Alfa Romeo Giulietta modifications

[RobJ]

Getting my car remapped now in under 2 weeks, I have 1.4 multiair with just over 170Bhp (turbocharged).
the company that are remapping it say I will get about 30-40bhp gain and 50-60nm torque.
but I've been reading reviews that you should modify your car in other ways before you remap it.
is this right and what should I get done.
I've looked into a new stainless steel exhaust with no catalytic convertor (should I just reuse my current one with the new exhaust or buy a new catalytic convertor?) but I was going to get this done after the remap. should I or is there not much difference that the remap would give?
Also how would I go about lowering my car few reviews say 35mm is easily enough but how would I do this or should I get a whole new suspension system?

Hope someone can help plus sorry for so many questions and variables.

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Hello and welcome
IMO if as you say intend to do further mods then they should be done BEFORE you get it "remapped"to gain maximum benefit.
I would advise a 2.5 inch mandrel bent exhaust from the turbo with a HI FLOW cat and straight thru resonator @ 1/2 way to eliminate droning and a straight thru muffler at the rear with the same diameter exit pipe. You need to insist that the resonator and black box/muffler/silencers are straight thru with perforated holes and NOT THE LOUVERED type as they are horrible and reduce flow which is not what a turbo powered car needs.

Make sure to ask the remapper/dyno tuner to check the injector duty cycle as an 85% DC is the safe maximum and higher flowing injectors & fuel pump may be needed especially if higher boost is in the future mod list.

I would strongly advise that the remap tune be checked on a dyno for peace of mind.

Turbos DO NOT need any back pressure once the gasses exit the turbine.

Lowering you can have the springs reset to a lower ride height OR convert to COILOVERS which are height adjustable to enable you to get the look you want but for heavens sake don't go for the "fully sic" stupidly low look that can't drive over s speed bump .

 

[Aerial Andy944]

Hi and welcome to TC forums.
Yep get your changes done first them remap last so you can get best performance from the changes.

 

[RobJ]

Thanks, for the advice I will look at getting a few of these modifications sorted before I go on to remap my car, as I would rather a more powerful gain for the money I spend.
The 2.5 mandrel bent exhaust and Hi flow cat are these something I would best leave to the professionals or is it something I could tweak myself I have a fair understanding but I'm not really a "grease monkey".
Also I wouldn't lower my car to the stage I couldn't get over a speed bump it would ruin the look of the car.

 

[davalav]

TCJ has covered more or less everything already! He's good like that!

You can either by an off the shelf system that you can fit your self in a few hours or take it to an exhaust center to make you another one. Sometimes that cheaper, sometimes its not.

A decent panel filter will also help you get the best breathing for the car or an after market enclosed system!
You can always get a tom-cat. Its a cat which has been cut open, guts removed and replaced with a piece of pipe to effectively make it a turbo back exhaust just with the appearance of a cat.

 

[RobJ]

Do you know of any good reliable exhaust centers Kent (England) way. As I can see Davalav you live Essex way.
I will look into getting these sorted for the car I just have to be careful as insurance on modified cars for youngsters is expensive and with my car hitting over 170bhp I know it will only rocket upwards
But thanks for the advice.

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Davalav You've made my day

 

[RobJ]

ok so I've been looking through bits to get done sine my last post.
I now have a few questions on what to get done and if there is anything I have missed.
Firstly I plan to get either https://www.gazzellaracing.com/product.php?productid=19030&cat=3805&page=1 or https://www.gazzellaracing.com/product.php?productid=19031&cat=3805&page=1
but I'm not sure whether I will need to replace other parts of the exhaust system to make the performance different?
if so what bits? (https://www.gazzellaracing.com/home.php?cat=3805)
then I plan to get http://www.pipercams.co.uk/pipercams/www/product.php?pid=ARBP285#
a ultimate fast road camshaft.
followed by a new air induction kit/air filter http://www.knfilters.co.uk/search/product.aspx?prod=E-2991
finally I'm going to get the car remapped with all of this done first.

Is there any particular order these should be done? or bits that should be done in between stages?
plan is to get my car to 300bhp I know this lot will only do about 250bhp but I think a bigger/second turbo would be after these.

Any recommendations or advice is welcome would really like to know

Thanks

 

[blacklineninja]

Hi Rob, I too have been looking at the Giulietta 170 as my potential next car and what things can be done to it to make it more perfect.

It makes life a bit difficult that whichever exhaust system you go for, you have to buy all the component parts seperately and mix and match which ones you need (as there are road legal and no so legal options) even for a longtime ponderer/researcher like me, but I've spent some time looking at both the Raggazon and Supersprint options, and sought the advice of a serious man that I take seriously.

If you're definitely wanting Raggazon, and the full system at that, then you'll also be needing https://www.gazzellaracing.com/product.php?productid=18822&cat=3805&page=1, https://www.gazzellaracing.com/product.php?productid=18819&cat=3805&page=1, and a down pipe (https://www.gazzellaracing.com/product.php?productid=18823&cat=3805&page=1).

The links you posted for the exhaust are both for the backbox only. They'll improve the sound a little bit, but the performance will still be hampered by the Cat, whereas the full system replaces it with a Hi-Flow Cat so it'll still be road-legal and emmissions-compliant. Expect to release around 10hp, give or take, according to the serious man that I take seriously.

All in you're looking at around £1200 for the full system (the Supersprint comes in at £1825.60 from Balance Motorsport, but is my preference as I'd rather have a single big-bore style exhaust exit than twin pipes). Plus whatever the insurance company wallops you for.

 

[blacklineninja]

As for suspension, if you can afford it go for the Bilstein/Eibach B12 kit at around £750 from Balance Motorsport, if not you can get AP Racing coilovers which are less than £500, they offer adjustable height with fixed damping within a sensible range and are engineered by KW. I haven't listed KW basically because to me they are prohibitively expensive, but Demon Tweeks should be able to sort you out if you really want them.

 

[blacklineninja]

Also I think the Piper cams you listed are for the original Giulietta from the 1970's. Sorry to disappoint there