Hey all, I'm a newbie to this whole sport compact tuning bit, and I know the LE5 is a pretty new engine, but I wanted to know what some of you think about the future of LE5 tuning is going to look like? I'm really interested in adding about 100hp to my '06 SS Coupe while maintaining its sleeper/mild-mannered city car facade.

More specifically, if a turbo/super bolt-on becomes available, what's going to need beefing up first - the connecting rods/camshafts etc., or the transmission (it's the 4-spd auto)?? I figure since this is the "2.4L Performance" thread, someone has to bring this up.

 

well a turbocharger is going to be available, but I dont know whrn, i guess some time after they relase the turbo solstic/sky. I think the potential is going to be as big as the original 2.2 ecotec, but sound a lot nicer. I love the exhaust tone of that engine (2.4). after you rev the engine the rpm's drop a bit and it just sounds awsome;IMO. I think all the standard stuff like short shifter, intake, exhaust, headers will all be available before next summer.
I dont know weather i would chose a super or turbo. but 280 hp/tq sounds insane!
good luck and keep us posted!

 

The exhaust tone is way sexy. Who knows what brand/style/setup of cat-back system will offer a similarly badass sound while boosting performance? I refuse to let my car sound like a rolling fart - what is it that makes that godawful lawnmower noise on ricers?

 

Cheap Pep-Boys mufflers. My silver SS has 18 axis 7 mod rims, eibach sportline springs and a custom apex n1 3" cat back exhaust! I think it sounds awesome.

 

I'd bet money on the tranny needing to be upgraded first.. I know on the cav's they are only good to about 255 ft/lbs before you'll cry all the way home.

 

I think the small engine combined with the free flowing exhaust makes it sound like that.

 

Sure couldn't do much boost with a stock compression ratio.

I'd like to see what the engine is capable of NA.

Hopefully exhaust, CAI and a header would be coming out soon.

 

Yeah my thoughts are currently centered around the idea of getting higher-strength lower compression ratio pistons (~9:1?) and using whatever supercharger comes out in the future. I was wondering, if you have a supercharger, is there any benefit to using a special intake? Maybe just one with a big fat opening would allow the charger to turn up more quickly? Or is the only benefit w/ CAI's etc. for a N/A engine?

BTW if anyone knows how to get 300hp out of this engine without a blower, I'm all about it... durability is my #1 concern since I don't have money to put back together a broken engine, and I'd like to be able to get to work every morning on time :P

BTW^2, tried to race an STi just for the hell of it, to see how bad I'd get spanked, but the guy wasn't going to bite. He was this asian guy with hiliariously huge anime-character hair. Made me smile.

 

300hp out of a 2.4L NA engine would be akin to a race car engine. Your talking about 125hp per litre! (although that would shut up all thise Honda boys who live by that stat! )

The most Powerful NA engines in production can't do that. the new Fearri F430 makes 112hp/litre.

A forced induction engine can make over 100hp litre alot easier.

I was thinking a 30-40hp boost using some bolts ons (maybe a cam as well)

But a lower comp ratio witha S/C would be the bestr way to go---it would preserve and increase low wnd torque.

 

with a 10.4:1 compression, you're looking at about 9lbs of boost max out of FI.

 

Yeah I didn't think it was possible but why not. Anybody thinking about NOS? Would a wet kit with only like a 50-shot and the appropriate controls be pretty safe?