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How do you increase throttle response?

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Old October-29th-2002, 09:58 AM
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Question How do you increase throttle response?

Is there anyway to increase throttle reponse on my MP3 without going to nitrous......i already know about intake and replacing the spark plug wires......?
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Old October-29th-2002, 12:42 PM
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Tighten the throttle cable?
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Old October-29th-2002, 01:32 PM
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whoops...i meant turbo....not nitrous
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Old October-29th-2002, 03:42 PM
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Anything that helps the engine breath or lowers rotational mass would improve throttle response... less restrictive intake, less restrictive exhaust, underdrive pulley, lightweight flywheel, etc. If you are referring to the engine under load, then all of the above applies plus lower vehicle weight, tires at maximum pressure, lightweight wheels, thinner tires, etc. A lot of it is going to be a tradeoff with stability and cornering.
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Old October-29th-2002, 05:25 PM
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yeah, i want to feel the torque when i slam on the gas...i just feel its alot slower than it can be. I own a MP3. Also, i didn't realize that a turbo would actually hinder the throttle response(according to your definition)

I've never had an intake on my car so I don't know how much of a difference it'll make. All I know is that with anything, I probably won't notice the amount of throttle response i'm looking for....Damn V4 engines
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Old October-29th-2002, 05:40 PM
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Originally posted by soma
yeah, i want to feel the torque when i slam on the gas...i just feel its alot slower than it can be. I own a MP3. Also, i didn't realize that a turbo would actually hinder the throttle response(according to your definition)

I've never had an intake on my car so I don't know how much of a difference it'll make. All I know is that with anything, I probably won't notice the amount of throttle response i'm looking for....Damn V4 engines
Ok, what you are looking for is more power, specifically torque. Throttle response is how quickly an engine responds to a throttle increase and how quickly the drivetrain can respond to the increase. A good example to use for this is the Miata. The '90-'93 Miata's had a slower throttle response (relative to the '94+) because when you stepped on the throttle, the engine had to breathe and then get everything moving quicker. This resulted in the engine/transmission torquing (rotating to one side), the driveshaft twisting, the rear differential torquing, and then power finally made it to the rear wheels. Each time something torqued or twisted, power was lost and throttle response was decreased. In '94, Mazda installed the powerplant frame (PPF), which is a ladder-type structural frame that attached to the engine/transmission and rear differential. With the PPF, the drivetrain torqued as one piece, significantly improving throttle response.

For you, you may want to look into a turbo. That is going to be the only way to get the power gains you want without doing some major internal work. BTW... we don't have V4's, we have I4's... V4's are only found on some exotic motorcycles or in half of a VW W8.
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Old October-29th-2002, 06:01 PM
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just wanted to add my 2 cents.

first i WOULD NOT even dare put under drive pulleys on my or any one else car. to much to explain but after a while it can cuz fatal engine damage.

Second i think what our friend is trying to say is that he wants more power at lower RMPS. when he say throttle response, he mean that he press the gas and the car just takes off. which i am think he means more HP and Torque at lower RPMS.

also don't want to be an ******* or any thing like that but is't not a V4. It is a I4 or inline 4 cylinder. there is no such thing as a V4 (at least i don't think so). I'm just pointing this out, once again not to be an *******, but to inform you of this b/c if you told any one you have a V4 they will think your a totaly f'ing moron and i wouldn't want that. Just giving you a head ups so you don't like dumb infront of other people.


later

Last edited by saided18; October-29th-2002 at 08:20 PM.
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Old October-29th-2002, 06:39 PM
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exactly, low end torque.....thats what i need more of....thanks for all your input guys....and about the V4 thing, i'm Canadian eh?
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Old October-29th-2002, 11:57 PM
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Volvo made a V4 back in the late 60's I think too.

S/C's are much better for instant torque than a turbo. Watch it with exhausts as well. Some systems will give up lower end torque for higher end breathing and power, if that helps
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Old October-30th-2002, 09:28 AM
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Originally posted by jstand6

<snip>
A good example to use for this is the Miata. The '90-'93 Miata's had a slower throttle response (relative to the '94+) because when you stepped on the throttle, the engine had to breathe and then get everything moving quicker...<snip> In '94, Mazda installed the powerplant frame (PPF), which is a ladder-type structural frame that attached to the engine/transmission and rear differential. With the PPF, the drivetrain torqued as one piece, significantly improving throttle response.
I hate to nitpick, but every Miata ever built has a PPF. Here's an online version of the 1990 Miata brochure:

http://www-cse.ucsd.edu/users/paloma.../miata_90.html

I think you may be confusing it with the front and rear subframe braces that WERE added in 94, which benefit handling but don't affect throttle response. The reason 90-93 Miatas have more sluggish throttle response than a 94+ is the 1.6L engine's lack of anything resembling low-end torque.

Also, V-4 engines have been used in cars... Ford built a V-4 in Europe during the late 60's and early 70's. This engine found its way to North America under the hood of the Saab 95, 96, 98 and Sonnet II.
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Old October-30th-2002, 01:59 PM
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V4 are still found in volkswagen bugs built in mexico until final production in late 2001 early 02.
 
Old October-30th-2002, 03:11 PM
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How did we get so off topic....bring back the question about throttle reponse....geez, you make one mistake calling an engine a V4 and the whole world is after you
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Old October-30th-2002, 04:48 PM
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That is pretty much it. Everything listed is what you need to worry about for better throttle response. There is problably a slurry of internal mods you can do to increase response, but how about you get a lighter flywheel and see how that works first.
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Old October-30th-2002, 05:29 PM
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How much cash would that run me? I live in Canada so the price would probably be double the american value....also, labour is $72.00 an hour. But how hard could it be to change a flywheel
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