How much Honda madness can this issue take? Trust us, it's gonna take every bit that we can shove in. We couldn't complete this month without answering a little bit of Honda tech, which works out perfectly for you because tuning and building any of Honda's engines really hasn't changed much over the past decade (the K-series being one big exception). Here are some questions we see regularly in our tech inbox from Honda enthusiasts over the years and are bound to inevitably see more of in the days to come.
Get at us by: tech@superstreetonline.com or Super Street, c/o Tech Support, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Q. I have a '07 Civic Si sedan and I want to buy the GReddy T517Z turbo kit. I can install it myself but I don't know anyone around here that I can trust with the tuning. My question is about the e-Manage Ultimate it comes with. I heard that it doesn't do the turbo kit justice because of a book I read where some guy tested all kinds of parts on a K20A2 with just the regular e-Manage and it only spun 224 horsepower on the dyno. But with the Hondata K-Pro, which I can't use because of the retarded drive-bah-wire (a little Boston for ya) it spun 254 horsepower with almost 200 lb/ft. Will the e-Manage Ultimate get me anywhere near those numbers? Is it difficult to tune? And does it come with upgradeable maps so if I wanted to up the boost or install cams I could tune it myself? If not, what standalone system will run with the drive-by wire? No one can answer this question for me. I don't want to spend four grand and be disappointed. Also, is anyone gonna make an exhaust for the four-door Si or what? Any info you guys could share would make me all warm and fuzzy inside.
Mike
Lynnfield, MA
A. The performance market is trying hard to keep up with the latest technology being used in today's cars. Unfortunately, those who recently purchased '07-'08 models will sometimes have to wait patiently for the aftermarket to play catch-up. Although GReddy has added some nice features to the e-Manage Ultimate, it's still a piggyback unit. This can be both a good and bad thing. On the downside, a piggyback has to work within the parameters that the stock computer will allow. As piggybacks rely on "fooling" the ECU into doing what we want, this type of system can be limited when pushing an engine to its maximum potential. On the upside, piggybacks allow us to tweak some high-tech computers, which normally don't do well on a traditional aftermarket standalone computer, due to sophisticated valve timing/lift controls, throttle by wire and CAN-bus communication systems. For now, the e-Manage is about as good as it gets. If you can wait a little longer, better solutions should appear. To answer your question, it is possible to get into the 250 hp range with this setup. The e-Manage is easy to use, but you had better know something about tuning before playing with the maps. This goes for tuning any forced induction car. As for a stand alone, expect a longer wait for something that can offer better tune-ability while maintaining compatibility with your drive-by-wire and the various other parameters being controlled by your factory computer. Lastly, for your exhaust, DC Sports (www.dcsports.com) has you covered (part #SCS7035).
Q. I have a '94 Honda del Sol with a boosted '96 Integra LS engine swap. I have an Integra Type R LSD laying around the garage and a car needing a LSD for traction. I was wondering if that LSD could fit into my LS hydro tranny without modification? I had heard that it couldn't be done, but I just want to make sure before I go looking for a different LSD. My brother and I have replaced differentials before in other vehicles, but we had the correct LSD for the car. My brother is a mechanic so we can do our own work. Could you please just let me know if it's possible to use the ITR diff?
Damian Gil
Nampa, ID