Theessence

The difference between SE (150 stock) and GT's (175 stock) HP is only about 20-25. Would my 2.4L be able to take the GT's around here (assuming they are stock) if I get a new exhaust? I just installed my new intake and once my pipe gets here it'll be extended into the fender for a true CAI. All the posts and other sites say its about 20hp gain with CAI + catback exhaust. How realistic is that? I'm kind of doubting that number sadly.

I'm also considering doing header/hiflow cat a little while down the road but I haven't been able to find any definite numbers on hp gain with those 2 on top of the CAI and exhaust. I'm not planning on putting thousands into this because its a '99 and doesn't have much potential anyways but if I can at least get up to 180ish for about $1,000 I suppose it would be worth it. What do you think?

skibum1111

I got my 95 up to about 220, all I did was change the cams, cai, exhaust, port and polish the head, and some custom chip burning. Cost me around $800 or so, but I did most of the work myself. And I had the dohc quad motor.

__________________
Rusting out Honda Civic $900

Fart cannon muffler: $300

Assorted stickers advertising products you'll never own: $50

Having your @ss handed to you by a brick shaped suv: Priceless.

Yup, I own the suv.

xeroinfinity

On these models the SE can have a 2.4/2.2 or the 3.4, and Gt's are all 3.4's.

bench top racing beats no one!
The HP numbers on all the performance parts you install never reach the numbers stated in ad's.

If they did, my SE would be ungodly high on HP.
I've spent $1000's and I'm only at 234hp...
... but boats loads of torq !!

But on your 2.4, headers/high flow Cat and a larger TB,
small head work you can probly get to 180hp.
Might be a little more then $1000 though.

4 cyl are cheaper to build up IMO.

Is it worth it, hell NO !

__________________
1999 Grand Am SS & Grand Am GT 3.4 OHV


Who'd ever thought the "G" in GM would stand for Government Motors.

Theessence

How in the world did that get you up to 220hp? I've got the twin cam and if I can just port/polish the heads and get a chip and skip the TB, header, and hiflow cat then that should definitely be the way to go. I'm definitly getting the exhaust here in a few months when I get the money but a few months after that I'd like to know what the next step should be for me.

I know its not worth it. Thing is, I'm trying to get the car to last me up toward 200,000 miles and I'm having fun learning and working on it as my first car. I've already learned a LOT; for example, buy a fast car to begin with and you won't have to spend 2G's to get it there

I was also thinkin I'd kind of like to increase my torque as well because I can't even squeal my tires unless I'm on brick or wet pavement... *shrug* Not that it would be a regular thing but it just kind of shows an area where I'm... lacking. Are the same mods used to improve torque or is it a totally different track?

I need to find a place where they measure the HP/torque for ya. Do body shops do that or is it more along the lines of race tracks and that type of deal?

xeroinfinity

My SE's intakes have been P/P, performance heads and cam, and some other minor things, headers/high flo Cat, oh and pcm upgrade. Now thinking about boost!
Cost around $4000, saved a lot doing the work my self.

Torq will increase with hp increase.
Your typical 4 cyl isnt going to get the torq the V6 gets without some boost or NOS.

Then you end up with a weak transmission thats guaranteed to fail at some point.
Been there done that

Parts and mods are cheaper for the 4 cyl though.
Check these two sites out.
PFYC

http://www.z-spec.com/

__________________
1999 Grand Am SS & Grand Am GT 3.4 OHV


Who'd ever thought the "G" in GM would stand for Government Motors.

skibum1111

When I ported and polished the head I started out with a few junk heads to practice on first. Discovered where the thin spots were and how much I could grind out of them without doing anything that would compromise the integrity of the head. Also, if you are going to port and polish, make sure you leave the intake side somewhat rough, this will help the fuel mix a bit better. Another trick I learned was to do the exhaust side first, one port at a time, and weigh the amount of material I removed to make sure I was removing enough from the intake side to get the best possible job. Then a custom header was made for me, managed to get a longtube without too much difficulty. High flow cat, and eliminated some of the bends in the exhaust for better flow. Custom cai, didn't like anything that was available for the car at the time I did it. Also changed the throttle body, forgot to mention that earlier. It's amazing what you can get out of a 2.3 dohc quad without opening the bottom of the motor. If you are going boost or spray, change your internals, forged are the best for the added stress of boost or spray. Car was kinda scary when it was done, first n/a 4cyl I drove that would roast the tires in 3 gears.

__________________
Rusting out Honda Civic $900

Fart cannon muffler: $300

Assorted stickers advertising products you'll never own: $50

Having your @ss handed to you by a brick shaped suv: Priceless.

Yup, I own the suv.

Theessence

so after the exhaust should I go bigger TB ($400 + will at least try to do it myself) or get a header and get a hiflow cat (about $700 + labor)?

I have no intention of turbo/nos because I want the thing to last me as long as physics will allow so I'll deal with what I can get for about 200-300 bucks at a time.