California Smog Legal Basic Mods?

4819 Views 32 Replies 19 Participants Last post by silversprint, 10 mo ago

mailr0425

Discussion Starter · Mar 12, 2012

So, just for curiosity's sake, I'm looking into what kind of basic(ish) bolt-on mods I can do to a 1zz to get a bit more pep in my step, while keeping it CARB compliant.

What I'm looking into is the Crower (sp?) Stage 1 cam, some kind of CAI, some kind of cat-back exhaust and potentially a CARB compliant (if there are any) header. Header isn't that important to me as I've already gutted my cat, but if a non-OEM header is essential for all my other requests, so be it.

What I want to know is what parts should I be looking for to keep my Mr. Two (as I like to call it) street and smog legal, and what kind of performance boost can I expect to gain?

Also, on a side note, anyone know where I can get a TRD lip kit?

All help is well appreciated and thanks for your involvement! B)

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

Cap Weir

· #2 · Mar 12, 2012

Bolt ons will get you Nowhere..

CAI's do not work on this Car.. As the Engine is in the Rear, and the Stock is best.. as the ECU is tuned for it..

The PPE Exhaust ( 4 to 1 ) is best.. Not Smog Legal.. so that is Out..

Turbo is the Only was to get anything more out of a 1ZZ.. but that is not legal in CA.. That is out..

You can go with a PIGGY, and get a little More Mid Range.. But the Piggy is not legal in CA, so the Install has to be GOOD, so it does not show..

2ZZ is the ONLY legal way to get more stuff out of your Spyder..

Cap

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mailr0425

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 12, 2012

I was thinking about dropping in a 6speed as well. I feel like this car was meant for a 6 speed and i'd love to have that final gear. So I guess the real answer is dropping in a 2zz and a 6 speed and call it a day? What about bolt ons for the 2zz? Worth a damn at all? Or not so much unless its boosted?

Cap Weir

· #4 · Mar 12, 2012

When you go 2ZZ, you Smog it with the Celica ECU.. then purchase a PFC and Dump a Bunch of Money into having it tuned.. they come right to life..

Cap

Rasheed

· #5 · Mar 12, 2012

I have bolt ons on the 2zz. From my personal experience, bolt ons don't add any whp because the stock ECU (Celica) doesn't make any adjustments to benefit from the modifications.

A tuned PFC with the right bolt ons make the 2zz come to life.

Rasheed

mailr0425

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 12, 2012

Excuse my ignorance... but what's a PFC?

2zzmr2

· #7 · Mar 12, 2012

mailr0425 said:
Excuse my ignorance... but what's a PFC?

http://apexi-usa.com/power-fc/

Rasheed

· #8 · Mar 12, 2012

A PFC is an aftermarket ECU that allows you to re-tune the engine for you desires.

It is not a plug and play system and tuning is a science therefore you would need to take the car to a tuner that is familiar with tuning the PFC on a 2zz.

Rasheed

mailr0425

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 12, 2012

Wow, sounds like I could get a good amount of power with that. How much is it to get tuned (roughly?). And how much WHP are we talking?

For instance, Rasheed, have you dyno'd your rig?

Curt

· #10 · Mar 12, 2012

Just a friendly suggestion to the OP, but start building up your base of knowledge (by reading - as guys will tire pretty quickly of answering a bunch of questions coming from someone who apparently hasn't invested any time at all learning about these cars), and secondly, start saving up some serious coin. I can't think of anything that will significantly increase the Spyder's performance that comes cheap - and when you eventually sell your car, don't expect to get more than about 15¢ on the dollar for what you've "invested!"

OldMan

· #11 · Mar 12, 2012 (Edited)

Post Deleted

mailr0425

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 12, 2012

I'm not looking into this as a lucrative investment, I know I'm losing money if I WANT to sell my car. All I was looking for is what's available for my car and what are my options. If I hadn't asked questions like this in the past I wouldn't have gutted my precats and would probably have blown my engine in the future. I'll open threads and ask questions if I can't get a direct answer through a search or if I don't understand acronyms like "PFC". I'm not a car guy - but I'm learning and want to be.

As for now, thanks for answering my questions and I think I'm going to throw the engine mods out the window and either go with a Corolla 5th or a 6 speed. I'll do my research.

dblazer

· #13 · Mar 12, 2012

Look at the 6 speed with the higher numerical final drive, I think it's a 4.59 vs a 4.29 stock. That'll give you more on the low end (first four gears) and a little less on the top end (top two gears).

If I had it all to do over, that's what I'd do. And a 2ZZ with the stock ECU won't be very torquey without the P/FC tune, and the P/FC is illegal in California too, you'd have to swap it out for the stock one every time you needed to go to the smog station.

DDPR

· #14 · Mar 12, 2012

Cap Weir said:
When you go 2ZZ, you Smog it with the Celica ECU.. then purchase a PFC and Dump a Bunch of Money into having it tuned.. they come right to life..

Cap

Truth.

This is the dyno plot for a Celica we just tuned. Mind you we also installed an intake manifold which accounts for part of the gains, but that manifold would have made 12 HP at most on the stock ECU and instead we got 22 and tons of torque everywhere:

http://www.ddperformanceresearch.com/images-bc/Dyno%20Files/L_Johnson/L_Johnson%20First%20run%20and%20Final%20run%20comparison.jpg

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Rasheed

· #15 · Mar 12, 2012

The most I have ever seen was 196whp but many people tend to get between 180 to 190whp with intake, header and exhaust. DDPerformance intake manifold will yield more power as it was shown in the Celicas.

I unfortunately haven't dynoed my car.

Rasheed

rortizo

· #16 · Mar 12, 2012

my unichip passes cali smog nice little hp boost but with gas at almost 5 bucks i reverted to stock so i can run 87 octane maybe when newt opens up his 250 a gallon gas station i can put my unichip back in service lol happy motoring :lol:

Drew1

· #17 · Mar 13, 2012

If your anywhere near Los Angeles and get a PowerFC, churchtuning does flate rate tunes on PowerFc and greddy Emanage

tmhuud

· #18 · Mar 13, 2012

I thought church didn't anymore.

2zzmr2

· #19 · Mar 25, 2012 (Edited)

mailr0425 said:
Wow, sounds like I could get a good amount of power with that. How much is it to get tuned (roughly?). And how much WHP are we talking?

For instance, Rasheed, have you dyno'd your rig?

http://home.earthlink.net/~spchurch/id1.html

<object width="606" height="455" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1009823006086" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1009823006086" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="606" height="455"></embed></object>

2zzmr2

· #20 · Mar 25, 2012 (Edited)

http://www.aqmotorsports.com/racing/?page_id=11
Tuned my friends Evo and 240sx back when it was Harmon motive..

http://www.racelineusa.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/raceline-usa-temple-city
Run by Elton Lo he said tuning the power fc would be easy..

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