I'm thinking about modding my Limited. So far, the only "mods" I've done are K&N oil and air filters. I just ordered the Eurocharged tune.

I have very little mechanical experience. I've changed my own oil and installed custom wheels but I've never taken an engine apart or anything like that. However, I'm eager to learn and would like to do some of my own work. So, I have some questions:

1. Which performance mods are good starter projects for modding newbies? Is a CAI easy to do?
2. If I do a CAI, would it also make sense to upgrade the injectors and plugs at the same time? I imagine more air will require more fuel to make more power so ignition system upgrades would be a good complement to a CAI. True or false?
3. After a CAI and injector upgrade, will I need a new tune or will the computer figure it all out on its own?

Thanks.

 

You should have no problem doing the CAI mod..... and your don't need to upgrade the injectors or plugs...or do a tune.... a tune will get you even more power and use the extra air you are getting more efficiently...

 

Thanks for the reply. When you say I don't need to upgrade injectors or plugs, do you mean I don't need to do that to get the most from the CAI or that I don't need to bother at all because the stock injectors and plugs are just fine?

Would it be fair to say that biggest "bang for the buck" mods are, in order, CAI, tune, exhaust? Once those are done, would I see incremental power improvements from injectors and plugs or none at all?

 

Injectors are more so you do not lean out on your top end. If you do them you will have to get a retune on a dyno to make sure they can map them all out for you. I think it is like 1-2 hours on the dyno.

 

Thanks for the reply. That sounds like injector upgrades can wait until after more basic improvements are complete.

 

Good to see you posting again, rad.

The NW single CAI and Eurocharged tune is a great combo for the Limited. Injectors, as mentioned, won't hurt but certainly aren't a must, and tuning them to have good day-to-day drivability is difficult.

Another mod that is free, is the removal of the baffles in the elbow under the MAF. Be warned that the clip on the connector that attaches the MAF to the elbow can be a pain, but aside from that it's a great mod good for ~10 crank horsepower. Mercedes only put the baffles there to quiet the intake...

There is a guy on ebay selling the MAF/74mm throttle body combo for roughly $225... This would remove the bottleneck between the NW intake (3" single pipe) and the inlet to the intake manifold, which is 74mm.

All of these mods combined should net you a fat torque curve and ~50 crank horsepower. EC tune is good for 23 crank hp, NW single is ~15 and the other MAF/TB/elbow mods should net ~10 combined.

Basically, ~$1,000 for 50hp and even more gains in the mid-range. The throttle response is also greatly improved.

An aftermarket muffler of your choice, if you can stand the drone, will help you get 5-10 HP on the top end. Deleting rear cats is worth ~5hp on a Limited, some deem it a waste to worry with.

Evosport sells a pulley kit for the 3.2 M112, and those run $300-ish and should net 10 crank-hp.

With every mod listed above, you should be sitting at ~280 flywheel horsepower with a mod-specific tune. It would result in a peppy little car that would be 150% more fun to drive. Should be low-low 14's in the 1/4.

Beyond those basics, things get expensive for each additional pony.

Last but not least, there's a turbo kit a-comin'...

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the info, JHM2K. Is replacing the MAF/TB a complicated job?

Turbo kit? Tell me more...

 

I am not trying to stir a hornets nest, but in all my research, I have NEVER heard of anyone getting a measureable gain from injectors. I have also read in numerous places our stock injectors are good to something like 350HP, so unless you are FI, you probably will not lean out.

Please correct me if I am wrong, I just want the correct info for myself and others on the forum and I see injectors being brought up an awful lot lately from newer members. I know they actually hurt performance on one members car here who was modded and he put his back to OEM....

 

$3600 for a complete kit. This is huge bang for the buck. You will be in the SRT performance range.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...tal-group.html

 

There are a handful of threads on the MAF/TB swap. General consensus is to swap the TB, and reuse your stock sensor with the body from the 74mm MAF... all you're after with the larger MAF is the larger tunnel. Not a hard job, but a tedious one.

As for the turbo, lots of reading here:

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...tal-group.html

 

In short, Rob at Needswings said not to mess with it. I took him for his word when I had whitey. Whatever gains are to be had, are obscured by the fact that the idle/low rpm reliability suffers. Also, word on the street is they're a b!tch to tune properly. Not saying it CAN'T be done, but... Not something to put high on the list.

 

Based on the suggestions here, I think my shopping list should be:

1. NeedsWings CAI (single tube)
2. 74mm TB and MAF

While I'm in there, I might as well remove the baffles in the elbow. Is there any advantage to the double tube? The double tube product description on the NW website seemed to imply that it was overkill.



Another question: what tools will I need? I see references in the service manual to torque values for bolts. My torque wrench is a 1/2" drive Craftsman better suited to lug nuts than small bolts. Can anyone recommend a torque wrench suitable for the low N/m values in the service manual (see, for example, the throttle body installation instructions on p. 2341 (14-48))? What other tools will I need?

 

the NW CAI hooks right up to the 74mm TB so you will not need to purchase the 74mm maf body.

 

OK. Thanks. I found the $199 TB/MAF combination kit on ebay. I haven't found just the TB. Would I do better to go to my local MB dealer and order just the TB or should I buy the TB/MAF combo and disregard the MAF?

 

I would recomend taking it slow doing one improvement at a time. Make sure your CAI is installed correctly and running perfectly before messing with throttle bodys and cutting up/mix matching MAF sensors.

 

If you have money to waste, I did not say afford, go to the MB dealer. As long as the used one works.....

You can email the vendor on ebay and get a TB for $100 to $125. Why waste money on a MAF if you do not need it. I'm assuming the eBay seller is Potomac (LKQ) they are good to deal with.

The TB you want is this one, accept no substitutes.
#A113 141 01 25

 

Yes, it's Potomac.

Any thoughts on tools?

 

Yep, if you contact potomac directly they will sell you just the TB. I just shot them an email to their ebay store, they sent me a paypal invoice just for the TB.

i have been meaning to write them again to see if I can get a big brake kit of some of the other MB part cars they have.

 

I finally acquired all of the pieces for adding a CAI and 74mm TB to my Limited. The TB went in just fine but I have a question about the CAI. In the kit I received, the assembly goes like this:

1. 3" silicone coupler clamped to throttle body
2. MAF housing body to silicone coupler
3. 90 degree silicone elbow to MAF housing
4. Intake pipe to 90 degree silicone elbow

The silicone coupler was tough to get on the 74mm TB but I got it. Even tougher was getting the MAF housing body into the other end of the coupler. There isn't much room there. My MAF housing body is in the coupler as far as I can get it but it's pinned against the firewall. You can see it in the attached picture. Is this normal? Do I have to worry about engine movement stressing or damaging the MAF housing?

 

You are going to need to wiggle the elbow on top down some more. I had the same problem getting it onto my 74mm TB but with the right downward preasure and wiggling you will get that top elbow down a ways. Mine is even with the bottom of the VIN plate. If you try to tighten it down you will not get a good seal.