Cost and power (3.0 vs 3.2)

[K-Dawg]

faq has 91 stock engine produces 235 to the rear wheels, and 3.2 liter Engine stock produces 250.

What does the additional 15 hp feel like?
I could not find the torque numbers. Want to know if the $$ is worth the extra 15 horses although there are many other changes in the 3.2 liter NSX's.

 

[Number9]

Hard to do a direct comparison because the gearing was also improved when the 3.2 was introduced. I had a 95-T and upgraded to a 99-Z and the latter felt noticeably more responsive to throttle input (and was noticeably quicker), though I can't say if it was gearing, power, weight reduction, or all of the above.

 

[hk4site]

The problem with adding horse power after a week you get use to the additional and you are back wanting more, then more, then more it like a merry-go-round

 

[Michigan NSX]

Originally posted by hk4site:
The problem with adding horse power after a week you get use to the additional and you are back wanting more, then more, then more it like a merry-go-round

Why do you think they call it the "go fast crack pipe"?

------------------
'91 Black/Black

 

[W]

If the 15 extra horsepower is all you're concerned about, I'd have to say that it's not worth the extra money to get a 3.2 over a 3.0.

 

[RyRy210]

Its not just a 15hp difference. It has a different power and torque curve altogether. Don't forget the 6 speed manual as well.

 

[humanoidtyphoon]

I would say just get headers and make up most of the difference there. Headers can yield up to a 15 hp gain in the 3.0 set-up. However, the difference is very, very, very minimal in 3.2 cars with headers. It seems that the headers in the 3.2 set-up help the power more than the extra displacement.

 

[Zanardi 50]

Originally posted by hk4site:
The problem with adding horse power after a week you get use to the additional and you are back wanting more, then more, then more it like a merry-go-round

I agree totally. When I acquired my stock 99-Z 10 months back, I was more than ecstatic over the significant power and torque increase, so much that I was tempted to sell the S2k that I bought only a month before. Then earlier this year I've taken myself to test drive the 02 Z06, and whoa! I can't get enough of that! I gotta have one of these babies!! Then for a few seconds I was tempted yet again to sell either the S2k or the NSX to make room for the Z06. Glad I stopped myself b4 it's too late.
So you gotta draw the line somewhere, or you'll get caught in this vicious cycle. If the stock 3.0 liter is what you got, I say stay with it until you are really ready to move on to the next level. I would prefer jumping right into the SC setup when I'm ready to hop up my Z to the next level instead of gradually modding it up with H/I/E. That's what I would do.

 

[aaronb]

I've driven several pre-97 models and IMO the most noticable difference is the 6-speed transmission.

Though my car feels a little stronger, I think it's the gearing more than the 15 hp that makes the difference.

 

[TampaBayNSX-R]

I agree with Aaron's comments above. I have a '94 that prior to my recent BBSC install had the familiar I/H/E mods with a Dinan chip. Two years ago I dynoed 268rwhp with these mods. Needing more, I installed a six-speed tranny with 4.55's and a Comptech powergrip clutch. The gearing change absolutely woke the car up. The difference was incredible. I would rather have the tranny than 15 extra ponies under the back glass.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Comparison Ratio including R&P:

Gears 6 speed NSX-R 4.235R/P 4.55R/P shrt gear w/ 4.55 US 5speed
1 12.474 13.006 13.006 13.973 13.973 12.474
2 7.945 8.267 7.314 7.858 8.882 7.015
3 5.8 5.929 5.209 5.597 6.37 4.996
4 4.57 4.975 4.095 4.4 4.7 3.928
5 3.713 3.265 3.265 3.508 3.508 3.132
6 2.912


Here, you can see that the Japanese gear with CT 4.55 has the shortest ratio from 1-4, with the NSX-R second, shortest from 1-3 and only slightly taller in the 4th than the 6 speed.

I drove a 97 for a couple of days, and I must say the difference is due to the different torque curve. Cause I also driven a 93 with Japanese short gears and type R ring and pinion. And the 97 feels more powerful.

Darn UBB, can't make a table. Anyone knows how to make table in UBB?


[This message has been edited by Andrie Hartanto (edited 25 July 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Andrie Hartanto (edited 25 July 2002).]

 

[ryans]

<table>
<tr>
<td>Testing</td>
<td>Test 1</td><td>test 2</td>
</tr>
</table>

 

[Ojas]

Originally posted by Andrie Hartanto:
Anyone knows how to make table in UBB?

The UBB "CODE" tag may help for tab-delimited text:

Gears	6 speed	NSX-R	4.235R/P	4.55R/P	shrt gear	US 5speed
					w/ 4.55
1	12.474	13.006	13.006	13.973	13.973	12.474
2	7.945	8.267	7.314	7.858	8.882	7.015
3	5.8	5.929	5.209	5.597	6.37	4.996
4	4.57	4.975	4.095	4.4	4.7	3.928
5	3.713	3.265	3.265	3.508	3.508	3.132
6	2.912

[This message has been edited by Ojas (edited 25 July 2002).]

 

[nsxxtreme]

I have a 94 five speed. A friend of mine has a 92 with a six speed. The 6 speed makes a big difference.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by nsxxtreme:
I have a 94 five speed. A friend of mine has a 92 with a six speed. The 6 speed makes a big difference.

The difference can be quantified, as Bob Butler did in his article in NSX Driver. Basically, it reduces most acceleration times by a couple of tenths of a second.

 

[TampaBayNSX-R]

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
The difference can be quantified, as Bob Butler did in his article in NSX Driver. Basically, it reduces most acceleration times by a couple of tenths of a second.

Bob's article was impressively thorough and I found it to be quite interesting. Having said that, my real world observations don't support your statement. I have a '94 w/6speed and 4.55r/p and I consistently pull away from other '94s who have higher dyno numbers and stock 5speed trannys.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by TampaBayNSX-R:
Bob's article was impressively thorough and I found it to be quite interesting. Having said that, my real world observations don't support your statement. I have a '94 w/6speed and 4.55r/p and I consistently pull away from other '94s who have higher dyno numbers and stock 5speed trannys.

Maybe you're a quicker driver and/or maybe those couple of tenths of a second represent you pulling away and/or maybe the dyno numbers aren't higher at all revs. There are lots of possible explanations, but the analysis still holds.