Thread: L32 KR Help

Sorry about the long read...just trying to be specific so I can get the best advice.

So, I have an '04 Comp G that I recently bought and started modding. I'm not looking to set any records, but I want a daily driver with enough power to whoop ass on all these Hondas with their big fart mufflers and carbon fiber hoods that makes them SOOOO FAST!

Here's my setup now (listed in the order installed):

-Original L32, Gen V with nearly 150,000 miles, but babied until I owned it (meticulously maintained before and after I bought it)
-Original 4T65E-HD with the Comp G 3.29 ratio
-Aeroforce to give me a little insight
-Wizaired FWI
-180 stat
-Autolite 104's
-Taylor-based PRJ 10.5 plug wires (stock coil packs)
-ZZP Plog
-Intense MPS with stock size 3.8" pulley (keep reading)
-New water pump and coolant elbows (not really a mod, but I thought I'd throw that in)
-I have NEVER run less than premium fuel since I've owned it (91 octane is the best I can get here regularly. Again, keep reading)

Soon to be installed mods:

-3" downpipe with Magnaflow cat (already purchased & ready to install)
-Custom (local shop) exhaust - resonator delete, 3" pipe until Y, 2.5" each side after. High flow mufflers...not too loud (advice appreciated).
-3.6" pulley (already purchased & ready to install)
-1.9 rockers
-PCM tune



Here's my issue:

I bought and installed the Aeroforce and Wizaired at the same time, so I have no baseline scan to determine what my KR was BEFORE the Wizaired. After that first mod (Wizaired), I was running pretty good in normal driving conditions, but I had a moderate amount of KR on steep hills and under moderate load (40-70% throttle - 4-6* KR) at full op. temp (180-190). If I mashed the pedal, the KR actually reduced slightly (3-5* KR at WOT even up hill). No big deal....it'll get better when I install the plugs, wires and Plog this weekend, I thought. It has, but I'm still getting KR at higher RPM at WOT. When I mash the pedal off the line, I'm showing 0 KR all the way up to about 4000 RPM, then it starts retarding. Worst I've seen so far is 2.8* KR shortly before the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts at WOT. I have not driven it at freeway speeds up the steep hill on my way to work (where I was seeing the most KR previously) since the most recent mods (Plog, plugs and wires). Maybe I'm being a little too anal, but my goal is absolute zero KR . In my opinion, ANY retard at wot ALMOST COMPLETELY negates any performance enhancing mods done. Is that too much to ask? I know the DP and exhaust will probably help KR, but what about the PCM tune? My understanding is that a good bit of the power gained from a PCM tune is due to the fact that you can potentially run more timing advance, though I understand there are many more variables involved. I bought the MPS 3.8" pulley so I could run safely in the winter even if the temp falls below zero. I hate to even attempt the 3.6" pulley when I'm getting KR at high RPM on my current setup. Conversely, it would really piss in my Cheerios if I do and have done all these mods just to find out I can't run a smaller pulley.

Supporting info:

I live and work in and near Albuquerque, New Mexico. I know most of you are going to think that's great because it's the desert Southwest and I should have fairly high temps year-round, but that's not the case. The altitude here averages about 5,800 feet (yes, higher than the mile-high city), and temps in the summer average around 90 or so....temps in the winter average around 35 or so. Last year we had about a week in the minus 20 range, but that's rare. Hills and mountains are a regular occurance, and altitudes on a fun Sunday drive can be up to 10,000 ft. I would love to be able to do the PCM tune myself, but I have a huge moral conflict with buying a tuner, then having to buy credits/licenses for each car I tune (I have other OBD-II cars I would like to tune as well)...especially at $50. a pop and you need at least a few credits each car! I have a full set of used injectors out of a Comp G with 100,000 less miles.....should I install them & see what happens? Am I being too anal about KR? Should I do the rest of my mods and be happy with 2-3* of KR? What are your opinions on wideband O2 sensors and A/F ratio modifiers/controllers? Should I bite the bullet and buy an HP Tuner and pay the absorbitant amount for the extra credits if necessary? Are there any known PCM tuners/editors/programmers out there that DON'T charge extra for additional credits/licenses (i.e. other years/makes/models)? What about mufflers? I'm trying to keep this car looking and sounding fairly stock (at least at idle/stoplights). What's the best high-flow, fairly quiet mufflers for my application?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

-Ponch

A PCM tune for your car would be reducing the high timing those things come with from the factory down to something similar to what the 97-03 cars run, 15-18*.

How much timing do you see while this KR is taking place?

You could buy DHP if you wanted.

The HPT interface is nicer.

It also comes with 8 credits, enough for four standard vehicles.

Hello fellow new mexican. From what i have gathered the 04+ cars had an abundance of timing added to the factory tune. More than likely it just has too much timing i have heard that they were known to have an abundance of kr from factory as well. I would continue doing the basic mods ie down pipe, maybe cooler thermostat, plugs and see where that takes u

Originally Posted by matt5112

A PCM tune for your car would be reducing the high timing those things come with from the factory down to something similar to what the 97-03 cars run, 15-18*.

How much timing do you see while this KR is taking place?

You could buy DHP if you wanted.

The HPT interface is nicer.

It also comes with 8 credits, enough for four standard vehicles.

Timing is unknown.....I only have an older Aeroforce & it doesn't tell me that.

I understand DHP is no longer made. If I buy HPT, is it a VIN based program? If I tune once and decide to tune differently later on the same car, do I have to use more credits?

Hello fellow new mexican. From what i have gathered the 04+ cars had an abundance of timing added to the factory tune. More than likely it just has too much timing i have heard that they were known to have an abundance of kr from factory as well. I would continue doing the basic mods ie down pipe, maybe cooler thermostat, plugs and see where that takes u

Hello- Good to see someone close on here! 180 thermostat, plugs and wires already done. 3" down pipe and complete exhaust is next....probably within 2 weeks. I'm thinking 3" until "Y" (since the DP is already 3"), 2.5" each side from there back with Flowmaster 40's.

KR1 is the knock retard ang ignition advance or whatever is your timing info.

Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

Your aeroforce must have IGN ADV, look it up, that what we are calling "timing".

You might have to go into the options and select what parameters to display. It will be in there, and has to have a star beside it to be displayed.

Thanks for the info.....I bought the aero used & it didn't come with a manual. I know they have them in PDF format online, but I just haven't gotten around to reading up on it yet. I've only had it less than a week. Guess what website I'm going to now!

Then go to www.hptuners.com to find out how the licesning system works.