how to go faster.

[seth00008]

ok so gsr, i have a p28 in it so i am allready planning on getting v-tec controler, i have msd and im about to do another tune up but i want it faster without going turbo just yet. what are some options i have?

and is setting v-tec at 3500 for when i race good or will i lose traction and it hurt me.

[8695Beaters]

Well the whole point of having VTEC is to run two cams in the same engine. The low profile cam is for torque and the high profile is for high rpm flow. Setting the threshold lower will take away from that high rpm gain. And if you want to race, then most of the time wou will be revving high anyway. so lowering VTEC too much won't help.

As for your first question, there are hundreds of ways to go faster. Here are my favorites: Basic bolt-ons (CAI, exhaust, headers, plugs, plug wires, ignition, intake manifold). Then a good tune will always help you out for power. After that, how fast you want to go depends on how much you want to root around in your engine and how much you can afford.

Are you going road racing (aka anything but a straight line)? If so, then you will want a trusty set of two-way adjustable coilovers at the least. Some strut braces, and a set of camber plates if your coilovers didn't come with any. If you can afford them, adjustable A-arms and toe links will help too. And of course a good set of sway bars never hurts. If you don't mind the noise and ride, then polyurethane bushings and engine mounts will also help. You will also need some lightweight (16" or less) wheels with some nice, sticky UHP tires. Don't go to crazy with the offset, or your handling will all go to hell.

Think about brakes, but not too hard. Some good track/street pads and maybe stainless steel brake lines. Make sure they are DOT approved (most generic lines aren't). If you plan on racing more than a few laps at a time, then bigger brakes will be necessary to avoid brake fade. If you want to go to the trouble, go ahead and flush your brake lines and fill them with DOT-5 fluid. Make sure that the brake seals in your car can handle DOT-5 without swelling up and leaking. I don't think that will be a problem on a modern Integra, but I'm not sure. Anyone else know for sure? If you're weekend racing, then all you really need to do is just top up your reservoir with DOT-3.

Then there's always stripping weight, but use that at your own discretion. I prefer having a complete car, so I usually strip the sound deadening and leave the panels. A good harness and seat (both FIA approved) will shave weight and help your driving. A smaller battery is also a good way to remove some weight. Just don't ever leave the lights on.

All this depends on two things: What racing class are you looking at and how well can you drive? I'd say start out in a stock class in whatever series you are looking at. Most don't allow VTEC controllers and are very limiting on what mods you can make. Read the rules VERY CAREFULLY before you buy parts. Also, learn how to drive your car while it's still slow, so you can handle it better when it's fast. Go find a backroad and beat on it some. Practice some technique and figure out the car. A good driver can beat a good car most of the time. A good driver also gets noticed more than a good car.

[TJ213]

what do you mean by race?

drag
auto-x
track (real racing)

[HondaME]

Originally Posted by seth00008

.... for when i race good ....

i second that thought.... what do you mean seth?

[TJ213]

Originally Posted by HondaME

i second that thought.... what do you mean seth?

I think he's asking if setting the low to high cam profile transition at 3500 rpm is a good setting for racing.


I don't think you should lower the high cam profile crossover too much because it essentially designed to let the engine breath at higher RPMs (okay, it does more than that, but thats a simplified explanation). The higher cam profile can actually be less powerful at low RPMs than the low cam profile.

Do you have a good launch technique down? If you launch correctly and shift well you should be up on the high cam the entire time.

[seth00008]

by race i mean drag, and thats why i asked about the v-tec.. so 4-4500 then? and launch im somewhat im not the best but im not a idiot at it. and i have basics intake , iridium sparks , msd and msd cap and wires, i mean its ok but i want faster and ive been told intake manifold will help alot , but what all do i need if i put another one on? new throttle bodies?

[TJ213]

Have you done pulleys yet? Not a big difference, but not too expensive either.

Are you having any traction issues right now?


As far as the correct RPM to set the transition at I'm not sure, the best way to test it would be to get on a dyno.

[8695Beaters]

Probably not a new tb for an intake manifold. Check with the manufacturer first. Drag racing? Sell the Honda and buy a Camaro/Mustang/Trans Am. You will always be slower than those guys at the track. If you want an import for drag racing, then look at an RX-7, Supra or a 300ZX. But those will be much more expensive to own/maintain/modify then any of the American Iron.

Just for reference, I'd say figure out how low your revs drop when you shift. Set the VTEC at just under that so you are always on the high profile when you are making your passes. Also, find a video camera. I bought a cheap camera and a grip-tron tripod at Radioshack ($120 total) and a little bit of extra info can be a really useful thing. Watching the video helped tell me that I was launching too high and I cut 0.3 seconds off my time just by launching 500 rpm lower.

[TJ213]

Originally Posted by 8695Beaters

Drag racing? Sell the Honda and buy a Camaro/Mustang/Trans Am. You will always be slower than those guys at the track. If you want an import for drag racing, then look at an RX-7, Supra or a 300ZX. But those will be much more expensive to own/maintain/modify then any of the American Iron.

+1, The only time you should be building a japanese drag machine is if its a bike.

[seth00008]

when i say drag i dont mean like 10-11 sec drag i mean like DD but still hitting 14s if possible 13's when i go to the track.. and is a p72 better than p28 i know about vtec at 5k rpm's and i like how it has the 7500 cut off that way i cant red line my car so im not risking too much but a friend said its maid for a sohc vtec and im losing power. and yes i am but im running negative camber like a mo fo so this friday im ordering a camber kit .