The first thing ever done to my car was to add an exhaust system that was less restrictive than the factory system. So I installed a full header back system with 2" pipeing all the way back. Originally I had a canister muffler with a 4" exit tip, too many tickets with that, so I then opted for a Magnaflow 2" in/out with an APC 3" stainless tip. Better tone and not so buzzing loud.
Next, of course, was the intake. In the begining I had fabricated my own system out of stainless exhaust pipeing. That was real heavy, but it looked good and functioned well with it being 2". It was eventually replaced with a much lighter alluminum 2 1/2" one produced by KFX Performance. This new intake sounds better and performs much better than I had ever expected.
Also in the pics above you can see the Type-R purple ground wire harness and just a glimpse of the Megan Racing Header that you read about above.
Recently installed this billet aluminum crankshaft pulley from MT Engineering. A nice addition to the car. The original one weighs like 5.5 lbs. This billet aluminum one weighs like 1/2 lb. You can see the size difference in the pictures too. So it is underdrive and light weight. You can actually see it on the car in the ABOVE picture. I put it on 3 days prior to painting the calipers.
I added a set of Swirl Grind camshafts, also known as Tri Flow Camshafts. They are produced by Colt Cams out of Canada, and sold exclusively by KFX Performance. They have a 330 lift & 330 duration which is better than the stock ones of about a 265 lift and 270 duration.
Now with the intake, exhaust, and camshafts allowing the car to breath better, it started to run lean in the higher RPM's. So I removed the stock 15# injectors, and installed a set of 17# injectors from a 1998 Sephia, to compensate for the lean condition.
This next set of pictures is the latest. I spent some time pondering the valley in the center of my valve cover. NO ONE makes a cover for it and there was never one installed from the factory. So many companies make add on kits for valve cover plates, but none for a Kia Rio. So I made my own. 5 hours of cutting, grinding, drilling, and sanding. It was worth it. Have a look.....
Solid aluminum, with a brushed finish. NICE!!!
I ported and polished this cylinder head on my own. I have done a lot of reading and extensive reasearch before doing this. The ports have been opened up to their maximum, and match to the gaskets. I unshrouded the valves by 1.83mm in each port. I sent the head out to have it cleaned afterward, and at the same time had it decked 0.030" to increase the compression to 10.0:1.
I have just finished installing the Ported, Polished, and decked .030" head. Coupled with the new camshafts from Colt Cams, this setup realy performs. I had a heck of a mess, durring the swap, in my driveway.
After removing the old head, I cleaned eveything. Not that the engine or engine bay was all too dirty, just had to prep the block and surrounding area for the swap. Then I installed the head studs, and set the head on the block. Nice and shiney!!!!!
There was a lot to do after mounting the head. Instalation of the camshafts and cam girdle. The girdle instalation takes forever!!!! All of the little bolts have to be tightened in sequence so as to not crack the girdle. Like 20 little bolts, 2 turns at a time...lol.
Then I installed a new port matched intake manifold. I took the time to port match an intake manifold to the new head a few months back. New gaskets and a cleaned up throtle body reinstalled for optimal flow. I have a Big Bore Throtle body being finished up, yet it is not going on the car at this time.
The rest was just reinstalling all of the stuff that had to be pulled to do the job. I was smart enough to install a new timing belt, timing tensioner, idler pulley, oil, and coolant. Might as well freshen evrything up. Would hate to have to dig back into this just for something stupid like a timing belt.
I did run into a slight problem when I went to reinstall the mass air flow meter. The boot that connects the MAF to the top of the throtle body had developed a tear in it and I had to replace it. A couple of hoses also had to be replaced due to hardening and cracking. The hole in my boot.....
I could not see this tear since it resides on the back after connected.
Next thing is to install a set of adjustable cam gears. A friend shipped them to me. Gotta love friends...lol. I have one of them on the car and still have to get the other one on the intake cam. Just been lazy.
Currently in the process of purchasing a reflashed ECU to help up the revs and improve performance. After the ECU is installed, I'll have to go and get a Dyno run done.
4/24/09-- Got the ECU (PCM for you kia owners) installed. WOW is all I can say. My rev limit is now raised to a solid 7,000rpm. The acceleration is a real kick in the pants! The car now totally throws you in the seat as the car accelerates into each gear, and pulls HARD all the way to the new redline! Didn't take any pics of it cuz it appears to be a stock PCM from the outside (aside from a sticker saying otherwise). Nothing fancy to look at if you know what I mean. The fuel and timing maps have been reflashed in a manner that frees up HP without preventing me from passing California emissions.
FINALLY!!!!!!!! Got My BBTB finished and installed today (7-23-09). Top end performance is much better. Throtle response is even better, especially when down shifting. I only spent $32.00 to have it bored out. Old one was 50mm, new one is 56mm.
The one on the left is the BBTB. The one on the right is the stock TB.
Page 1) Introduction
Page 2) Engine Performance
Page 3) Suspension/Drivetrain
Page 4) Interior Mods
Page 5) Exterior Mods
Page 6) Shows Attended/Awards
Page 7) Current Projects Page 8) Products/Parts For Sale
