Find out about "EB Modifications"

How to modify and upgrade the PSA EB

"Comprehensive guide to tuning the PSA EB engine!"

Sites like TorqueCars often are getting posts asking how to improve the EB from people wanting to know what are the best EB modifications. So let us look into PSA EB parts and outline the best modifications on this great engine and point out some frequent tuning mistakes along the way.

Now we will outline options for your EB tuning and outline the best modifications. PSA EB have loads of potential and with the ultimate mods like ECU maps, turbo kits and camshafts you will substantially maximize your driving enjoyment.

The greatest EB parts on an engine are usually the ones that give the best power gain for your hard earned cash.

We won't be swayed by popular EB parts, they need to be cost effective.

Improving air intake on the EB

You need air matched to fuel for an engine to work. If there is not enough fuel then it will run lean, if there is a lack of air it runs rich resulting in lost power which risks damage to the EB. We'll pick up on fuelling later in this article but for now we shall look at air supply.

So Forcing more air and fuel into each cylinder is the whole point to any performance tuning job.

It is common that there's a limit in the air flow sensor AFM/MAF on the EB when a lot more air is being sucked into the engine.

We note 4 bar air sensors coping with quite large power gains, whereas the OEM air sensor limited bhp and torque at a much lower level.

Intake manifolds transmit the during the engines suck phase from the air cleaner and allow it to be drawn into the engine cylinders.

The shape and flow characteristics of the Intake headers can make a big effect on to fuel mixing and power on the EB.

I usually find plenum chambers are needing performance upgrades, although a few makers provide reasonably good plenum chambers.

Increasing the EB valve size, doing a bit of EB port enlargement and head flowing will also increase performance, and more importantly will allow you to get a better performance increase on other upgrades.

EB performance cam tips.

Different EB engines respond better to different cam durations so view each engine as unique.

The engine timing and fuel pump and injectors also have an effect on the torque gains you'll get.

Extending exhaust or intake durations can alter the torque band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations.

The cam profile plays a big part in the engines power output so cam upgrades make quite a large difference. The intake and exhaust durations will alter depending on the chosen cam profile, so large torque gains are on offer for cam upgrades.

NB: Fast road cams usually push up the performance across the rev range, you could sacrifice a little low down bhp but your top end will be better.

Motorsport cams, push up the top end band but as a result the car will not idle smoothly and low end power nearly always suffers.

On a road car you must carefully try to optimize your power band to your driving style.

I'd be shocked if you have ever thought a EB Competition cam is a pleasure to live with when on the daily commute.

Stage 1, 2 and 3 mods for the EB

Before we break the best tuning upgrades down into stages of tune, let's list the most effective tuning upgrades for you.

1. Suspension Upgrades - always improve your cars handling
2. Brake Upgrades - Even before adding power improve those brakes
3. Intake - make sure the intake is not restricted, use filters and intake upgrades to improve this
4. Exhaust - as with 3 ensure there is not restriction in the exhaust, cats are the usual bottleneck
5. Tunes - remapping, piggyback ECU's and aftermarket ECU's can all make decent gains
6. Fuelling - when you've increased power you'll need to match this with more fuel
7. Turbo upgrades - Improving the intake with a large turbo and better flowing intercooler will be the biggest power gain you'll see (but one of the most complex).

This video guide to tuning cars is a great starting point to work from in your project.

Stage 1 EB parts:

Drilled & smoothed airbox, Intake headers, Panel air filters, Sports exhaust manifold, Fast road camshaft, Remaps/piggy back ECU.

Stage 2 EB parts:

induction kit, fuel pump upgrades, high flow fuel injectors, Ported and polished head, Sports catalyst & performance exhaust, Fast road cam.

Stage 3 EB parts:

Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger), Engine balancing & blueprinting, Competition cam, Twin charging conversions, Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves).

Remapping helps fully realize the full potential of all the parts you've done to your EB.

You will typically expect to see gains of approximately 20-30% more power on turbocharged vehicles and you can expect to see around 15% on NASP engines, but figures achieved will depend much on the parts you've carried out and the condition of your engine.

Turbo modifications on the EB

To get a turbo working on a NASP engine there is a lot involved, from lowering compression ratio to improved fuel supply and mapping, so we have found a great guide to helpavoid the common pitfalls or end up with an unfinished project because you were not told what you were getting into by doing this on the EB.

The more air you can get into an engine, the more fuel it can burn and uprating the induction with a turbocharger upgrade makes excellent power gains.

When the engine is turbo charged mods are simpler to install and we find turbocharged engines are built using strengthened components.

There are common areas of failure for every engine, with some being extremely strong and some only able to handle stock power

It is important to find these limits and install better pistons and crank to utilize the power.

We see many mechanics spending a fortune on turbocharger upgrades on the EB only to suffer the humiliation of seeing the car throw a rod on it's first outing after it's been finished.

Larger turbo units will usually suffer low end lag, and little turbo units spool up quickly but don't have the peak rpm torque gains.

Thanks to new tech the market of turbo chargers is always developing and we are seeing variable vane turbo chargers, allowing the vane angle is altered according to speed to lower lag and increase top end performance.

Twin scroll turbo chargers divert the exhaust flow into two channels and feed these at differently designed vanes in the turbocharger. They also help the scavenging effect of the engine.

Beefing up the air intake by adding a supercharger or additional turbo will help you achieve very large bhp and torque gains, although more complex to install. We have this guide to twinchargers if you want to read more.

Tips about fuel supply on the EB

When you improve the torque you will need to ramp up to the fuelling.

More torque needs more fuel. It makes sense to be generous with your injectors flow rate.

As a rule of thumb add 15% when buying an injector, which takes into account injector deterioration and gives you some spare capacity should the engine require more fuel.

Don't forget that different fuel grades will usually require different settings, a high octane fuel will burn more efficiently than lower octane fuel for example. A car will trim fuel supply to keep within the ideal air fuel mix but at the extreme ends you may need to adjust your injector capacity, or the mapping or you'll get flat spots and potential lean or rich fuel issues..

Recommended EB performance exhaust upgrades

Only look to increase your exhaust system with an upgraded one is if your exhaust is actually causing a restriction.

On most factory exhausts you should find that the exhaust flow rate is still fine even on modest power gains, but on a serious tuning project with a big boost in power you will certainly need to get a better flowing exhaust.

Sports exhausts can usually air flow from the engine but avoid an exhaust that is too big or you may end up will reduce the flow rate. Stick to one and a half to two and half inches for best results.

Usual exhaust restrictions are in the catalysts installed, so adding a better flowing race alternative will help avoid this restriction.

Decats (NB:catalysts reduce harmful engine emissions) is illegal in most countries and regions.

Faults issues and things to look out for on the EB

Like most engines an EB, should have few issues if it gets properly serviced and looked after.

We cannot stress enough the need for oil changes with the correct grade of oil on the EB, failure to do this will exacerbate engine wear, on a tuned EB this is more important than ever and close attention should be paid to your maintenance schedule.

If you are interested in learning more or getting impartial tuning advice for your EB why not pop over to the forums at TorqueCars where you can chat about EB tuning options and read about others projects who may be planning to do similar modifications on their EB.

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This entry was posted under Makes and Models. Tags: engine, PSA
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