Ok for those of you who have been following my story know that ever since I test drove the Factor X FX 400 turbo setup, I’ve been itching to get one myself. Well after many weeks, I’ve finally got my NSX back from Factor X and had the chance to put my thoughts down. I’ve actually had it for a few weeks now but it’s really hard to sit down and write when I know I could be driving my NSX. :biggrin:
First off, if you have noticed (or not noticed) by now, I say that it’s my FX500 review and not FX400. Well to make a long story short, when all was said and done, I ended up getting a FX500. Unfortunately it was piece by piece, which delayed the entire process weeks. If I had known that from the start I should have just gone for the FX500 from the beginning.
The cool thing about the FX turbo setup is that it is semi custom, which means a lot of it was custom built for my car and some of it even had my input on how I wanted it. The reason I point this out is that each FX turbo system are unique in their own way and mine is no different. The torque and power characteristics as well as sound are completely different than any other Factor X turbo NSX’s I’ve been around.
So what was done?
FX500 Turbo setup
Air-to-air intercooler
HKS F-Con EMS
Re-sleeved engine block
New forged pistons
Custom intake and exhaust
Upgraded fuel system
Increased capacity oil pan
Among many other things
The results?
About 410-415 whp and about 360 ft-lbs. of torque. The boost comes on really early, at about 3,000 RPMS and is at full boost by 3,500 RPMS. Right now we are in the initial test tune period. Mikey has limited me to just 8lbs of boost and got real conservative with the engine mapping as to allow me to get used to the car first before wrapping myself around a tree. One thing he did intentionally was to have the torque drop off gradually so that if I were to mash the accelerator and break the rear end loose, it would self correct itself even though I’m still flooring it. A very nice safety feature that’s saved my butt once or twice.
Here’s “a” dyno result, but not the best run. This was after several runs and the intercooler and engine was just bogging in the heat (check the ambient temp). Mikely left the other dyno runs at some “restaurant" (*cough, cough* strip club) that showed closer to the actual HP. But the thing to note is take a look how early and flat the torque curve runs. The thing is a torque monster, it is way higher than any of the other Factor X turbo cars at 8 lbs. of boost, and its torque to HP ratio is higher than any FI NSX I’ve seen. Keep in mind this is de-tuned for my safety so in all reality it could probably do around 370 ft-lbs. of torque at about 8 lbs. of boost. I can’t even imagine where it will be at the full 12 lbs. of boost we hope to eventually get.
So how does all this torque feel and how does it drive?
Well it goes without saying that the car really hauls. But the interesting thing is that since the torque kicks in early and stays flat the car almost (almost!) feels more like a big block V8 than a high revving V6. I don’t bother downshifting because the car pulls a lot harder once I can enter the torque band. Once there, I just mash the pedal and get nearly 5000 RPMs of solid pull.
The best part about the car is the sound. The first comment from everyone who’s seen the car says this car sounds insane. It’s just soooo unique and distinctive. It’s like a cross between a motorcycle, F1 car and a jet plane. It’s got a rumble of a motorcycle, the high whine of the F1 and whooshing of a jet plane when the turbo spools up.
Here are some vids to get you and idea of how it sounds, although my crappy camcorder doesn’t do it justice.
This one is from inside the car. The “dudda-dudda-dudda” sound is I believe the wastegate. What you can’t hear is the blowoff valve, which is really loud ordinarily but just didn’t come out well. It’s got a very distinctive “wah-pish” sound, just like the sound you make when you are trying to say your buddy is being P-whipped by his girlfriend (does small whipping motion). You might be able to hear the intake sucking in the first gear before the wind noise drowns it out.
This second clip is of an exterior drive by. Here you get a better idea of what it sounds like. And what other people hear when I'm driving by them. In the first run as I pass the camera, you'll hear the blowoff valve. You can really see the back end squat and the front end lurch, especially in the first gear, with all that torque (like a big block muscle car.) Time to get stiffer shocks, the Type-S's aren't cuttin it anymore! :tongue:
In this last vid, I tried to do a pull very close to the camcorder and here you can hear the turbo spooling sound better. As I pass the camera, you’ll hear a whooshing sound, similar to a jet plane. I think that’s the coolest sound in the world.
Overall, I’m extremely happy with the setup. I’ve got about 150 miles on it so far and it’s held up great. I think I’m going to keep it at it current setting for now as the tires, brakes and suspension can't handle much more anyway. All of them have already been upgraded, but I need something more aggressive. Once I upgrade those, we’ll go in for a second tune where we’ll boost up the press and flatten out the torque curve. My end goal is to get around 500 whp with about 420 ft-lbs of torque.
Special thanks to Mikey, Ken, Danny, Fez, Adrian, J, Ed (for the camera work), and Paul for waiting so patiently! :smile:
First off, if you have noticed (or not noticed) by now, I say that it’s my FX500 review and not FX400. Well to make a long story short, when all was said and done, I ended up getting a FX500. Unfortunately it was piece by piece, which delayed the entire process weeks. If I had known that from the start I should have just gone for the FX500 from the beginning.
The cool thing about the FX turbo setup is that it is semi custom, which means a lot of it was custom built for my car and some of it even had my input on how I wanted it. The reason I point this out is that each FX turbo system are unique in their own way and mine is no different. The torque and power characteristics as well as sound are completely different than any other Factor X turbo NSX’s I’ve been around.
So what was done?
FX500 Turbo setup
Air-to-air intercooler
HKS F-Con EMS
Re-sleeved engine block
New forged pistons
Custom intake and exhaust
Upgraded fuel system
Increased capacity oil pan
Among many other things
The results?
About 410-415 whp and about 360 ft-lbs. of torque. The boost comes on really early, at about 3,000 RPMS and is at full boost by 3,500 RPMS. Right now we are in the initial test tune period. Mikey has limited me to just 8lbs of boost and got real conservative with the engine mapping as to allow me to get used to the car first before wrapping myself around a tree. One thing he did intentionally was to have the torque drop off gradually so that if I were to mash the accelerator and break the rear end loose, it would self correct itself even though I’m still flooring it. A very nice safety feature that’s saved my butt once or twice.
Here’s “a” dyno result, but not the best run. This was after several runs and the intercooler and engine was just bogging in the heat (check the ambient temp). Mikely left the other dyno runs at some “restaurant" (*cough, cough* strip club) that showed closer to the actual HP. But the thing to note is take a look how early and flat the torque curve runs. The thing is a torque monster, it is way higher than any of the other Factor X turbo cars at 8 lbs. of boost, and its torque to HP ratio is higher than any FI NSX I’ve seen. Keep in mind this is de-tuned for my safety so in all reality it could probably do around 370 ft-lbs. of torque at about 8 lbs. of boost. I can’t even imagine where it will be at the full 12 lbs. of boost we hope to eventually get.
So how does all this torque feel and how does it drive?
Well it goes without saying that the car really hauls. But the interesting thing is that since the torque kicks in early and stays flat the car almost (almost!) feels more like a big block V8 than a high revving V6. I don’t bother downshifting because the car pulls a lot harder once I can enter the torque band. Once there, I just mash the pedal and get nearly 5000 RPMs of solid pull.
The best part about the car is the sound. The first comment from everyone who’s seen the car says this car sounds insane. It’s just soooo unique and distinctive. It’s like a cross between a motorcycle, F1 car and a jet plane. It’s got a rumble of a motorcycle, the high whine of the F1 and whooshing of a jet plane when the turbo spools up.
Here are some vids to get you and idea of how it sounds, although my crappy camcorder doesn’t do it justice.
This one is from inside the car. The “dudda-dudda-dudda” sound is I believe the wastegate. What you can’t hear is the blowoff valve, which is really loud ordinarily but just didn’t come out well. It’s got a very distinctive “wah-pish” sound, just like the sound you make when you are trying to say your buddy is being P-whipped by his girlfriend (does small whipping motion). You might be able to hear the intake sucking in the first gear before the wind noise drowns it out.
This second clip is of an exterior drive by. Here you get a better idea of what it sounds like. And what other people hear when I'm driving by them. In the first run as I pass the camera, you'll hear the blowoff valve. You can really see the back end squat and the front end lurch, especially in the first gear, with all that torque (like a big block muscle car.) Time to get stiffer shocks, the Type-S's aren't cuttin it anymore! :tongue:
In this last vid, I tried to do a pull very close to the camcorder and here you can hear the turbo spooling sound better. As I pass the camera, you’ll hear a whooshing sound, similar to a jet plane. I think that’s the coolest sound in the world.
Overall, I’m extremely happy with the setup. I’ve got about 150 miles on it so far and it’s held up great. I think I’m going to keep it at it current setting for now as the tires, brakes and suspension can't handle much more anyway. All of them have already been upgraded, but I need something more aggressive. Once I upgrade those, we’ll go in for a second tune where we’ll boost up the press and flatten out the torque curve. My end goal is to get around 500 whp with about 420 ft-lbs of torque.
Special thanks to Mikey, Ken, Danny, Fez, Adrian, J, Ed (for the camera work), and Paul for waiting so patiently! :smile:
