Cheap way to increase horsepower?

Manarius · Post by **Manarius** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:23 pm

130 HP isn't quite doing it when it comes to trying to race these V6 vehicles. Is there any fairly cheap way to increase horsepower? I don't want something that includes doing major surgery to my engine (I was thinking some sort of turbo as a choice perhaps). I was also thinking an air filter change maybe. I'm welcome to any ideas. No more then $400 would be good.

Car: 1991 Legacy L (NA)

ej22t · Post by **ej22t** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:15 pm

Take off all the unnesserney weight like rear seats, all stuffs inside the trunk, spare tire....and you will feel the car more faster.
For engine improvment.... try to put the K&N filter, high performance spark plug and cable.
Add them all up will gives you a little better hp.

Hope it help.

Ben

napphappy · Post by **napphappy** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:38 pm

k&n, get rid of the cats and put a cheap "performance" muffler on it.

its bound to give you a couple horses and it will sound way better

plus it WILL be cheap

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:51 pm

nitrous........

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:43 am

simple answer is no, there's really not much you can do to dramatically increase hp on a n/a engine without spending some cash.

I'm running magnecor wires, msd dis 2 ignition, lw flywheel, lw pullies, and desnorkeled intake....and I've maybe gained 15 hp or so. I have a dyno sheet that shows I've gained more (would put my in 2.5 RS territory), however I don't have any before mods and after mod dyno runs. So I wouldn't take the numbers to heart.

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... cydyno.jpg

I've probably got just around $1000 in parts for my "make go faster mods"

scottzg · Post by **scottzg** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:22 am

Legacy777 wrote:no

with big money, you can go very fast in a legacy, but little money isn't gonna do much.

A na legacy is just simply not a fast car. A legacy that is healthy is a hell of a lot faster than one in a poor state of tune though.

5sp swap would prolly help.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 3:22 pm

Learning to drive the 4 speed would help more and be much cheaper.

Manarius · Post by **Manarius** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:31 pm

THAWA wrote:Learning to drive the 4 speed would help more and be much cheaper.

What do you mean by that?

Note: My car has 141k; I don't want to tear up anything.

Kelly · Post by **Kelly** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:44 pm

Sell it while its still worth some money, and buy a Rabbit.

dscoobydoo · Post by **dscoobydoo** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:22 pm

sadly you don't buy a legacy to be a fast car.

Unless you buy a new 2.5 Gt

Then that is a different story.

Manarius · Post by **Manarius** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:08 pm

rallitektech wrote:Sell it while its still worth some money, and buy a Rabbit.

Why would I want to go from my reliable Subaru to a pos Volkswagen?

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:27 pm

One thing nobody has mentioned is the grounding mod. It won't really give you raw horsepower but it for me it really smoothed out the acceleration and that ultimately made it quicker. Do a search on it and while you're at it, look for ‘seafoam’. Some say it won't help if the engine is already pretty clean, and it probably wouldn't, but if you have a bit of deposits and such in your intake and valves, the seafoam will help, another that did for me. Keeping the car lightweight will help a lot too.

And do learn your car well. I have out launched a lot of stronger cars, they usually catch me as I am starting to go into second gear, but that’s still a statement and in town about all you need to do

. Your auto could hurt you a little but then again, I’m only FWD… These NA’s are fast but they are fairly quick.

Kelly · Post by **Kelly** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:34 am

Manarius wrote:
rallitektech wrote:Sell it while its still worth some money, and buy a Rabbit.
Why would I want to go from my reliable Subaru to a pos Volkswagen?

Cause its faster, handles better, and much cheaper to upgrade.

Manarius · Post by **Manarius** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:23 am

skid542 wrote:One thing nobody has mentioned is the grounding mod. It won't really give you raw horsepower but it for me it really smoothed out the acceleration and that ultimately made it quicker. Do a search on it and while you're at it, look for ‘seafoam’. Some say it won't help if the engine is already pretty clean, and it probably wouldn't, but if you have a bit of deposits and such in your intake and valves, the seafoam will help, another that did for me. Keeping the car lightweight will help a lot too.

Can you possibly explain how to do the grounding? I read that entire thread and I didn't really get it. You run cable from where to where and how? If someone could explain it to me and say what parts I need, I'd really appreciate it.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:17 am

I've personally never liked the way any VWs I've been in have handled except for a MKII Scirocco I was in. The guy at work has a race prepped late 80's Golf and it handles well, but rides like ass since it's so damn stiff. For that ride compromise it should handle better IMO.

Anyway, I used to scare E30s and VWs daily with my 73 HP '84 and '83 GLs. A good state of tune and driving skill can make up for a lack of power and our good torque band helps, too. It's fun to embarrass torqueless Hondas by catching them at low revs or working around their gearing. My car could hold new Si's up to their last few k rpms.

Steve

Kelly · Post by **Kelly** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:47 am

Ya, never been a big honda fan. They do produce some amazing motors, but the handling is lackluster at best. Ive owned a couple MK2 shittacos, and I like them the least of the VW group. My favorite by far, 83 and 84 GTI's. Good tires, lowered, Mmmmm. Maybe a 20mm rear sway, but you gotta be careful. Once the rear end goes, its gone, but you really gotta throw it around to do so.

MK2's are sweet too. A bit stiffer chassis, but at the cost of around 250lbs, and a bit more understeer.

Ive got a buddy with a VR6 front clip for sale cheap. Im considering doing a MK2 VR6 right now, and putting the Leggy on the back burner.

Blah to the front wheel drive, but Ive owned a VR6, and its tourque heaven. My 96 GTI would do circles around my pops Boxter S.

Manarius · Post by **Manarius** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:03 pm

Does anyone know how to do this ground out thing? I'm really interested in the pros of this mod but from the official thread on it, I still can't ascertain how to do the mod. If anyone would be willing to write out a small "idiot's guide" to it, I'd appreciate it

.

scottzg · Post by **scottzg** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:36 pm

I like the wishbone'd hondas. Completely stock they're not that wonderful, but with a little tweaking and they've got easily controllable lift off oversteer and an amazingly stable feel.

GTI's feel kind of sketch to me. To get the rear loose enough to be fun it is a real bear to get a hold of. Nothing happens until the rear lets go, and then it happens really fast. Ya have to really be 'in the zone' to enjoy them. The opposite is true about a nicely set up civic. GTI's seem like they're extra sensitive to road bumps, too. I've never been in a gti that could touch my legacy for road manners.

mk2 vr6 sounds like weight distribution hell. Aren't they kind of flip-happy, or some such nonsense?

I don't like volkswagens much, seems like the only thing they've got going for them is good caster and gearing. My experience is that subaru's are almost as unreliable as a vw though. A lot of vw troubles are a result of the idiots that buy them.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:58 am

Manarius - You can do some searching on NASIOC; they talked a lot about it. But basically the idea is to get some wire and ring terminals to connect a bunch of grounds together. Some people just use random bolts on the engine and frame; some try to choose them based on some voodoo; some select them to match factory grounding points; some try to apply other logic.

Manarius · Post by **Manarius** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:20 am

vrg3 wrote:Manarius - You can do some searching on NASIOC; they talked a lot about it. But basically the idea is to get some wire and ring terminals to connect a bunch of grounds together. Some people just use random bolts on the engine and frame; some try to choose them based on some voodoo; some select them to match factory grounding points; some try to apply other logic.

I searched on NASIOC and Scooby Mods. I know what I need and I get the general idea. I just need to understand how I connect it. Is it basically from bolt to battery's negative terminal? Are there any bolts I shouldn't use to avoid frying things?

Post by **Legacy777** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:23 am

As long as the bolt is a ground, and preferably a good one, you should be fine.

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Cheap way to increase horsepower?

Cheap way to increase horsepower?