I can officially say that for my app at least, putting on a IM and TB before cams did NOT lose as much power as anyone told me it would, but it did lose some in some reas but gained more in other areas., looking at the results though I think my #s would have been nothing but gains with some better/bigger cams(maybe '00 type Rs or the buddy club 3+s) and a better header.
Here's what I added to my motor with only other mods being i/h/e and a tuneup:
AEBS IM(ported runners)
AEBS 68->70mm TB
RC310cc injectors
tuned on cromepro by chris @ whitfield racing (on a dynojet)

My #s this time were 157 & 110peak gains of 3 and 1.(Keep in mind these #s were on stock cams!

I can't scan in the sheets(due to my printer and camera being in a box somewhere) but here's a break down of the #s
RPM: old #s - new #s....#'s read->hp/tq (outcome of old - new)
3500:65/97 - 65/95(-2 for tq)
4000:70/95 - 72/95(+2hp)
4500:90/105 - 82/95 (-8hp& -10tq)
5000:99/102 - 103/107(+4hp & +5tq)
5500:115/109 -110/99 (-5hp -11tq)
6000:125/109 - 125/108 (-2tq)
6500:130/109 - 133/107 (+3hp & -2 tq)
7000:145/105 - 140/105 (-5 hp)
7500:155/109 - 148/110 (-7hp +1tq)
8000:150/100 - 158/105 (+7 hp & +5 tq)
8500:N/A - 155/100
overall I think it would have been smarter to get cams first like several people mentioned but meh...the results are ok, I was honestly expecting worse because quite a few people said I'd lose about 15-20hp until all the way up to 6000.

 

Yeah, I would have totally spent that money elsewhere. I'd be dissapointed but thats just me.

 

it will help more once you get better cams.

 

what is the set-up?

 

full setup is jdm b16a ('92 2nd gen)
injen 3"CAI
AEBS TB
AEBS IM(Ported runnners)
RC 310s
magnecore wires
denso plugs
DC 4-1 stainless header (dented to **** )
2.5" custom mandrel exhaust
Exedy clutch and flywheel

still not sure what cams I'll end up getting, I'm thinking about the later ITR/CTR cams or the buddy clubs