400 Crank HP with the 4.3 M113







An aftermarket parts business such as Kleemann, Brabus, etc are in the business of selling (very expensive) aftermarket parts. If they say their headers will gain +21 hp, I believe they will get close, but not at the peak horsepower level of the stock engine. They do that because that is the biggest number and it sells parts. So it will not be 302 hp plus 21 hp = 323 hp because the headers are giving that gain at a different point in the rev range. So it may be 285 hp @ 4300 rpm plus 21 hp is 306 hp @ 4300 rpm. It may shift your curve around and that may or may not be your peak horsepower. And each of those mods listed will achieve their gains at different points in the range and the number you get with your combo is any body's guess. But I can promise that Eurocharged is not going to sign up to give you 400 horsepower or your money back with a few bolt ons.

An aftermarket parts business such as Kleemann, Brabus, etc are in the business of selling (very expensive) aftermarket parts. If they say their headers will gain +21 hp, I believe they will get close, but not at the peak horsepower level of the stock engine. They do that because that is the biggest number and it sells parts. So it will not be 302 hp plus 21 hp = 323 hp because the headers are giving that gain at a different point in the rev range. So it may be 285 hp @ 4300 rpm plus 21 hp is 306 hp @ 4300 rpm. It may shift your curve around and that may or may not be your peak horsepower. And each of those mods listed will achieve their gains at different points in the range and the number you get with your combo is any body's guess. But I can promise that Eurocharged is not going to sign up to give you 400 horsepower or your money back with a few bolt ons.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
As mentioned by other members you cannot just add up the numbers with simple arithmetic and assume it will be that simple. Its not.
Yes in order to get there you will need our crank pulley as Buffy mentioned. However that's not all. Realistically the biggest problem is the stock cams. It will actually be easier to get 400TQ than 400HP for that reason. The only way to counteract the torquey nature of these engines is to free up airflow on the top end significantly.
The only way you can hit 400HP is with custom full length high flow headers. Without them you will NEVER get enough airflow on the high end with only 4.3Ls. On the 5.5ls 400 HP is piece of cake, but on 4.3Ls you have to obtain far more efficiency to get it to those power levels.
The 4.3L and 5.5L weigh basically the same, the only difference really is crank, connecting rods & pistons, all of which are close to one another. There may be a 10lb different or something but certainly not 100lbs. Remember its the same block with almost all the same components.
A full custom dyno tune will also be required and no standard off-the-shelf tune will do it if you are looking for stupid gains. Remember to go from 300-400 you are increasing your power output by a full 33%, and you are approaching 100HP/L (getting pretty close to it). The closer you get to 100HP/L the costs of extracting HP go exponential. At the end of the day you need to closely evaluate whether this is worth it to you, but realistically it will cost you the whole price of the car just to get it done (probably $6k+ including labor to get it done).
Hope that helps.

As mentioned by other members you cannot just add up the numbers with simple arithmetic and assume it will be that simple. Its not.
Yes in order to get there you will need our crank pulley as Buffy mentioned. However that's not all. Realistically the biggest problem is the stock cams. It will actually be easier to get 400TQ than 400HP for that reason. The only way to counteract the torquey nature of these engines is to free up airflow on the top end significantly.
The only way you can hit 400HP is with custom full length high flow headers. Without them you will NEVER get enough airflow on the high end with only 4.3Ls. On the 5.5ls 400 HP is piece of cake, but on 4.3Ls you have to obtain far more efficiency to get it to those power levels.
The 4.3L and 5.5L weigh basically the same, the only difference really is crank, connecting rods & pistons, all of which are close to one another. There may be a 10lb different or something but certainly not 100lbs. Remember its the same block with almost all the same components.
A full custom dyno tune will also be required and no standard off-the-shelf tune will do it if you are looking for stupid gains. Remember to go from 300-400 you are increasing your power output by a full 33%, and you are approaching 100HP/L (getting pretty close to it). The closer you get to 100HP/L the costs of extracting HP go exponential. At the end of the day you need to closely evaluate whether this is worth it to you, but realistically it will cost you the whole price of the car just to get it done (probably $6k+ including labor to get it done).
Hope that helps.




Its a good discussion though.
And where is AMS with the reply about those long tube headers?




You can only make more horsepower by increasing the redline if the engine remains efficient at those engine speeds. You can tell by looking at a dyno chart. If the horsepower is already dropping off before you hit the current redline, you aren't going to make more power by upping it. However, if the horsepower curve continues to go up and/or the torque curve remains relatively flat near the current redline, you have the potential to make more power by increasing the redline.
You can only make more horsepower by increasing the redline if the engine remains efficient at those engine speeds. You can tell by looking at a dyno chart. If the horsepower is already dropping off before you hit the current redline, you aren't going to make more power by upping it. However, if the horsepower curve continues to go up and/or the torque curve remains relatively flat near the current redline, you have the potential to make more power by increasing the redline.
The hp difference between a stk 43 and the average N/A 55 engine is only about 50hp (16% gain). the peak torque gain is 25% but the average torque gain below 2k rpm is around 35%. I certainly know how that's going to affect the grin on my face!
400hp from a N/A 55 engine would be a very nice combination and easliy atainable.
Some 55 N/A engine have double valve springs (SLK55 comes to mind) so they would be one ones I'd use as they should be direct fit (with the retainers).
With cams, the gains are only there if the ECU can be tuned for the higher lift.
You also have to factor- in timing dwell - IDC, and fuel optimization w/ the stock injectors. I am pretty sure the dwell is not adjustable on the C43's Motronic. Its a pretty early gen IIRC.
That advertised gain in HP for the cams, if accurate, sounds like its mildly aggressive, so if the tune fails, you're going to actually loose power and drivability as stated. BTDT.
If those headers are LT, then that will, IMO, be the best bang for the buck mod. Shorty's are so-so. More of an audible gain really.
There comes a point of diminishing returns in trying to tweek HP out of older NA cars. Like the others have said 330-340hp tops....if even that. You'd be surprised how much it takes for an NA motor to gain hp.
As far as pulleys, meh, thats for higher revving,higher compression motors w/ flatter tq curves. The 43 makes most of its power down low and its over pretty quick, hence negligible gains w/ a pulley. Perhaps I'm wrong but I have yet to see a fully corrected dyno printout of gains w/ a pulley for this motor. I've seen graphic charts, but not real printouts.
A friend of mine spent stupid money on his 92 500e tune, and after driving it I hardly noticed any change than when it was stock....and I've driven the car several times in the past. Its fast as it is.
I know this sounds extreme, but it might be cheaper in the long run to save up for an e39 M5 or a different AMG. I know of at least 2 w202 AMG guys on this forum and the old Club202 one that went that route and never looked back.
Still its fun to speculate so carry on
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...t-attempt.html
With cams, the gains are only there if the ECU can be tuned for the higher lift.
You also have to factor- in timing dwell - IDC, and fuel optimization w/ the stock injectors. I am pretty sure the dwell is not adjustable on the C43's Motronic. Its a pretty early gen IIRC.
That advertised gain in HP for the cams, if accurate, sounds like its mildly aggressive, so if the tune fails, you're going to actually loose power and drivability as stated. BTDT.
If those headers are LT, then that will, IMO, be the best bang for the buck mod. Shorty's are so-so. More of an audible gain really.
There comes a point of diminishing returns in trying to tweek HP out of older NA cars. Like the others have said 330-340hp tops....if even that. You'd be surprised how much it takes for an NA motor to gain hp.
As far as pulleys, meh, thats for higher revving,higher compression motors w/ flatter tq curves. The 43 makes most of its power down low and its over pretty quick, hence negligible gains w/ a pulley. Perhaps I'm wrong but I have yet to see a fully corrected dyno printout of gains w/ a pulley for this motor. I've seen graphic charts, but not real printouts.
A friend of mine spent stupid money on his 92 500e tune, and after driving it I hardly noticed any change than when it was stock....and I've driven the car several times in the past. Its fast as it is.
I know this sounds extreme, but it might be cheaper in the long run to save up for an e39 M5 or a different AMG. I know of at least 2 w202 AMG guys on this forum and the old Club202 one that went that route and never looked back.
Still its fun to speculate so carry on

Last edited by austinholloman; Jan 9, 2011 at 02:12 PM.



