(T) How much should I remap to

My car is in for a remap next week (get in!!, can finally wipe the smirk of my mate with the Leon FR). I have noticed that most of you have had 170bhp on yours, they have offered me 175 - 180. Any thoughts. Will the extra 10 make it a dog to drive or trash my drive train in a year or so, or do you think 180 will be cool.

Any comments much appreciated.

Cheers

BHP isn't the problem. Gearboxes can take any sort of power. The problem is the torque. Having too much of it will kill the gearbox and other bits of the drive train.

Correct me if im wrong but isnt torque the turning force that generates bhp, so they are directly related.

I would be very careful about pushing it for a few extra horsepower when 170bhp is plenty anyway and its got that much torque it pulls superbly. What i have noticed with mine is that there is no slip from the clutch whatsoever and that can only be bad for the gearbox.

Thats my opinion anyway.

Rich

Alfanige will tell you that anything above 170bhp will shorten the life of the CLUTCH considerably and does not recommend it,if you uprate the clutch,brakes and suspension then 200bhp should be okay,Alfanige knows what he's talking about,he does it for a living

I am for over 25 years in the automotive development. I have done consultancy work for manufacturers and have a background in structural engineering. I do know what I am talking about.

@ Rich C - You are absolutely right when claiming that they are connected. The question is why is torque and power mentioned in the spec sheets of cars?

One of the mapping grids or tables in your ECU is a torque limiting one. You won't find a power limiting one. The important factor is the turning factor that determines the strain on (in our case the clutch) the drive train not the peak power. If you go to any manufacturer of clutches, gearboxes, drive shafts and prop shafts you will be asked for the torque rating not the power rating.

If it were different then it would not be necessary for trucks with considerably less power than a super car to have gear boxes that might weigh up to half a ton.

I think i understand what your saying. With not having any experience with mapping i would assume that bhp and torque increase hand in hand but if i have interpretated what you are saying correctly that means you can increase the bhp but limit the torque, is that right?

Rich

People like Bentley, AMG & Brabus have been limiting torque for years.

That's right. And this is what manufacturers are doing, which allows them to down grade the spec. In some cases the torque is being limited because the engine provides so much that the car would be otherwise virtually undriveable.

170 bhp is more than enough for a gp 1.9m-jet.fast enough for me

So, based on what you guys are sayingm 180bhp should be fine, as long as the torque is ohk. What sort of torque figures are you guys getting post remap. The one I have been offered would take it from 207 standard to 267 lbs/ft. How does that compare?

iirc and according to Rich C's figures then he has 262lb/ft of torque along with 170bhp... i would imagine that the remap you have in mind will be fine.

will be interesting to see how it compares to the angel tuning one on offer.

just remember that the BHP figures sell cars, where as the torque figures win races!

but i think your mate will still have the edge over you in his leon FR... even more so if its modded.

HTH.

Yeah that sounds like it will be fine mate judging by what Oldschool has said.

Yeah mine has 262 lb/ft and in my opinion that is near the limit. I sometimes struggle to get the power down, especially in 2nd gear. Be prepared to change your tyres much sooner than normal if you have a heavy foot, .

Torque is often overlooked and a lot of kids in particular dont seem to even know what it is. Its all about bhp to them.

With regards to the Leon it depends which one. If its the petrol turbo then i dont fancy your chances but if its the diesel you will give him a good go. Dont expect to thrash him though, you will be disappointed.

Rich

As has already been said it is the torqe that gives you the GO, and gives your clutch and fly wheel a hard time, you can sort that out by uppgrading your clutch,then you can go into the 290s+ lb and higher bhp.

But then you put more strain on things like the intercooler having to deal with higher temratures,and the drive shafts amongst other things basicly the higher you go the more possible problems you will come across.

And cost,you would be aswell not bothering and buying something with the power your after as standerd, I would say 170hp is plenty.

But a lot of these possible problems depend on the individual driving style, its like anything else put it under hard strain a lot and something will braek.

But try finding such a clutch is not easy,or cheap

Scotty.