Here is a big post response...
hey fellas!
mythical:
- first time being here and good being here! was surfn the 'net and found another legend pad. when i had more free time i used to post/look over at legend.org but that was a while ago.
-car is in TX and im in FL for the summer, so pics and dyno's wont be available until i get back to school and finish some work. [gotta install a new passenger door, couple smaller things]. i wouldnt anticipate huge gains over stock though, cause i only have a few HP mod add-ons [exhaust, fuel-regulator, intake. there is a nice difference though
ricdog and C25A:
-the hood was bought through Elite performance out of Carmichael California which in turn had them made by either ViS racing or I M Racing. The problem is Elite is out of business and I dont have the exact info on hand. Please dont quote me on the actual maker as definitive. BUT, the hoods were actually ordered as a set of 5 to lower the price, and I was the 4th guy to put his money down.
probably the most useful info i can give you is:
- that the hood cost 399.00 each with the discount, not including the pins and not including matching paint.
- my hood uses pins, not the OEM hinges and points
- most carbon fiber hoods weigh between 9-14 pounds depending on the technique used to make 'em.
- fiberglass can be had for about 100.00 less...at least for the integra as ive seen 'em around.
- you can spend up to 899.00 for the hood as ive seen some ridiculous price quotes. most shops WILL custom make the thing for you if you have the money. it can be done and you shouldnt have to pay more than 499.99
-- my hood weighs about 11 pounds
LegendHI:
1st:
-I had the rotors and new pads put on all fours at the same time at a local shop [a friend works there; but this can be done by anyone with time and tools]
-My breaking power wasnt immediately improved because my rear calipers where essentially frozen with rust and we were hoping they'd loosen up a bit. they didnt. put new calipers on rear..
-The car stopped very well, much improved but the pedal felt a bit spongy still
-had the SS lines put on [these need to be bent/clamped by a shop so they can fit] and the sponge was GONE.
-result, improved stopping power, hardly any fading [takes a crap load of stop and go to make these puppies fade] and no squeel. The pedal feels solid and I think that alone was worth it. just that solid feel on the pedal makes everything...nice. my old lines did have quite a bit of flex.
2nd:
- those 225's were put on the stock rims and if my car slides now when i corner, its NOT my tires fault. those things are awesome. I really paid attention to tire wear and gas increase and i'd say my gas increase was minimal. very minimal. fact is, in most cases more tire on asphalt = more friction = more gas consumption. but that is probably more pronounced with 245's and up.
- Tire wear was very even and of course, fast because I use a softer rubber. the fronts wear out about 20 % faster than my rear, but thats because even my 225's spin if I dont watch my rpm/gear
. tire wear is also prone to so many other things like driving style as mentioned, as well as balancing of tire, air pressure, your rods/steering/springs/bearings.
- I use Fulda Extremo's, btw
- i planned things out this waywith stock rims because i couldnt afford new/larger rims. if i was going to move up to 17's or 18's then I would have gone ALL the way to 18's so that I could slap HUGE rotors/calipers on the car but that would have been another custom job and even more cash...i was too impatient to save the dough for rims/custom brakes and my OEM brakes were shot anyways and I didnt have a lot of time....I needed working brakes. a friend is actually going to put 17's on his car with huge rotors/4piston calipers so im eager to check that out.
3rd:
-My cat back stainless exhaust without a doubt adds top speed and only minimal losses in low end. I didnt go with a huge pipe width but it was a bit larger than stock. I make up for the low end with my intake and HPF regulator. I am very much into a "stock" look and sound but that SS piping sure is pretty. I optioned for a low-tone muffler because I dont like the sound of that 'zippy' rice rocket that most of my friends enjoy. I really cant compare the sound to anything off the top of my head...buts its smooth and NICE, sophisticated even but with the slightest bit of warning. I dont notice a 'loud' sound as you mentioned, but thats because I had sound deadening material put into the car for that reason. I wanted that luxury ride of...quiet. Again, the muffler itself puts out a great sound but not loud.
4th:
-My intake was the first thing I put on the car and the impact was immediate. engines love cold dense air and plenty of it. the only problem, is you gotta keep that filter squeaky clean or you will suffer. I opted for the bigger filter and htat was a pain in the @ss to make room for. I cant give you a specific HP increase but its definitely NOT 15hp or whatever most intakes claim. that and those things can only cool the air so much as most intakes that are simple bolt ons take engine air from the compartment, or ambient heat/air. Some newer intakes have come out that 'protects' the air entering your intake from heating up even more by supposedly using material that releases heat but blocks it from entering the pipe....right. At least it sounds nice. Most of my days in Texas are friggn hot [90's] but when it drops down to 70's or below....that engine loves it. that is to say, the colder the air the more that intake works.
My only wish is that I could have Dino'd the car after each HP addition. It would have been cool to compare mod by mod HP gains. Alas, I will just have to accept the results with all of them together.
