Car: '89 Nissan 240SX
Engine: S13 SR20DET (REDTOP)
PeakHP: 224.5
PeakTQ: 235.9
One of the most frustrating aspects of tuning imports in the States is that cars imported here are often never as good as similar cars created specifically for the JDM. I'm sure you can think of more than a few Type R-, Si-, or Evo-badged examples, but let's focus on everyone's favorite "girl that got away" for a moment: Silvia. While the USDM received a naturally aspirated truck engine in the body of a 240SX, Silvia's heart beat as pure as the rising sun itself, by way of an SR20DET. Even her rag-tag little brother, the 180SX, was given the same incredibly stout, turbocharged powerplant in their homeland, but no official Stateside version of the car was as fortunate. After tuners realized how easily the conversion could be performed on their 240SXs, and how incredibly stout the SR20DET is-nearly 600whp on a stock block has been seen so far-the rest was history. When 2NR published gains of over 40 whp and 55 lb-ft of torque found when upgrading one SR20DET's fuel, engine management, and boost control systems in preparation for future modification, the import world saw first hand benefits of upgrading this JDM powerplant correctly.
| BASELINE | 182.5 WHP | | 180.4 LB-FT | | |
| A'PEXi POWER FC | 184.7 WHP | +2.2 | 181.2 LB-FT | +0.8 | $980 |
| BLITZ 550CC INJECTORS | 203.9 WHP | +19.2 | 200.6 LB-FT | +19.4 | $520 |
| A'PEXi AVC-R | 224.5 WHP | +20.6 | 235.9 LB-FT | +35.3 | $639 |
| TOTAL | | +42.0 | | +55.5 | $2,139 |
Car: '93 Mazda RX-7
Engine: 13B-REW
PeakHP: 292.1
PeakTQ: 249.1
If you're the type to root for the underdog, who likes a challenge or who prefers the road less traveled, chances are you've at least considered an RX-7 build. And if you've attempted one, you probably know how easy the 13B Wankel rotary engine is to destroy. Any attempt at modifications or elevating boost must be met with just the right introduction of additional fuel, all while warding off additional heat. Just one pre-ignition event is all it takes to require an engine replacement or rebuild - something that happened on the regular for years, enshrouding the 13B in mystery, before reliable aftermarket ECU systems became available. But when Eric Hsu and XS Engineering revisited the 13B via Power Pages and showed that a properly tuned A'PEXi Power FC could produce just under 50 whp-reliably-on a well-maintained FD RX-7, the 13B suddenly appeared a little less fearsome.
| BASELINE | 230.9 WHP | | 199.7 LB-FT | | |
| A'PEXi POWER INTAKE | 238.5 WHP | +7.6 | 215.4 LB-FT | +15.7 | $335 |
| A'PEXi N1 DUAL EXHAUST | 242.8 WHP | +4.3 | 237.7 LB-FT | +22.3 | $635 |
| A'PEXi POWER FC | 292.1 WHP | +49.3 | 249.1 LB-FT | +11.4 | $525 |
| TOTAL | | +61.2 | | +49.4 | $1,495 |