LS1 Powered S14 by SicBastard

4 minute(s) of a 390 minute read

So I broke down and bought it.

PipeMax36xp2

I think this is the first piece of software that I've paid for in a very long time!

Interestingly enough pipe max doesn't care what your intake runner length is either. Regarding the intake it only wants flows from tb to valve, valve sizes, and cam specs. Luckily I've got that! And then it spits out the lengths where the reflective valves would be optimal, given your flows and cam. 

So just like headerdesign.com the intake length is not a consideration in the calculation of the header dimensions. 

With my combo it suggests that

RV2=19.5"

RV3=13.6"

Presuming I'm just going to follow pipemax's instructions blindly for the header dimensions, the problem becomes avoiding the old garbage in garbage out. Once all of my inputs were entered I adjusted the VE until the "low horsepower" matched what I expect from the dynos I've seen of similar builds. That came out to about 112% VE (618-670hp). Then I noticed the calculate ve from head flows blurb. And following those instructions was given a VE of 125.8% (735-795hp)! I know these new LS7s are impressive pieces of engineering, but seriously? Which VE do I use?

Also, at 112% VE it reccomends the primaries be 1.75" to 1.88" & 28-31" long

While at 125.8% VE it reccomends 1.69" to 1.82" & 26-29" long

As the engine gets more efficient and moves more air it requires smaller primaries?

7/24/09

I've been hard at work installing replacing the link ecu in my s/c miata with an AEM EMS. I had to tap a bung in IC piping for a GM IAT, install a 3 bar map sensor, and wire in a GM knock sensor. I actually got it fired up yesterday, and played with the start up and idle settings. Purring like a kitten at 1000 rpm. Maybe I'll lower it a bit just so it sounds meaner. Today I'm going to install the smaller pulley for ~16 psi and maybe make a test pipe so I don't melt the cat as I'm figuring all this stuff out. I've bought a ton of tools. And havn't forgotton about the 240 though. It made me sad how little has been done this summer so I bolted on my valve covers and laid the LS7 intake ontop of my broke-ass LS1 just for a little inspiration. It's silly I know, but it keeps me goin.

I also cut up some big ass PVC to check for header clearances.

What was I worried about?

I can go 1 7/8" primaries and still have a full .25" clearance everywhere!

I under-estimated how much there is to this tuning thing with the AEM. The base map for the miata kinda sucks. I figured wire up the sensors, slap in the new tables, I understand AFR and timing, I'll be fine!? What about sensor lag time? Coil dwell time? Cam/crank sensor sync offsets and a million other little check boxes that can blow your shit up!? Plus the "instructions/help" merely define the basic pull down terms. No where does it tell you when to change them, why, or in what direction. I thought the link was bad with all of it's windows. There is Soooooo much that you can do with the AEM EMS this is going to be a steep learning curve. I better go buy some 110 octane.

Anyone in Long Island got EMS skills?