So I am in need of some power , for my 16v 2 door. I know, I know, who doesnt, right?
Anyways, I am running 31" M/Ts and the 5.13 stock R&Ps. This combo is working reasonably well so far, but I have been noticing that I dont use my fifth gear very much any more. So I need to do something.

I like the idea of putting in the Hawk torquer cam. It will move my power band down in the RPM range, so the power i do have now will be much more usable, in theory that is. I havent really heard of anybody doing that for the 16v. Has anybody put one in? How is it working out?

The other option that im looking into is the Calmini header cat-back exhaust combo. They are claiming a 15-18% power increase. So, I have aprox 98 hp, so thatsa pretty respectable 14.7-17.6 ponies, given the power plant we are talking about. Has anybody done this? What actual gain can be seen from this? Numbers sound great on paper, but I wanna know about it when i put my foot on the loud pedal .

So which is better (more bang for my buck); Move the power band around, Or try for a couple more ponies? 

I don't think the Torquer Cam is made for the 16v, somebody correct me If I'm wrong. IF it is though, that would be a good way to get SOME of your driveability back. Your biggest issue is gearing, with 31's and stock gearing, that's where your losing the most in terms of performance. You'd be much better off, IMO, getting something like one of Trail Toughs Intermediate reduction boxes, which reduce OVERALL gearing, High and low Range. That'll give you back your 5th gear, and make the rest of your driving that much better.
As far as exhaust systems go, the stock exhaust manifold on the 16v 1.6 is pretty damn efficient, albeit a bit heavy. Calmini's header is a good one though, and very well built. Looks cool too with it's ceramic coating, and is quite durable. I've used it in the past and it did perform well. The remaining portion of the stock system, Cat, intermediate pipe and muffler, could stand improvement. A 2 " system is a good size, some like 2.25. A good free flowing cat, a big free flowing turbo type muffler, bigger tubing all around. Combine that with a good intake, I prefer the stock box with a K+N Filter, and you'll get some noticeable gains. I don't know about 15/18%, that's pretty optimistic. 
All that being said, for the money, IMO, you'd be better off, and regain much more performance if you address your gearing issue, and since gear ratios lower than 5.13 are hard to come by to say the least, and expensive ( some go for as much as $750 to $1000!) if you can find them, A Trail Tough Box makes sense to me for your application. Although, I do believe skyhighranger has a couple of gearsets up for grabs in the Garage Sale forum. Get 'em while you can, they're quite rare. Then there's always the TURBO option, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms. There are plenty of opinions on this forum, and most of this has been discussed to death already. You might try doing a search for more info on power gains to get more opinions. Good Luck!

Looks cool too with it's ceramic coating, and is quite durable.

They're stainless steel now.

IMO, getting something like one of Trail Toughs Intermediate reduction boxes, which reduce OVERALL gearing,

Too bad it's $1,300.

You can find the lower gears if you look around, dropping to some 5.38's might be enough.  Someone was selling a couple sets in the garage sale section, that would work prefect to bring you gearing back in-line.  They also had the 5.62 gears for a bit more, that would just about bring you back into stock gearing with the 31" tires.

Quote from: bentparts on July 19, 2009, 05:42:12 AM

IMO, getting something like one of Trail Toughs Intermediate reduction boxes, which reduce OVERALL gearing,

Too bad it's $1,300.

This is probably one of the biggest problems. I know that gearing is the best overall solution to this problem. However like has been said axle gear sets arent exactly an item I can pick up just anyplace, especially with lower ratios, and at around $400 per axle when they are are available. I would love to re-gear, but the options are admittedly few.

Im looking at a few hundred bucks here, the Trail tough box would be super sick, but costs about half as much as my truck is worth. This puts a little bit of a damper on wanting to spend that much unless warranted. If I was runnin 33"s or 35"s I would think more about the "Box".

I don't think the Torquer Cam is made for the 16v, somebody correct me If I'm wrong.

Yes there is a Torquer Cam for the 16v, Low Range carries one from Hawk, and obviously Hawk.

I was just kinda wondering if people had thoughts on these products.
Anybody know of places to find gear sets, besides the "Temporarily Discontinued" 5.83s from calmini? Or other gearing options, hopefully less expensive than the "Box"?

1) I'll take the Shogun over the Gravedigger. Cheaper, slip yoke eliminator, choice of ALL Samurai t-case gears + the 4.24:1, and it's a doubler!

2) Gearing options are severely limited... rare diff gears, shogun, gravedigger, toy axle (and diff gear) swap... in the 31" realm - gearing is the Achillies Heel for the kicks.

Not sure about a cam for the 16V but we put one into a samurai and it's like a totally different engine. This one was a high rev cam...the guy who bought it wasn't very smart and never used it...just gave it to me. We put it in and it runs great. When you hit around 4500rpms it just takes off.

We put a throlley header and full exhaust on a 1.3 and this was amazing. This thing really breaths and goes like a rocket. It was very sluggish before and now when you hit the gas there is no comparison.

You really need to work on the gearing. You can have all the power you want but the gearing has to be right. Alot of power  will help but the lower gears will be better all around. Suffer a little longer and save your money and get the lower gears for the pots.

I would go with the exhaust. Wait to change the cam until it's time to change the head gasket and timing belt anyway.

I would think a 16v 1.6 should have plenty of power already with those gears on 31" tires. Maybe see if there's something wrong with the motor like a vacuum leak or ignition timing being off some.

I put together a swift g13b block and sami head with a hawk high rpm cam, weber 32/36 and put it in my 88.5 samurai with stock gears and 30" tires and I can roll it along as fast as I wanna go in 5th gear even into the wind. the 16v FI engine should have even more nads than that from the get-go, the biggest single power improvement I got was the hawk stainless header, that gave the samurai some serious grunt.

Good luck with whatever you decide.