How to Check for Engine Mods?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
How to Check for Engine Mods?
This might sound like a strange request, but hear me out 
The car was purchased from a gentleman who installed a Callaway Honker intake and Corsa Indy Pace Car exhaust. Now from what I have read, the intake nets around 16hp and the exhaust around 10hp for a total of 26hp. Add that to the stock 350hp puts this car around 375 give or take. The guy said that he had it dynoed at 420hp. My question is, what could account for the extra 45-50hp he claimed? I know things like headers, cams, throttle body, intake manifolds, etc can help add up to some big gains, but realistically I doubt he did all of that. What should I look for under the hood to see what has been added that would account for this? I'm going to bring it to the dyno myself fairly soon, but in the meantime I'd like to take a peak and see what I can find - just not sure exactly where to look and what I should be keeping an eye out for. I'm familiar with intakes, exhaust, suspensions and the like (installed myself a few times, easy stuff) but have never been a true "mechanic" working on the internals, so this is fairly new to me.
Thanks for any help!
Sal
The car was purchased from a gentleman who installed a Callaway Honker intake and Corsa Indy Pace Car exhaust. Now from what I have read, the intake nets around 16hp and the exhaust around 10hp for a total of 26hp. Add that to the stock 350hp puts this car around 375 give or take. The guy said that he had it dynoed at 420hp. My question is, what could account for the extra 45-50hp he claimed? I know things like headers, cams, throttle body, intake manifolds, etc can help add up to some big gains, but realistically I doubt he did all of that. What should I look for under the hood to see what has been added that would account for this? I'm going to bring it to the dyno myself fairly soon, but in the meantime I'd like to take a peak and see what I can find - just not sure exactly where to look and what I should be keeping an eye out for. I'm familiar with intakes, exhaust, suspensions and the like (installed myself a few times, easy stuff) but have never been a true "mechanic" working on the internals, so this is fairly new to me. Thanks for any help!
Sal
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
Yeah I didn't put a lot of stock in the numbers, and bought the car based on its condition and the options. However, I thought realistically he might have done the throttle body and maybe something else on a smaller scale than cams or headers.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,564
Likes: 1,207
From: Dyer, IN
This might sound like a strange request, but hear me out The car was purchased from a gentleman who installed a Callaway Honker intake and Corsa Indy Pace Car exhaust. Now from what I have read, the intake nets around 16hp and the exhaust around 10hp for a total of 26hp. Add that to the stock 350hp puts this car around 375 give or take. The guy said that he had it dynoed at 420hp. My question is, what could account for the extra 45-50hp he claimed? I know things like headers, cams, throttle body, intake manifolds, etc can help add up to some big gains, but realistically I doubt he did all of that. What should I look for under the hood to see what has been added that would account for this? I'm going to bring it to the dyno myself fairly soon, but in the meantime I'd like to take a peak and see what I can find - just not sure exactly where to look and what I should be keeping an eye out for. I'm familiar with intakes, exhaust, suspensions and the like (installed myself a few times, easy stuff) but have never been a true "mechanic" working on the internals, so this is fairly new to me.
Thanks for any help!
Sal
The car was purchased from a gentleman who installed a Callaway Honker intake and Corsa Indy Pace Car exhaust. Now from what I have read, the intake nets around 16hp and the exhaust around 10hp for a total of 26hp. Add that to the stock 350hp puts this car around 375 give or take. The guy said that he had it dynoed at 420hp. My question is, what could account for the extra 45-50hp he claimed? I know things like headers, cams, throttle body, intake manifolds, etc can help add up to some big gains, but realistically I doubt he did all of that. What should I look for under the hood to see what has been added that would account for this? I'm going to bring it to the dyno myself fairly soon, but in the meantime I'd like to take a peak and see what I can find - just not sure exactly where to look and what I should be keeping an eye out for. I'm familiar with intakes, exhaust, suspensions and the like (installed myself a few times, easy stuff) but have never been a true "mechanic" working on the internals, so this is fairly new to me. Thanks for any help!
Sal
Lot's of ways to check from a previously modded car, especially because soo many guys do average work, and cut corners returning a car to stock.
Look for RTV on surfaces, scar marks on bolts, loose/burnt wiring(because soo many forget to protect it when doing a header install). The list goes on, but you have to know what you are looking for.
If someone claims a RWHP, ALWAYS ask for receipts........and a dyno sheet.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
This might sound like a strange request, but hear me out The car was purchased from a gentleman who installed a Callaway Honker intake and Corsa Indy Pace Car exhaust. Now from what I have read, the intake nets around 16hp and the exhaust around 10hp for a total of 26hp. Add that to the stock 350hp puts this car around 375 give or take.
Sal
The car was purchased from a gentleman who installed a Callaway Honker intake and Corsa Indy Pace Car exhaust. Now from what I have read, the intake nets around 16hp and the exhaust around 10hp for a total of 26hp. Add that to the stock 350hp puts this car around 375 give or take. Sal
Not going to get to 375 with out a great tune and 100 octane fuel AND OPEN EXHAUST. Corsa Indy Pace car exhaust is for sound only, not performance.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
Interesting, I figured this exhaust wasn't for the best performance but more for sound. Thanks for the input, I'm definitely considering a tune given it's an automatic as well.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 887
Likes: 8
From: North Plainfield New Jersey
he may have been claiming 420 crank. But I agree with everyone else. Mods don't simply add to each other like that, and if he doesn't show any proof of those numbers, then I wouldn't trust them
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,939
Likes: 7
From: Simpsonville SC
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
I'd have to agree there.
