I am considering the standard light flywheel and final drive mods... I what some opinions on the following:

Spoon Flywheel (Yes / No) Do you recommend another brand?
JDM Final Drive (Yes / No) Do you recommend Spoon or ATS?
Spoon N1 w/Silencer for street (Yes / No) Do you recommend a different exhaust?

Alan from AJ-Racing recommended the following:

I recommend the change of the filter first of all (I have a K&N 2710). A Spoon throttle body, Spoon header, Spoon exhaust and T1R Mid-pipe. Top it off with Spoon Plug wires and you should be a very happy man. If you want to do a bit more for acceleration, try the ATS FD set instead of a JDM.

Problem is I don’t have a giggelian dollars to spend.... so I need to spend wisely

 

Spoon flywheel - it is essentially the same as the TODA without holes in it. Still a lot lighter than stock. Some people have reported starter grinding with aftermarket flywheels - make sure it is installed by someone who knows what they are doing.

JDM final drive - it is a little faster but not as big a difference at the ATS or Cusco

Spoon N1 - too freaking loud for the street - DON'T get an N1 if you don't want to get tickets for excessive noise. You will get tired of the exhaust very quickly.

The TB bore out from A&J is a worthy upgrade - not too expensive and makes a definite change in terms of throttle response. Downside is downtime - unless you have a spare TB

Don't bother with the spark plug wires unless you want BLING BLING

 

why did he recommend the wires? just because they're spoon wires? hmm...

 

Fawker mine grinds and I installed the flywheel my self

Craig - Who knows of others with grinding problems...

 

The header provided me with nice gains all over the board. I do suggest a high flow cat to free up the gasses after they exit the header. I also suggest a good catback with matched diameter piping and a nice day at a dyno with some cam gears and FPR.

I chose the Toda FW and am also happy with the faster throttle response that it provides. IT is a must IMHO if you are doing a FD.

I also chose the ATS 4.929 FD, All's I gotta say is Fuggin Awesome! Forget the JDM 4.785, thats for sissies.

Ask Ross about the N-1 if you want a nice review. BUT it is LOUD AS HELL!!! I have considered the SMSP, Hytech and am almost decided on the Kakimoto-R , all for performance gains and minimal noise.

The wires are NOT needed! Stock wires are fine.

The TB is NOT needed, especialy if you are doing the FW already.

You could save yourself a bundle and get a Comptech filter instead of the Spoon foamy jammy.

Good luck, and remember that unless you just want to spend your money on Spoon stuff solely for NAME'S SAKE, then there is always another option for something that may be equal or better with relation to performance gains.

There are OTHER headers that are as good and better: SMSP, Hytech, Toda...

There are equal FW's: Toda + it doesn't' have any issues with grinding...

There are other Catbacks "and full systems at that": SMSP, Hytech, Kakimoto-R, Type-1...

There are other filters: Comptech, Monster, ITG...

There is always Something Else... And Spoon while being very nice is NOT always the BEST! It all depends on what you want out of it and what you plan on doing with the car.

You have much to think about,

A.

 

Both Spoon and Toda flywheel are nice. I heard ppl say that the Toda one is better because of where they take off the weight. But I have the Spoon one myself, no problem so far.

Don't waste your money on the Spoon FD. Get the JDM one if you are on a budget and drive a lot on highway. But I would get the ATS one, you will definitely feel the big difference.

If you want to run with silencer all the time, why not just get some quieter exhaust system. It will give more power than N1 w/silencer on. And not to mention, cheaper than Spoon N1 w/ T1 midpipe.

If you have a ITR TB already, don't waste the money on the Spoon one, just have it bore out and tapper it.

Intake, a lot of ppl like the CAI, but some ppl hate it. It up to you. But the K&N one aren't that bad at all.

If you don't plan to run bigger cams on your car, don't waste the money on a big money header. The header tests showed that on a stock ITR with just I/H/E, a $400 JDM DC 4-1 is almost as good as the $1000 headers. (May be 1-3whps difference along the curve). If you want to run big cams in the future, get the Spoon, Toda, SMSP, or Hytech.

Spoon plug wire......... no comment, never try it myself!!

But I think if you go out and buy all Spoon stuffs, Alan will be a happier man than you!!

 

The very fact that I am posting, inquiring about opinions of these different products should indicate that I DO NOT have money to waste. As well, I do not have some sort of name brand preference; I just want information on the best bang for the buck type of mods…

What makes the ATS better then the JDM Final Drive? With the ATS ratio higher then the JDM unit, does it mean I will be shifting more often then the JDM unit?

The reason I like the Spoon N1 is simply because of the look, to me, it portrays understated elegance... I hate the exhausts with a 4 inch tip.

Maybe, I will just replace the mid pipe, same as the assuies in that article – its cheap and it works.

 

Yes, the ATS FD has higher number than the JDM one. So you will rev up faster, and you will be in higher RPM when you are at the same speed when compare with JDM FD or stock FD. And for Honda, higher RPM usually mean more power.

 

Ok, then, you got what you wanted from me. What else do you want to know?

The ATS/FD is a very noticeable Mod. In retrospect I could have done JUST that and been very happy and faster as well. You will shift differently and more often. Your top speed will be lowered to about 141.5MPH on stock tires/wheels. It is a Specific mod for a specific purpose,"track and course driving." Not exactly the thing if you are annoyed by being about 450 RPM higher in every gear especially on the highway.

What you need to tell us is what your goal is? What do you want out of the car? track? daily? commuter? Combination of all? Or a dedicated track car?

Let us help you... No attitude, man and at least I ain't flamin, I have Spoon stuff. It is good and works. Seems like you got a little offended. we're just answering your questions.

Ask us anything you like but, let us know what you want out of the car...

Good luck,

A.

 

I would do the following:
1. Toda FW
2. JDM 4.785
3. Toda or Exedy clutch
4. N1 with silencer isn't too loud... but it sounds buzzy

 

I want the car faster from light to light.... I will use the car for track but very little maybe once twice a year... The car is a daily drive in the summer, except when it rains of course, for winter I have a winter beater. Suspension wise I have a spoon truck brace, a du-luck brace and Mugen Low Downs... stock rims on a set of T1-S tires.... Only engine mod - a K&N 2710 filter. OOh yeah I have a V-AFC, but it has not be used... yet.

I want to make the car faster from light to light... I want to make those damn BMW drivers fear the R on the side of my car..... Well, except of course the BMW's with the M on the back of theirs.... For that type of fear, I need PSSSSSSSSST!!

Next year, if all goes well, I will consider some more serious engine mods... but for right now... I want get up and go speed... What you suggest?

 

A lightly modded R will give most non-M and non-V8 (540 etc) BMWs a run for their money.

I'd do the tranny stuff (final drive and flywheel) for now. then when you can afford it, good cams and tuning. With a well running Toda B motor and the modded transmission, M3s shouldnt be too much trouble


[Modified by Brian Spilner 1035, 12:14 AM 5/10/2002]

 

Hell Yeah....

Craig - Who is half way there B's

 

people put M cars up on such a pedestal (The Real Steve C, feel free to comment..). I mean they're great, but the m3's (e36) which are most common, are not a hell of a lot faster than modded ITRs, if faster at all. Its all about that power:weight ratio.


now the new M3s, M5s, etc are a different matter... pssssssssht necessary

 

I have a Spoon Flywheel combined with an Jdm FD and I love it. I have had no problems with the starter grinding.

Mattj

 

you should be worrying the bimmers and mustangs all ready. just take the time and learn your car. you will find out what works . i am going with toda fw and exedy clutch.
but i am only changeing because i blew my clutch up. otherwise i was going to put my money elswhere.

 

Spoon Flywheel yes, never heard a complaint. Should be a good balance. From the very light weight to stock weight flywheel.

ATS final drive yes, all are pleased with this mod, just changes the gear ratio you'll be at higher RPM on all the gears. You'll be ready and rarrin' to go

Spoon N1 or Buddyclub Spec II, since you drive on summer days mainly what the hell get one of these two. It'll make noise but not much power, you'll get more power from replacing the header.

If I were you, I would do the whole intake header and exhaust. Skip the final drive until you need to replace the clutch.

Here's your plan RaVAGE00:
Spoon header, J's intake, 2.5" SS mandrel custom piping ending with a Spoon N1.

 

It really doesn't matter if you go faster from light to light (which you won't be most of the time). Most high end BMW's will kill you on the free way and laugh at you as they climb into 150mph mark (with speed limiter deleted). BMW's, Benzo's and Porshe's own freeways... (not to mention various C5's).

 

Spoon flywheel and Toda flywheel are not the same at all. Differences:
Spoon has material removed throughout its area. The Toda maintains most mass at the hub. The Toda is drilled/balanced at the outer edges, while the Spoon is not. The weights are pretty darn close, although due to physics, the Toda will accel/decel faster - momentum of inertia..? (Come on, its been a long time since college physics.) While we sell both, I highly recommend the Toda first if your budget can afford it. As for other mods mentioned, the Type One Exhaust and the Buddy Club Spec III (have one avail) are very nice units I have seen and heard in person. We have also done JDM and ATS and I tend to lean to the ATS if you can afford it. Feel free to ring me if you need to. Hope this helps.

 

TODA flywheel, I have had JUN, and TODA. I havent had any grinding with the TODA. I did with the JUN.
Exedy clutch Seems to work well for every day use.
JDM header and carsound cat best bang for the buck. Buy this mod first, you wont be dissapointed.
Spoon N1 Way to loud for me, I would go with SMS, its well worth it.
Spark Plug wires Stock are fine...
final drive I dont have experience with either, but I am looking into one. I prob just get JDM
Spoon TB No experience with it, but Ive been told by many people that its not needed.
Filter No need to spend the money on the spoon filter. K&N makes a drop in filter Im not sure if that is what you already have. Either is fine.

You will feel the most difference with the header and cat, add a FD and she should be a monster

Good luck.