Quick Fuel Question - Need answer ASAP

[Malogus]

I have a question that maybe you guys can help me out with. You seem a bit more knowledgable than most people on my other boards I post on.

When I got my MSD ignition, there were some rumors that 2 degrees retard actually gave more power, so I spent the money to dyno it, and low and behold 2 degrees retard gave about 3-4 more hp. At the time I was runing on 87 octane. Well I have an appointment with Rick tomorrow morning at 9am, and I am wondering the following before I go up there. If retarding my timing on 87 yielded higher hp numbers with 2 degrees retard, do you think I would see better number if I set the timing back to stock, and stepped up to 89 octane. Theoretically it makes some sense to me, just wanted to get some other opinions. I know its probably only a few hp, but at this point every little hp will help. Right now the highest N/A tib is putting out 209whp, and I have a good feeling I will be right around there, so 2-3 hp could put me over the top....

Here is a pic of my new intake manifold installed. I only did one coat of polish, just because I wanted it on my car before I go up to Dynocomp tomorrow. It probably needs 2-3 more passes on the polishing wheel to look nice and purdy.

http://68.106.243.81:1751/Stuff/engine.jpg

[Bphilly]

Looks good.
If you are going for just power, I say do the 89 option. I wish I had the option of a lower octane gas w/o pinging.

[wgnths]

wow, 87 octane! man, even my spec v didnt like anything but 91 in the heat. i would set the car up to run higher octane...your best answers will be from dynocomp. 87 just seems too low to be using with bolt ons....i havent done much n/a tuning so i cant help much. the turbo cars are a different breed. keep us posted on your results though!!!! :D

[Malogus]

I have always run 87 octane in it, but put 89 in before I went up to dynocomp yesterday, then set the timing back to stock. It didnt really make a difference either way, so I will just stick with 87. Like you said, f/i is a different breed altogether, but my car has always run fine on 87 with no pinging. Nice and cheap I guess.

As for my numbers, I hit 207whp. Not too bad considering about 9 months ago I was pretty much stock at 140 whp. Here is my dyno from yesterday. I had to fax it to myself so the quality is very shitty. I need to go borrow my buddy's scanner. it has my run from last sepetmber, then my top run from yesterday.

http://members.cox.net/pbogle/dyno3.jpg

[wgnths]

excellent numbers for n/a! i only got up to 170whp without the nitrous, on my spec before i turbo'd it. if your getting those numbers on 87, then stick with the cheap stuff!!! you going to sco?

[Malogus]

excellent numbers for n/a! i only got up to 170whp without the nitrous, on my spec before i turbo'd it. if your getting those numbers on 87, then stick with the cheap stuff!!! you going to sco?

If I can muster the strength to go out and work on my car in the heat with this massive hangover then i will be out there. Waay too much booze last night.....

[motorbreath]

did you find an answer to your original question? just curious ...

[Malogus]

did you find an answer to your original question? just curious ...
Well I dynoed on 89 and set the timing back to stock, then after we finshed all my pulls, we did a few with the retard set back 2 degrees above 4000. Even on 89 it picked up a slight amount of hp.

I think its not a matter of octane, just a matter of how the timing is mapped. I think the stock timing map is accurate on the low end, but they should have taken a bit more out on the top end. Generally you want a nice fat timing curve on the bottom end, then retard it when you get to the top end to maximize power. I think Hyundai just didnt lean out the top end timing enough, which the MSD fixes over 4000 rpm. Maybe next time I dyno I will try retarding it 4 degrees and see what that does.