Springtime 4200 Upgrades

[todd.the.submariner]

While it would have been easier to spread upgrades out over the long COVID winter, finances dictated that waiting for some semblance of normalcy to return would be wiser. Needless to say, I am eager beyond words... but here are some words.

My coupe “Siluro”, the Italian torpedo, has the following upgrades completed:

• DBW
• Larini Sport cats (and gutted primary cats)
• Replaced heater core from brassworks
• Yellow Stuff brake pads at the last change
• K&N oil free conical air filter, removing the entire air cleaner assembly

I drive the car as a secondary fun car, pictured below with the A4 daily, and on track days. Yes, I know, it’s a GT, but it’s my fun car so off to the track it goes. Surprisingly, I hold my own pretty well.

Upgrades in the hopper:

• Denso iridium spark plugs - anyone have experience with these?
• Larini X-pipe. Eager to see what this does for high rpm performance and sound
• all LED bulbs. For safety and visibility as Seattle is perpetually grey
• Wheel spacers (FD) for a cheap handling upgrade
• FD ECU upgrade with 100 octane option for track days, because.... power
• coil overs. Still debating between KW and FD. Any inputs? I do have Skyhook presently and would want it disabled, of course.
• tires. Michelin pilot sport to replace the current Falkens

Still need to have Lorenzo redo my buttons, and chase down a few other interior electric gremlins in the meantime.

Anyone with experience in the upgrades above that would care to dissuade or encourage a change of priorities, please do weigh in with your experiences. It’s going to be an epic spring, in any case.

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[Oneball]

I’ve just put Falkens on my Merc and been massively impressed. I do like PS too but they’re noisy.

LED bulbs I think are a pain in the butt to fiddle the check system and don’t really like the look.

 

[Oishi]

Hey Todd, good to hear from you. Hope you and your family are doing well.
Some don't care for black 4200s, but I think it makes the elegant lines stand out. Yours is a beauty.
Please keep us posted on mods.

 

[Twinspark]

• Denso iridium spark plugs - anyone have experience with these?
  People generally prefer NGK to these, but either one is fine I suppose.
• Larini X-pipe. Eager to see what this does for high rpm performance and sound A good improvement and also a slight weight reduction over standard, the stock resonator is really restrictive in sound at high rpm
• all LED bulbs. For safety and visibility as Seattle is perpetually grey Not really a performance mod but there are some noted compatibility issues
• Wheel spacers (FD) for a cheap handling upgrade Works but I’m not a fan of wheel spacers due to additional wear on the bearing
• FD ECU upgrade with 100 octane option for track days, because.... power Try and see if you can get a custom remap, otherwise its fine just specify that you’ve only running 200 cell sport cats to get an optimum tune
• coil overs. Still debating between KW and FD. Any inputs? I do have Skyhook presently and would want it disabled, of course. Buy on price, both are quality items and rumor has it that they are one and the same
• tires. Michelin pilot sport to replace the current Falkens Michelin PS4S are great and there are also other grealternatives

 

[Gazcw]

I’ve just put Falkens on my Merc and been massively impressed. I do like PS too but they’re noisy.

LED bulbs I think are a pain in the butt to fiddle the check system and don’t really like the look.

I don't know if it is possible with and sd2/3 but on the programming tool I had for the rangie you could turn off the bulb checks or only have them doing it on cold start up. The bigger issue is having enough space around the leds to provide cooling.

 

[FIFTY]

I have the FD ECM and do not rate it - the engines standard map is better. The ECM in peak BHP mode makes it feel a little more free revving.

I believe it only manipulates the MAF sensor parameters as it only splices/taps into that segment of the loom

I agree with @Twinspark a remap is a better option but I have decided to keep mine stock for reliability as all it does is put extra strain through all the sensors they remap.

 

[todd.the.submariner]

Thank you all for the comments, recommendations, and suggestions. I knew this was the right place to post this wish list.
The spark plugs and X-Pipe are a go.
Regarding the LEDs - I'm going with the recommendations of Sablewolf on a separate post. All of the bulbs ordered have the CANBUS compliant resistors embedded, so shouldn't have any error lights on the dash. We'll see how it works out.
Wheel spacers - makes sense that it adds some stress to the bearings. Especially the way I drive on the track (I am an amateur of amateurs at present). If anyone has these spacers and has found them either a boon or a bane for handling, I'd truly appreciate any feedback. Pressing pause on this upgrade until I learn more from firsthand owners like the experienced team here.
ECM and Coilovers - the two expensive items. If FIFTY and Twinspark say the ECM upgrade isn't worth it, that's an opinion I value. I'll look into remapping. For the coilovers, thanks for the heads up that they are virtually identical, so I'll focus on price and Skyhook fault canceling.
Tires (ahem... or "tyres" for y'all) - As the Falkens do have some life left in them, perhaps a few track days to justify the upgrade to Michelins. I'll report on how the cornering and braking are affected

 

[todd.the.submariner]

Hey Todd, good to hear from you. Hope you and your family are doing well.
Some don't care for black 4200s, but I think it makes the elegant lines stand out. Yours is a beauty.
Please keep us posted on mods.

Thanks, @Oishi ! I love my "Italian Torpedo" in all her dark glory. As all my previous fun cars were American muscle of one variety or another, this has been quite the adventure and learning experience. Forums like this and mates like all of you are invaluable.

 

[FIFTY]

Happy to share my opinions and experiences - just hope I don't sound like a bag of objections

Regarding spark plugs some have reported an unhappy idle with iridium plugs while others have not had any problems. Considering the cost for all 8 of them it might be less of a headache to stick with standard NGK.

Stay away from the FD tie rod kit they do not last very long if you are driving on roads - might last longer on smooth track tarmac

What I do reccomend is the FD sway bar kit - really fantastic upgrade. I have kept my skyhook dampers and stock springs yet the car feels like it has 25% more grip and stability. It moves the balance towards the centre/rear and makes the car incredibly agile

 

[todd.the.submariner]

Happy to share my opinions and experiences - just hope I don't sound like a bag of objections

Regarding spark plugs some have reported an unhappy idle with iridium plugs while others have not had any problems. Considering the cost for all 8 of them it might be less of a headache to stick with standard NGK.

Stay away from the FD tie rod kit they do not last very long if you are driving on roads - might last longer on smooth track tarmac

What I do reccomend is the FD sway bar kit - really fantastic upgrade. I have kept my skyhook dampers and stock springs yet the car feels like it has 25% more grip and stability. It moves the balance towards the centre/rear and makes the car incredibly agile

That’s an excellent recommendation, I was looking at the sway bars but wasn’t.... swayed. Mostly from my admitted ignorance of suspension fundamentals. Recall that my automotive experience is derived mostly from old American muscle cars where suspensions were an afterthought.
As my skyhook is working fine still, I’ll take your recommendation and enjoy the savings of the less expensive upgrade.


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[FIFTY]

For track driving you will be well sorted with the Sway Bars and the Lowering Springs - the stock springs will cause oversteer when pressing on the limit due to being too soft

It's what @masertel has on his manual 4200 nitrous boosted track monster - I have seen a video of him out handling one of those hot Porsche 911 GT2 or 3 on a circuit

 

[todd.the.submariner]

For track driving you will be well sorted with the Sway Bars and the Lowering Springs - the stock springs will cause oversteer when pressing on the limit due to being too soft

It's what @masertel has on his manual 4200 nitrous boosted track monster - I have seen a video of him out handling one of those hot Porsche 911 GT2 or 3 on a circuit

I’ll try just the sway bars first, as I am competing only with myself, and I drive in a city with horrendous road maintenance and ubiquitous speed bumps that already challenge the low slung exhaust.
But you’ve planted a seed that will likely trigger a future upgrade. My wallet thanks you.


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[todd.the.submariner]

It is finished.
Cheeky way to start a post during this time of year, perhaps, but apt.
Just retrieved "Siluro" from my local Indie shop - annual maintenance and inspection complete, as well as:

• Wheel spacers (FD). The look of them made me stop in my tracks when I saw my car in the lot. Eager for track day to see if there's any difference on the tight S curves.
• Larini X-Pipe. Absolutely transformed the exhaust note without making it too loud for the neighbors. The lack of a resonator took away the low thrumming that used to fill the cabin, and added what can only be described as more of a "zipping" sound on revving, as well as some more crackle on downshifts. It's delicious. Going on extra errands with the windows down just because.
• FD anti-sway bars. No chance yet to properly test, but the car feels significantly tighter when road cornering. Will see how it does on the track when the weather warms up sufficiently.

Thanks to all for the recommendations and lessons learned. I'll likely post self-congratulatory pics of my Italian Girlfriend... as my wife now calls the car.

 

[Ebenezer]

my Italian Girlfriend... as my wife now calls the car.

Mine is called "Princess" or "the 3rd child" by my daughter.

Why third?.....

And the x-pipe - a "boob job"....!
Eb

 

[todd.the.submariner]

Everyone likes a pic of a sexy backside on a Friday, so it is my honor (or honour for our UK friends) to present a few “after” pics of the FD wheel spacers mod.

——-\|/——-
2004 CC “Siluro” the Italian Torpedo
2011 Audi A4 “mafia mobile”

 

[todd.the.submariner]

A minor.. complication. Apparently I’ll have to have a few words with my Indie shop about how to torque lug nuts.

After the drive home, took the lovely Mrs Submariner out for a birthday dinner, driving in style in the Coupe, of course. On the way down the hill, the unmistakeable sound of wheel balance issues, but at city street speeds.

Lovely.

After dinner, came home and checked all lug nut torques ok, and they were. It’s not exactly a complex system, so what exactly was wrong?

The answer came from another forum, coincidentally, where someone had remounted and tightened the wheel lug nuts one at a time, vice going to hand tight first, and then slowly approach the torque value star-wise, as we all learn at our father’s knee.

Couldn’t be that simple. So I stewed about it all day instead of doing anything. Then, what the ****, why not. Jacked it up, I mounted and remounted the wheel, took her for a high velocity and very loud run down the highway, and hey, presto... she’s right as rain.

As you might imagine, I’ll be having a few words with the shop owner on Monday. Knowing him, he will be professionally embarrassed and will handle it.



——-\|/——-
2004 CC “Siluro” the Italian Torpedo
2011 Audi A4 “mafia mobile”

 

[CatmanV2]

Poor. Very poor

C

 

[todd.the.submariner]

All fixed and back on the road. Turns out the lug nut torque, while not entirely correct, was not the cause of the rotation-related noise. The rear sway bar was pushing the right side e-brake cable just enough to cause it to lightly rub on the edge of the hub. Could only hear it from the interior of the car with the windows up, and at low enough speed to get the sense of rotation. So, all sorted. Apologies accepted. Test drives will now include a low speed, windows up run.

On the good news side, Siluro the Coupe is significantly more aggressive! The polyurethane bushings and stiffer sway bars give a much improved ride - oddly less jarring on the straightaways, but the "riding on rails" feeling under hard cornering. Quite pleased with the suspension upgrade choices thus far, though still haven't made it official on a track day.

The exhaust mod - I know, the hp improvement was not expected to be significant, but, the car is far, far more unruly under hard throttling, and definitely is accelerating faster than ever before. I have my suspicions about why this is, though airing such theories here without having done even a moment's real research would be mere speculation. Let's just say my old exhaust system had issues from the day I purchased the car with four blown out cats. Possibly cat residue or other debris was restricting flow in the resonator section? Whatever the cause, the car feels as if it dropped a weight belt.

Waiting for the temps to come up a bit here before scheduling a track day, as a cold/wet track day in Seattle is merely an exercise in expletives and handling the Coupe like it's on a wakeboard.

 

[todd.the.submariner]

I don't know if it is possible with and sd2/3 but on the programming tool I had for the rangie you could turn off the bulb checks or only have them doing it on cold start up. The bigger issue is having enough space around the leds to provide cooling.

Replaced the signal/brake/reverse lights with LEDs and am quite happy. There's no need for additional cooling, as the embedded resistor generates the same heat as the original bulb - in order to keep the bulb-failure circuitry happy.
The car doesn't go any faster, but the lights are most certainly brighter and more crisp in appearance.

 

[The Captain]

Springtime cars and wemon great days, anyway the help I can give is I purchase another set of 18" from the car dismantlers (wreckers) I paid $1500. AU and set them up with a set of Nankang AR 1 just for track days. At my club track, my best time was 44 sec. straight out of the box the car dropped 3sec. These tyers on eBay were $1200. great grip for the money. Any R spec tire will give great gain. Also at a different track 250KPH Top Speed they picked up rubber which meant I had to re-torque after 10 lap runs.