1996 hsv 185i. any good mods to get some more power?

[doublek]

hello everybody. i have a 1996 vs 185i senator. can anyone let me know if there any mods i can do to it to get some more power?

if anyone has these kinds of cars can you suggest which are good mods and the gains you get with them in terms of kw or rwkw?

Also, is it recommended that these be done. i know that the lsi engine loves the usual mods (kn filter, edit, muffler etc) but do the old aussie engines love them.

thanx a lot

[white_lie]

What sort of budget do you have in mind?
While the 5L still responds to basic mods, the results arent quite as good as the Gen3 IMO. You should always start with a good exhaust and a decent cold air intake. Does the 185i versions have some sort of CAI? You may also want to look at ditching the HSV headers and switch to Pacemakers.

After that, look at chaning the diff gears. 3.45 or 3.7:1 would get it jumping off the line a bit quicker. Also a stall and shift kit if its auto would make it a bit more fun to drive.

Then you've got internal work. You can do as little as a cam and retune for about $2K installed and get good results (210-220kW), or go a bit further and do some head work, cam and change the running gear in the top end, up the compression and have a decent 240-250kW at the flywheel. Budget about $4K depending on what you want done. The stock intake manifold will be at its limit at this point, so anything further will need this changed.
Then you've got the option of stroking it, bigger cam, head work, intake manifold etc and have over 300kW, but you're looking at around $12-15K at this stage.

Start with the easy things like diff gears, shift kit etc and then move on to engine work as there's no point having power and not being able to use it. I would say with diff gears and shift kit done you'll do a mid to high 14. With cam and retune on top of that, low 14 to high 13. Head work, bigger cam, higher compression etc, mid 13. And a good stroker should do a high 12 second pass.

[-HSV-]

i think the HSV 5lt's had a small CAI, but you can get bigger :)

[HSV SV93]

you could do what i am planning!!!

spend $20,000+ on the engine and have an absolute beast!!!!

i will be modifying the rest of the drive train as well in case you were wondering!!

hoping to have around 300rwKW+

but start with the basics if u want a little bit more bang for your buck.

CAI, K&N filter, good exhaust system, 3.45:1 diff gears and a tune and you should be making good power, if u want a bit more then start doing a cam and roller rocker work.

[doublek]

thanx for the replies. i will have a limited budget so i am after simple mods at this stage.

k& n filter, exhaust, tune, cai sounds good to me. does anyone know how much this would cost and the gains you would get with these relatively simple mods?

[-HSV-]

umm K&N filter about $100, CAI would be about $120, exhaust probabaly about 2-3grand including extractors and everything. porobabaly around a 40-50kw gain, maybe more :)

[HSV SV93]

umm K&N filter about $100, CAI would be about $120, exhaust probabaly about 2-3grand including extractors and everything. porobabaly around a 40-50kw gain, maybe more :)

2-3 GRAND!!!!!

where did u get that quote!!!, is it gold plated.

i got quoted $1800 from sureflow for a duel 2.5 inch twin cat system with pacemakers!!!. i didnt get it cos i didnt have the $$$

i got a single 2.5" system running from my HSV headers into a single resonator and a single muffler. picked up 10rwKW (i got the dyno sheets to prove) and it sounds unreal!!! cost me $380.

CAI and filter will get you a MAX of 10rwKW if ur lucky you might get a bit more.

to get more power on top of that u are going to have to get a cam, chip and tune. which will cost you a bit over $2000

[-HSV-]

umm K&N filter about $100, CAI would be about $120, exhaust probabaly about 2-3grand including extractors and everything. porobabaly around a 40-50kw gain, maybe more :)

2-3 GRAND!!!!!

where did u get that quote!!!, is it gold plated.

i got quoted $1800 from sureflow for a duel 2.5 inch twin cat system with pacemakers!!!. i didnt get it cos i didnt have the $$$

i got a single 2.5" system running from my HSV headers into a single resonator and a single muffler. picked up 10rwKW (i got the dyno sheets to prove) and it sounds unreal!!! cost me $380.

CAI and filter will get you a MAX of 10rwKW if ur lucky you might get a bit more.

to get more power on top of that u are going to have to get a cam, chip and tune. which will cost you a bit over $2000 did your above quote of $1800 include labor? the cost i gave was the total it would cost to get it fitted, drive away.

[white_lie]

A good mild steel, mandrel twin system with pacemakers should come in under $2K. For stainless, budget closer to $3K.

[HSV SV93]

yep labour included

i know someone that can do a full stainless 2.5 duel system with pacies for a LS1 for a bit over 2 grand.

shop around and u can find a place that is willing to charge less but still do a mad quality job.

mechanics want the work, if it means dropping the price a little to beat someone else they will do it as long as they arent losing out.

alot of the really big exhaust companies will be able to do it cheaper cos they git bulk discounts.

[doublek]

thanx for the replies.

i might do some work to it but as usual money is a key factor. the simple mods sound good to me. if i can get 40- 50kw out of about $2000.00 that would be good.

one more question, does a 20rwkw gain make much of a difference, can you clearly feel more power when driving or is it more a slight change?

[HSV SV93]

oh yeah.

20rwKW is definitely felt!!!

[HSV GOD]

umm K&N filter about $100, CAI would be about $120, exhaust probabaly about 2-3grand including extractors and everything. porobabaly around a 40-50kw gain, maybe more :)

40-50KW's :shock:

Im thinking k&n filter 1-2kw increase
cai 4-5kw
exhaust 15kw

that equal's about say ''positively speaking'' 24kw increase at the most


see the thing that every body forget's is that when you modify a hsv engine they go by the hsv power instead of the base model engine power :idea:

[mikegts]

If your still Interested there's a 383 stroker crank and rods for sale In the Online Classifieds section, just something to take a look at

[Hades8]

thanx for the replies. i will have a limited budget so i am after simple mods at this stage.

k& n filter, exhaust, tune, cai sounds good to me. does anyone know how much this would cost and the gains you would get with these relatively simple mods?

K&N 120$. A full redback exhaust $1500. Tune pwrchip $890 chk the website google it. The chip should give you another 8-10kw at flywheel. SS cold induction kit cost around $300 of the shelf autobarn takes 30mins to install yourself promises 10-12kw gain. I have only done the first two mods on my SV100 never had it dyno a dyno test not a tune will cost you $50 to see what power your car is making at the wheels and flywheel.

[LS3 050]

Hey there Hades8, your pullin up some very old threads here Buddy this and the Cruz mods post are both 5 years old ;)

[rodders188]

Hey there Hades8, your pullin up some very old threads here Buddy this and the Cruz mods post are both 5 years old ;)

haha maybe hes just turned 18