Hello everyone!

I have a few n00b questions for the community, if anyone can help me out.

The basic overall question is, where are the power losses in my stock D17A2 taking place, and how to I minimize power losses while minimizing cost?

1) As the motor is currently NA, I understand volumetric efficiency of both the intake and exhaust systems is paramount. I assume I should replace the most restrictive components first. So concerning intake/exhaust aspiration, how to the various components rank? I assume the way to see less restriction to flow would be a lower differential pressure across the system or part in question. Anyone have any empirical experience with this sort of thing?

3) To make more NA power, I understand I will have to raise compression. Before I do anything, what parameters of engine operation should I actively monitor in order to see problems before they destroy my motor? Here's the list of what I think I should monitor, feel free to add to the list:

Telemetry ill be viewing thru laptop:
a) Air / Fuel ratio
b) Knock events per cylinder over time
c) Current spark timing

Gauge-based telemetry:
a) Cylinder head temp - contact pyrometer
b) Engine coolant temperature - stock sensor
c) EGT - contact pyrometer
d) Differential pressure b/w intake manifold and atmospheric press.
e) Discharge pressure of engine oil pump
f) Engine oil temperature
g) Fuel pressure (at rail)

Once ive got my instrumentation installed, I'll feel a whole lot better about doing any tuning. Now, for compression...

I see three possible scenarios here...

1) Shorter height head gasket (If this is even possible)
2) Mill the head/block interface.
3) Mill the valves and valve seats? (this is the stock head, 30k miles...should still be sealing pretty well)
3) Change piston geometry? (Is this possible, or just a bad idea?)

Once I know its possible, then the question is, how much can I raise the ratio and still be able to find fuel for the car?

Lots of questions and ideas, absolutely no experience. This should be interesting.

 

btw...I dont have an ECU piggyback, so Im not sure how im going to hook up a laptop...who makes a good piggyback for telemetry and tuning?

 

Chrome, JUN, Hondata I know there are tons more that i'm forgetting...

Ok I didn't feel like reading your whole post but my advice to free up the d series would be do a b series swap but that's out of question...If you really want to get into honda tuning then I wouldn't dump too much money into this engine but if you want minimal upgrades for now then go with, Cold Air intake, Any kind of header, full catback exhaust and replace your cat. converter with a hi-flow one. Get some light wieght pulley's for your car, take out power steering unless you just can't drive without it, take out AC it draws HP and adds weight and really without taking your 300lbs system out of the trunk you're not gonna get much more performance out of it...upgrading the fuel system to compensate for the cold air is last thing you could really do at minimal cost.

 

as i said in your other thread, the d17 isnt the best platform for making power. you can do all the bolt on's in the world and still wont break 190whp. it's limited in it's displacement and sohc configuration. either boost it or do a k20a swap if you want some power.

all those guages you listed are rather useless unless you have a fully built engine.

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. Ill start looking into the K20a idea. Enjoy the holidays!