In light of a post I saw yesterday regarding this, I wanted to know what can be done with our Rs to improve performance without buying or replacing a part. Things like timing advancing, spare tire removal are well-known ones, but does anyone else know small things that can change our car's performance that can be done at home?

 

disonnecting muffler?

 

Nope, I dynoed that and only came up with .3 WHP....

Remove resonator to, thats good for a few, but too loud!

 

Resonator went out when Icebox went in.

 

I meant the B-pipe..sorry...

Resonator could actualy loose power if you dont keep the tube for cold air.

 

Maybe I'll remove my right-front blinker, maybe I'll get a few extra hp...should be fun until I get a tix

 

Disconnect power steering. Guaranteed 3-5hp and 2-3 lb-ft across the rpm band. Its free, it improves the car's driving feel. Could be dangerous if you're not used to it and an emergency develops. Needs strong shoulders.

 

How do I do this? I've always thought about it, and I heard the effort penalty isn't too bad. Can someone tell me how, or am I better off taking it to my dealer?

 

try gutting or your cat,or using a test pipe,its good for abt 5-7horses,dyno proven

 

Tix don't appeal to me. gutting = interior I assume?

 

i think he meant gutting the cat.-converter...

but, gutting the interior is another free one. i've been thinking about removing my backseat, cause i never use the damn thing...

 

backseat only weighs like 30-40lbs. It's not really worth it. Gutting the interior only works if you decide to go all out IMO.

 

Yeah my backseat is staying unmolested. I sometimes carry more than 2 people, and I have an amplifier stuck on the back of one of them. I guess if you did that together w/ AC removal, aftermarket header, and maybe a CF hood, that would take off some noticeable weight.

 

I tried that on my '90-

You simply take off the power steering belt. It really did free up some power!

At first I had a hard time controlling the car because the front tires were scrambling at the pavement more than I'm used to. Plus the steering effort was HARD. I've read that if you pump the steering fluid out, that will make the steering a little easier-I didn't want to try that.

It was too bothersome; so in the end the belt went back on and BOY that steering wheel sure turns easily now.

 

I MEANT GUTTING YOUR CAT,BUT MY CAR TENDS TO THROW A CHECK ENGINE,AND SOMETIMES RUNS A LITTLE RICH,IF YOU HAVE A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR+SOME TYPE OF CONTROLLER FOR THE a/F;IT CAN BE TUNED OUT>>>

 

Got rid of my wife. That freed up about 128lbs.

 

hehe good one...mine only frees up about 95lbs...maybe not worth it.

 

haha...that's a good one....
or drop the kids off at the whirly pool...saves about 1-3lbs

 

Carbon fiber arm.

 

Tighten up the throttle cable.

Better response time, and the factory always leaves a lot of slack in it .....

If you are in a cooler climate, or not too much humidity, you can remove the AC belt, but you can't take it off w/out unbolting one of the motor mounts, so just zip tie it off to something. See PS belt above for hp benefit, but with no negatives!

 

You can always just cut it off. The tensioner pulley for the AC just fell off my car one day, so I had to cut the AC belt to get it out without damaging the car.

 

How bout go on a DIET.... 10lbs a week and in 2 months = 80 lbs.

 

I only weigh 140 though so I cant diet...I guess some of you might say that's a JDM body type

 

yeah, this topic really hits home..ive spent alot of time doing all the little things that make a big difference..removing the ac has been the biggest..especially because its up front and on the drivers side.

 

I mean, there's a limit to how much I can do, since my R is a leased daily driver. I prob. won't remove the AC even though I hardly use it. Disconnecting my power steering is a real possibility though. Glad to see you like my thread Gonzales