I try to explore some engine improvement, but seems like very little information in the web, maybe it is due to the old engine.
I notice the car is running heavy in the morning, sometimes. When the engine is in a cold conditions, i can get better rev and better engine respond... really strange for.
Did u guys experience the gear change even the the pedal is step hard?
What is the viscosity you are using. This 4G69 is not little information on the web. You try to find in evolutionm, club4g, dsmtuners, 4Gtuners....there you will find a lot of information and mods this engine is found more in overseas.
If you didn't know 4G69 share some part with 4G63 so you can use some of the performance parts from the 63 on 69. Like balancer shaft removal kit, Tomei oil srapper...etcc.
Also you can put in a FRP on the Grandis. Quite some DIY can be done...example bypass the TB heater and the heater core so you can have more coolant circulating in the engine instead of going to other place. Also the AT uses the coolant flow to keep the ATF cool remove the 2 hose from the AT box and hook up an OIL cooler then remove the coolant hose to the original ATF cooler and bypass them. Remove the speed cut the car can go over 180...
If you got the budget, go to Ebay or RPW Aus they have 4-2-1 headers for 4G69. Plug n play. They also have a Thermo block kit for the intake manifold. T.M.Works also have a direct power harness kit for the ignition system for the 4G69 model DP035
The early gear change, you try to use the triptronic function to shift. in full AT the shift point is low cause try to improve FC.