1st step to performance

[wouc89]

Allright, I have a 2005 Mazda 3 GS 2.3l. I havent done any mods performance wise and just wanted to know what would be the first step (air intake, exhaust...) I'm not quite sure what is the best thing to improve HP of my 3!!!
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/1822/1003309l.jpg

[shu5892001]

intake for sure

[PearlM3]

Definitely an intake!!!

[Mazdy]

I did Intake (SRI) first then i bought Magnaflow exhaust...and i can tell ive added some hp bcuz my car is a bit faster now...but i dont really mind the gain..i did it for the sound..

[aZuMi]

Intake - Headers - Exhaust = performance

The steps people usually buy it is:
1. Intake
2. Exhaust
3. Headers

This is based on what I've seen so far in the forums. Please correct if I'm not accurate.

[wouc89]

yeah thats what I thought! I'm not really lookin for the sound but more the power. So I dont know if there an intake that does one more then other. I will search through old threads but I'll definitly appreciate some help!!!

[kckev99]

if you're looking for some HP gains you may want to take it to a Dyno and get some base runs. Then take it back after your mods to see if you've gained anything or made things worst

Slapping on parts does not necessarily gain you extra performance.

[Impressive]

if you're looking for some HP gains you may want to take it to a Dyno and get some base runs. Then take it back after your mods to see if you've gained anything or made things worst

Slapping on parts does not necessarily gain you extra performance.

+1.

You should maybe take it to the track stock, see what your results are like and begin modding. Don't overlook things such as various bars and mounts and other components if you are trying to make your car quick and put immediate power down. Compare results pre vs. post with certain mods and experiment with what gives you the best power and overall feel.

[6strings]

yeah thats what I thought! I'm not really lookin for the sound but more the power. So I dont know if there an intake that does one more then other. I will search through old threads but I'll definitly appreciate some help!!!

I asked the same question when I started modding. And I was told that all intakes generally give the same hp gains, but they dont do much in terms of gains. Intakes dont do much by them selves, its mainly a sound thing.
But I did hear that Fujita Cold Air gives the most. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[wouc89]

I was told the same but this is only the first step of performance Improvement. I was told Nijen was a good kit with a gain of 10HP

[shu5892001]

I was told the same but this is only the first step of performance Improvement. I was told Nijen was a good kit with a gain of 10HP

you mean injen?

[Zuluwun]

meh, k&n claims something similar, any well made intake (injen, aem, k&n, fujita, to name a few) will give you more or less the same gain. Upgrading your engine mounts won't increase power but it'll help put more of it down. You could also look into performance spark plugs.

and if you're going to make your car faster, make sure it can stop just as quick too.

[Cab0oze]

IMO a short ram (SRI) is the best route to go. Unless you're planning on changing your entire exhaust, I woulnd't go there because cops are really sticking people with tickets this year. In QC at least theres supposed to be a big crackdown this summer on it, and between this forum and M3Q, i've read of at least 4 people getting tickets in the last month. Its not worth the risk. A catback wont give you any gains, just give you some nice sound.

[6strings]

IMO a short ram (SRI) is the best route to go. Unless you're planning on changing your entire exhaust, I woulnd't go there because cops are really sticking people with tickets this year. In QC at least theres supposed to be a big crackdown this summer on it, and between this forum and M3Q, i've read of at least 4 people getting tickets in the last month. Its not worth the risk. A catback wont give you any gains, just give you some nice sound.

What are they getting tickets for?

[Cab0oze]

What are they getting tickets for?
Improper exhaust. Dont remember what the laws in ontario are but in qc any modifications to stock exhausts to increase noise are considered 'illegal'. I saw someone on this forum get a ticket for it less than a month ago though, something about the exhaust not having baffles...

[wouc89]

I'm actually in Quebec now so I guess Ill look it up before making a decision!!

[Pivot]

intake for sure
I'll play devil's advocate...

I just read an article on strut bars, and they made a pretty good case for strut bars being your best bang for your buck in terms or performance improvement. Sure, the gains might not show up on a dyno, but the improvments in handling and cornering are supposed to be immediately noticeable. I'm starting to think about putting my intake on hold and getting some bars instead.

And the cops won't hassle you for your strut tower bars making too much noise...:D

[prime]

I'll play devil's advocate...

I just read an article on strut bars, and they made a pretty good case for strut bars being your best bang for your buck in terms or performance improvement. Sure, the gains might not show up on a dyno, but the improvments in handling and cornering are supposed to be immediately noticeable. I'm starting to think about putting my intake on hold and getting some bars instead.

And the cops won't hassle you for your strut tower bars making too much noise...:D

Personally my front strut bar wasn't that noticeable of an improvement. It just added an extra bling under the hood. I'd recommend a meatier sway bar instead if you're considering an affordable, yet significant enough, handling improvement.

[Cab0oze]

I'll play devil's advocate...

I just read an article on strut bars, and they made a pretty good case for strut bars being your best bang for your buck in terms or performance improvement. Sure, the gains might not show up on a dyno, but the improvments in handling and cornering are supposed to be immediately noticeable. I'm starting to think about putting my intake on hold and getting some bars instead.

And the cops won't hassle you for your strut tower bars making too much noise...:DThe general consensus is that strut bars are just engine bling for the 3 because the strut towers are so close to the firewall.

[PearlM3]

My strut bar does nothing, in regards to the intake, I'd do an Sri, and don't expect increase in horsepower but rather increased throttle response, which on this car will make the car feel faster.

[Cab0oze]

My strut bar does nothing, in regards to the intake, I'd do an Sri, and don't expect increase in horsepower but rather increased throttle response, which on this car will make the car feel faster.

The SRI also sounds verrrry nice when you're accelerating (as opposed to the CAI which you wont hear nearly as much).

[Rob23]

I'll play devil's advocate...

I just read an article on strut bars, and they made a pretty good case for strut bars being your best bang for your buck in terms or performance improvement. Sure, the gains might not show up on a dyno, but the improvments in handling and cornering are supposed to be immediately noticeable. I'm starting to think about putting my intake on hold and getting some bars instead.

And the cops won't hassle you for your strut tower bars making too much noise...:D

i think your talking about sway bars which attach under the car to the suspension, strut bars attach to your suspension in your engine bay and don't make that much of a difference. you have to be taking corners really hard to notice the strut bar, but it doesn't do nothing.

[shu5892001]

The SRI also sounds verrrry nice when you're accelerating (as opposed to the CAI which you wont hear nearly as much).

You can hear a CAI just as much... Maybe even louder in the higher revs

[RTEnthusiast]

Switch for the E90 in the picture :P ...

No but seriously, an SRI or CAI.

[-RJ3-]

Very valid question. But if you do furter research on a similar dyno pull thread, many members were not satisfied after having an exhaust and intake combo. From what I remember it had loss of hp

You will have a sudden burst of speed but as time goes you will feel slower

IMO. If you have a speed you will have more significant results vs a reg 3

Unless you reprogram your ecu you will never experience gains on hp.

To me. Te car Sounds different, and faster but its placebo effect

[kckev99]

Steps you should take:
1. Don't do anything until you get a base pull on a Dyno.

2. Once that is done install your upgrade and drive around for a 1-2 weeks to allow your ECU to re-adjust to new operating environment.

3. Then go get a new Dyno pull and compare HP gains.

Benefits between SRI and CAI may not be any better than the other. Depends how you see it. Sucking in hot air from the engine bay with SRI may not gain you much, cooler air from your stock intake or CAI has a higher O2 density which gives better combustion. The counter argument is that there is better air flow for a SRI compared to stock hence the increase in HP some manufactures claim.

Then there is the other argument that your ECU will compensate for the increased air flow and re-adjust Fuel/Air mixture back to stock which may not gain you much. So unless your stock intake is really starving the engine and the ECU is compensating and mapping a richer mixture a CAI/SRI probably won't gain you much.

If you are really looking to get HP gains you should do a Dyno run before and after your upgrades otherwise you're just getting a noisier intake and some "engine bling" as somebody else mentioned.

Just remember that any high performance intake will come at the sacrifice of decreased air filtration, which leads to increased engine wear and dirtier oil over long period of use.

[ismail_alikhan]

Go for a driver's training course......