Thread: Engine chip upgrade and/or intercooler upgrade

Originally Posted by TroyFenda

I'm looking at upgrading the chip and doing a remap

Either you chip it or you remap it, and we all know that the former is a kak idea. Get a remap, pref from BAS/Alive/IRB, etc.

Bigger intercooler is also a good mod, and obviously a decat as well will help.

If you've got the $$$$

Do the intercooler (AliSport), BAS (Bell Auto Services) remap, Decat and Centre muffler removal and replace the factory ducting from guard vent/snorkel to the air box - replace with 90mm tube. For the ducting mod contact Nugget on this forum for his custom kit.

I have done these mods over 50,000k's ago without issue.

Current 2014 BAS map gives me about 450nm and 120kw.

Ive got the BAS re map and love it. Ill more than likely put in a bigger intercooler just because I think its better for the engine. I probably won't bother getting it remapped again to get more power out of the intercooler because I just don't need it.

As discussed before Troy, I went to Davis Performance Landys for the remap, installed the Allisport intercooler and also the Nugget airbox kit to properly seal the airbox and supply a wider bore air hose.

Individually each of these mods has a very clear benefit so if you have the $ for the change I'd highly recommend each.

All three combined will change the way the vehicle performs considerably.

TCOS.. do you know what the figures were for the gains? was it very noticable in top gear?

in my old 110 puma i had the remap and it was very noticable i could drive around in 6th after 60km/h. it pulled well uphill. i just picked up a 130 puma, stock... and it has no pull in 6th unless travelling faster than 80. I never knew what the torqe or power figures were.

Sorry for the confusion there Naks....I'm still learning a huge amount when it comes to Defenders.

If money were no option I'd do everything that has been suggested but having spent a few thousand plus already on other options and some good quality camping gear (inc. Engel fridge, Diamantina Campmor tent, solar panels etc) I need to be selective with my near-term upgrades.

TCOS aka Bobby has been really helpful to date and I've contacted some people already that he was good enough to recommend. That said the remap and intercooler options are $2400 combined which is a fair chunk of money in one hit. I was thinking of doing the remap first followed by the inter cooler at a later date.

As far as performance figures are concerned the business TCOS had mentioned to me, off the top of my head, I believe they quoted an increase up to 135kw and 460nm torque.

That said, last night I towed a trailer weighing around 1100kg along a highway and found it still accelerated up a moderate hill in 6th from 85km/hr to 100km/hr. It wasn't blistering, but it still did it a reasonable rate...and we had a combined weight of around 250kg of gear on the roof and in the rear.

The intercooler will provide some performance increases but will offer some engine protection from increased EGT's, the enemy of the modern deisel.

The Safer option for the long term life of your engine is to install the intercooler first.

If I may, towing in 6th below 2000rpm's is putting unnecessary strain on the box. I also tow a trailer of about 1200kg's and alway go back to '5th when revs drop below 2000rpm, on big hills or when the throttle response is low.

I did wonder about whether the inter oil should be done first,, good info here fella's.

So what are rough estimates of the three individual costs per item?