will be the superior motor but he also said he didnt want to ditch a good motor(his DE). if anything do mods that will transfer over to a VE; flywheel pullies a decent header and an intake. that way you get the use out of your DE and can save a few Dollars for your VE

dont get me wrong i wanted more power so i bought a VE, some of the things i have would have transfered over but i have a 2nd car to put a different set up. you can make 180s with a DE, but thats just the starting point on a VE

Basically what it's coming down to is whether I should put cams in my DE or get a VE.

My car already has a header and an exhaust- they were on when I got it, I don't know what kind they are. I think I can get an intake and some pullies, then drive around and save some money to plop a VE into it and reuse the parts. Then I can sell my DE and get some of the money back, or put it on a stand and have a backup or a turbo build...hm.

I love the DE...but I want a car that's more than 'not slow' which is about where my SE-R is now...the difference between the feel of a car that runs a 15.5 vs. the same car that goes 14.5 is pretty huge...the VE swap is going to be totally worth it.

Just throw a turbo on your DE =D

Amen...turbo is a bolt on last time I checked...lol

Turbo is an option but is expensive. Plus there's the maintenance, gas mileage decline, possibility of it blowing up, that sort of thing. I think I'd have to find a really smokin' deal on a turbo kit to go the turbo route.

my 99' spec N15 GTi is running 196bhp @ 6400rpm & 180lb ft @ 5400rpm
I/E/H/C AND 19* ignition adv. nice mid-range torque makes a car fun to drive day to day
dd