Welcome to Lucky, Tune My Ride #2!
Not Mark's car. Used for illustration only.
MVS Forum member Mark (awdsubaru) asks Lucky "I am going to the Ohio Mile, which is a 1 mile top speed shootout. What should I do to my Volvo to make her happy on the Ohio Mile?"
What do you have?
2001 V70 2.4t, Automatic, Stock, nothing upgraded.
How much do you have to spend?
$500-1000.
Where do you want to go with it?
Upgrades are for the track. Looking for top end speed to do a mile long hi speed shoot out. I do not drag the car.
Lucky's Answer
For top speed runs that have sustained load on the engine, heat can be a concern specifically with regard to charge temp. For LPT cars with the smaller TD04 turbos if you push the boost into 12-14psi for shorter periods the risk is pretty small however for long sustained top speed runs that level of turbo inefficiency at that boost pressure for that period of time could be a real issue. I'd start by seriously considering either an intercooler upgrade or perhaps water/meth injection. This will help combat the higher charge temps that might otherwise incur detonation and reduced performance.
Obviously to increase stock levels of horsepower tuning is likely on the list. Raising the top speed limiter and careful scrutiny of the timing map will be top priority. Higher octane fuel will be a wise choice as well (if available) as this will help ward off detonation and allow for a more aggressive timing profile that ultimately means higher HP and higher top speed.
Downpipe upgrade wouldn't hurt a bit but in effort to keep the budget in place and put the dollars where they would do the most good. I'd just consider a high flow cat from magnaflow or similar and have a local exhaust shop weld it in place. A high flow cat will be 1/5 the cost of an off the shelf downpipe and will provide the gains necessary to work with the higher exhaust flow. As for cat back, the factory unit is likely fine unless you are going with considerably larger turbo.
As for the turbo, a 16T should be able to be sourced pretty cost effectively with most salvage yards asking $200-$250 for these turbos. This will help create additional flow that will not only improve Hp but will do so in a more efficient way than the smaller stock turbo can at the same flow rates.
Dollars and cents
$545 ECU upgrade
$250 16T turbo
$225 High flow catalyst
Total $1020.00
Now go do it!
The above components represent a typical gain of 45-55bhp quite easily if you want to go to that level. This doesn't include intercooler or water/meth but you could substitute the turbo and catalyst if you prefer. That will be somewhat dependent on your area and climate so consider that into the equation!
Robert Lucky Arnold
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