[johnbanks]

You already have a fuel pump and a pretty nice exhaust, even if the 3" brigade insist it is dimensionally challenged. I like the FQ360 maps - the VVT, ignition timing are nice and the fuelling is good for torque and a touch rich at the top, probably not losing much power but making it safe especially with a cat.

What I don't like is the boost control - it runs no fuel cut and open loop boost. A boost controller on the standard map or simply a remap of the boost control would virtually optimise it IMHO.

The stock airbox lid is a little restrictive, it is simple to improve like this even if some think it is aesthetically dodgy:

http://john824.fotopic.net/p37575200.html

Go to the next two pics. This still controls induction temps but almost halves the inlet restriction to almost the level of a good induction kit.

I reckon that if you bypassed the second boost solenoid and used a fixed restrictor the boost could be dramatically improved.

 

[johnbanks]

I got the car with Ecutek, Walbro, 3" Mongoose (original elbow), HKS EVC V.

I've remapped it with ECUflash, changed the airbox lid and fitted an AVC-R. It now performs far better. The induction noise is a little louder, but the HKS panel filter (from the dealer) makes more difference than the airbox lid mod to noise.

I started to get fed up with the noise, so for now I have the HKS catback on the car. Whilst there is a bore mismatch from 3-2.5-2.75" across the flange at the back of the cat the volume is more tolerable. It doesn't feel slower and holds the same boost, takes the same timing etc. However, I'm waiting for a 3" cat to retry with the original 3" Mongoose catback section. Another option is to flare up the HKS catback section to have a 3" flange.

I gather from other's testing that there is a very small difference between 2.5" and 3" for downpipe and cat at about the 400 BHP level. I would like to achieve good emissions/noise with 3" at least to the catback if possible though.

The 360 despite its expense is so good except the boost control and that would be very easy to improve either by ECU changes, boost controller or just playing intelligently with restrictors with a bit of datalogging to setup.

I don't think many of the pro-tuners will have seen just how good the mapping is on the 360 other than boost because they can't read the 360 map only overwrite it. I think some tuners will be overwriting it with inferior maps (except for boost).

 

[johnbanks]

It isn't terrible, it is just that I don't like loud cars. The resonators in it are shorter/smaller than the stock FQ system. It is noticeably louder than that, but not completely different if you see what I mean.

FQ system with bung in sounded ideal for most driving, although when thrashing the car you could mainly hear the roar of the engine from the front, and I think that non-Scooby 4 pots sound characterless, not a nice noise and it is restrictive. So I want an exhaust that is just loud enough to hear over the actual direct engine noise IYSWIM.