[quattrosaint]

Originally Posted by Fully_Bolted

Im sure you mean his FLYWHEEL HP is the same as your WHEEL Horsepower, right?

no, I'm likely around 420ish at the flywheel. You figure 385 to 395 with a tune and an extra 25 to 35 with my bolt-ons

[SIKH335]

Originally Posted by jippii ensio

Its not so bad...someone did it alteady
Actually someone getting a big single should do similar head porting perhaps even upgrading all the valves. It could be worth 100whp for a ST.

I was actually looking into doing the ported head on my car and Vac quoted a 30-35 hour book time to swap their ported head into my car. Not really a personal issue, as it pertains to everyone thinking of this mod. If PTF has some info they could share with us all on the time it should take a shop to pull the factory head and install the VAC stage 3 head which lists on their site for $2599 that would be nice.

[CaptainInsano]

Originally Posted by SIKH335

I was actually looking into doing the ported head on my car and Vac quoted a 30-35 hour book time to swap their ported head into my car. Not really a personal issue, as it pertains to everyone thinking of this mod. If PTF has some info they could share with us all on the time it should take a shop to pull the factory head and install the VAC stage 3 head which lists on their site for $2599 that would be nice.

Dzenno said the head work is around $4K

[SIKH335]

Originally Posted by CaptainInsano

Dzenno said the head work is around $4K

Wow that is cheap relatively speaking.

[bigdnno98]

Yeah but his is mostly stock. He only has custom valves and guides. A true port/polish with head studs, valve springs, etc is the way to go. If vac offers this for $2500+labor that's a pretty good deal.

[SIKH335]

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

Yeah but his is mostly stock. He only has custom valves and guides. A true port/polish with head studs, valve springs, etc is the way to go. If vac offers this for $2500+labor that's a pretty good deal.

The labor is the big question, how many hours should the R&R take.

[bigdnno98]

Even if the labor is 30 hours x $80/hr it's still worth it.

[Eric335]

Loving this thread. Head work seems to be relatively cheap if Bigdnno98 is accurate. I wonder how the upcoming Vargas Stage 1 and 2 twins will compete with RBs.

As i see it, RBs are in between Stage 1 and Stage 2 Vargas turbos. Then again, im basing this off of my hopes, rather than concrete dynos. Ideas?

[bigdnno98]

Originally Posted by Eric335

Loving this thread. Head work seems to be relatively cheap if Bigdnno98 is accurate. I wonder how the upcoming Vargas Stage 1 and 2 twins will compete with RBs.

As i see it, RBs are in between Stage 1 and Stage 2 Vargas turbos. Then again, im basing this off of my hopes, rather than concrete dynos. Ideas?

I think the compressor wheel and turbine are the same size on RBs and Vargas stage 2s. They should produce similar results.

I don't know if I'd call $5k for head work cheap but when you're looking to squeeze every HP out of the motor it could be worse.

[Eric335]

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

I think the compressor wheel and turbine are the same size on RBs and Vargas stage 2s. They should produce similar results.

I don't know if I'd call $5k for head work cheap but when you're looking to squeeze every HP out of the motor it could be worse.

Thanks for the info. Once your FBO+Upgraded turbos (RB, Vargas, Vishnu), what is the next step to gaining power? Improving fuel system? Bigger bore? Cams?

Ive yet to see many internal modifications taking place with the N54, it all seems to be turbos and supporting mods. This is probably the first major internal improvement ive seen, although i only spend my time on E90Post. Maybe ill check out N54Tech...

[Rob@RBTurbo]

You may want request specific turbine specs. It definitely is not the same and is most likely smaller as the RB is too big to use with the OEM centersection and without extensive turbine housing modifications (also as performed by ASR and TD2). Best bet is to wait to see them actually perform in the real world before placing on top of any other.

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

I think the compressor wheel and turbine are the same size on RBs and Vargas stage 2s. They should produce similar results.

I don't know if I'd call $5k for head work cheap but when you're looking to squeeze every HP out of the motor it could be worse.

[jippii ensio]

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

I think the compressor wheel and turbine are the same size on RBs and Vargas stage 2s. They should produce similar results.

You think? What are the exact specs of Vargas wheels? I think you are wrong.

[jippii ensio]

Originally Posted by Eric335

Thanks for the info. Once your FBO+Upgraded turbos (RB, Vargas, Vishnu), what is the next step to gaining power? Improving fuel system? Bigger bore? Cams?

Ive yet to see many internal modifications taking place with the N54, it all seems to be turbos and supporting mods. This is probably the first major internal improvement ive seen, although i only spend my time on E90Post. Maybe ill check out N54Tech...

Pistons, rods, cams, intake manifold...

[bigdnno98]

Originally Posted by RobBeck

You may want request specific turbine specs. It definitely is not the same and is most likely smaller as the RB is too big to use with the OEM centersection and without extensive turbine housing modifications (also as performed by ASR and TD2). Best bet is to wait to see them actually perform in the real world before placing on top of any other.

Rob I think I have the data at work. Ill take a look.

[bigdnno98]

Originally Posted by jippii ensio

Pistons, rods, cams, intake manifold...

No one makes any of these upgrades for the n54 yet. Head work would be next step.

[jippii ensio]

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

Yeah but his is mostly stock. He only has custom valves and guides. A true port/polish with head studs, valve springs, etc is the way to go. If vac offers this for $2500+labor that's a pretty good deal.

This head PTF is using flows a lot more than stock. It is more than just port/polish. Looking at the figures, valve springs and head studs were not needed.

[turb0mik3]

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

No one makes any of these upgrades for the n54 yet. Head work would be next step.

I thought VAC made pistons and rods? You can choose your compression ratio as well.

[bigdnno98]

Originally Posted by RobBeck

You may want request specific turbine specs. It definitely is not the same and is most likely smaller as the RB is too big to use with the OEM centersection and without extensive turbine housing modifications (also as performed by ASR and TD2). Best bet is to wait to see them actually perform in the real world before placing on top of any other.

Rob, the compressor is 15T and turbine is a custom fullback TD04 turbine wheel. I was under the impression you're using a TD04 also.

[bigdnno98]

Originally Posted by turb0mike

I thought VAC made pistons and rods? You can choose your compression ratio as well.

Just took a look at VACs site. It says they have N54 pistons, I'm not sure anyone has ever used them though. I guess you could say they're an option, just not sure I would want to be first at it.

[bigdnno98]

Originally Posted by jippii ensio

This head PTF is using flows a lot more than stock. It is more than just port/polish. Looking at the figures, valve springs and head studs were not needed.

It's only ported and larger custom exhaust valves/seats.

[SRanch335i]

Originally Posted by Stucks

I think the problem here is that people are looking at a DYNO sheet and trying to pull performance numbers/speculation out of it. Over simplifying hurts.

Its a dyno sheet. Its got prob the most torque ever seen on an N54. Show kudos to ptf for DYNOing those numbers and move on. If people wanna complain about how the powerband won't make the car fast, ect, then wait until he posts up a thread about vbox numbers or dragstrip numbers. Maybe the car will fall flat on its face? Maybe the car will be so fast it will travel back in time at 88mph? Until then, stop nitpicking this. Over and out.

+10000...

[benzy89]

Originally Posted by turb0mike

I thought VAC made pistons and rods? You can choose your compression ratio as well.

VAC's an Carillo Connecting Rod/CP Piston dealer, so it's only natural they'd have those upgraded parts. They also have upgraded N54 cylinder heads in 3 different stages. Outside of Dzenno's upgraded cylinder head, I don't think anyone (on the forums) has cracked open & built up the N54 motor.

I think it's fairly obvious that at this point (since tremendous gains are still being made), that we still haven't hit the max capabilities of a stock built/compression N54