Anybody chipped an N/A.

Is it worth it?

How much?

What sort of benefits do you get if do or even if you can?

From my own experience and those of friends, NA chips on any car have only a small benefit. Certainly less than is claimed by the suppliers.

 

Never known anyone have a custom mapped chip - that might be better if you've already got intake & exhaust and possibly some head work.

 

Insurers hate chips whether it's turbo or not. You would probably find you're better off buying a UK turbo and keeping it standard.

 

Dave

Dave's right

 

My insurer wanted one price for 10% extra and another for up to 20% extra power. On a TT this was £250 extra (20%) and I have no points, full ncb and am old enough to know better! So God help you if your in your 20's and want a chipped tt and pukka insurance. I'm thinking content yourself its got more than enough oomph as it is - a TT that is.

Willie

If you haven't already, replace the air-filter for a cone-type. It'll probably be cheap than a chip and I would have thought make more difference.

 

Also the important bit, A lot of insurance companies don't mind you upgrading the air filter, but they don't like chips - and if they do you'll get charged for it.

...and an underdrive pulley (don't forget the belts). The tt underdrive pulleys are different to the na ones - makes buying second hand in the UK difficult - in fact, anyone got one for sale?

 

cheerz

 

Jack

Excuse my ignorance, but whats an underdrive pulley and how does that improve performance/power.

And where is it or where would it go?

Underdrive pulley

This is one for the modder that has everything else and wants it in fetching anodised ally!

 

I think its a smaller diameter crank pulley so that it turns the water pump, alternator, power steering pump and aircon pump at slower revs than standard, the theory being that less energy is then transferred to those items at a given engine revs. Thing is most of the ancilliaries draw power as needed. So if they are rotating slower they just load the belt more.

 

So yes at high rpm there will be the saving of the power that those items otherwise could draw. Downside is that the altenator then cant always recharge the battery when your drawing big electric loads with your sub and amps and going slow, your aircon same and water cooling.

 

IMHO this is not a very worthwhile mod for a road car. At low rpm the losses fom the belts and pulleys will be no different and when alternator is not drawing power and aircon is off all thats left is the power steering and water pump draw. I'd rather she was getting proper cooling than have the water pump go slower to save a couple of unfeelable bhp (except in some peoples imagination).

 

Just chuck out your aircon and save weight too! I'm keeping mine!

 

Remember that the ecu turns off the aircon temporarily to save bhp at full throttle anyway.

 

I think a Feng Shui crystal in the glove box is as good and cheaper!

No offence Jack just my opinion

Willie

Hi Ray,

 

I also have an NA aswell as my TT.

There was a time when i wanted to have my NA chipped and when i done a lot of research......I ended up buying a TT !!!

 

ITS NOT WORTH MODDING AN NA MATE!

 

You can send your ECU to JWT in US and get it remapped for around $795+shipping to gain around 30BHP or locally by UNICHIP for £600+VAT for 25-35BHP (http://www.unichip.co.uk).

I think their site is under-construction at present.

 

I would personally get an after-market Induction, de-cat and an Exhaust and that's about it. It costs more than twice to mod an NA (compared to a TT) and the gain is less than half.

 

Hope this helps.

 

"AMMAR"

OK, thanks for that, I was just curious anyway.

I did not think it was really a viable option ( value for money wise)

Already have HKS ex.- no cat.

Happy with performance really, otherwise I would get TT, most cost effective i suppose, but not too trusting of turbos, too many horror stories out there.

Not just on here but friends with Saabs, 200's etc.

 

:D

Willie

 

...I hear what you say, but I thought it was mainly to do with rotating weight. The standard pulley is heavy so takes more energy to turn it. The lighter one uses less so the car accelerates quicker. Simple theory so appeals to my mind...

 

If I ever get/fit one I'll let you know if they are any good.

 

cheerz

 

Jack

Theres nothin to beat proof Jack.

 

However a pulley weighs nothing in comparison to the flywheel so I doubt the weight argument carries it for the underdrive pulley. The famous Stillen catalog claims something like 20bhp for an intake and 25bhp for a cat back exhaust and I think around 7-9 for an underdrive pulley - however they could, maybe, just possibly have an urge to exagerate a teensy wee bit to help sell stuff. No doubt the 7 - 9 is at 7200rpm as well and its all pro rata below it so 2bhp at 2000rpm or unfeelable!

 

While a lightweight flywheel must save power and inertia for rapid rpm acceleration there can be costs in rough idling and less smooth gearchanges. Same for the damping effect of a properly designed pulley - can damp vibration and harmonics in the crank as well.

I think your money is better spent on tyres or fuel.

cheerzz

Willie

you are most likly right... Removing the spare wheel and the jack etc (steel in an NA) will have a greater long-term effect on fuel economy and performance - and I've run without either since I got the car almost 3 years ago. I've also removed all the AIV stuff from under the arches too - but I'm always wary about talking about weight reduction in case the word mass incites more roiting.

 

...many thanks for your advice.

 

cheerz

 

Jack

Quote - in case the word mass incites more roiting.

 

Isnt it incredible how religion can cause riots!

 

I cant get over that 100+ are dead cos of the Miss World contest!

...I was thinking of Nelson when I mentioned mass - no religious pun intended (purely weight reduction) - but now you mention it, you have to ask who thought of holding miss world in Nigeria in the first place... I did some work recently for a telco consultant working in Nigeria and he had a few stories tell - doesn't sound like a safe place...

Sorry Jack,

I know - couldnt resist a diversion into other directions

...no problem - I could do with a diversion - highlight of the day's been the Tesco's pork pie for lunch...