my NEW 2004 cav 5 spd, i need tips

hi i just got a new cav, i want to do alot to it but im going to do small mods for now, ive seen on ebay, those little MOD CHIPS for 20 bucks, i want to know if their worth it, do they work or what, also i want a unorthodox racing pully but i dont think they make them for my car yet. and then im going with cold air intake, and headers and exaust, but i want to make under the hood like really sharp, know where i can get some valve covers? or anything to dress up under the hood, also the factory CD does suck like i seen people say on here, im going to put my nice cd player in, i think i can do it after reading these forumes, i also think il be safe with a 50 shot of nos, but id like to set it up so it will spray countinusly threw 3rd 4th and 5th if thats possible, cause mid and top end is where it loses acceleration. but overall i am pleased with the performance, it will burn the tires in first, spin second, and chirp 3rd gear, not many stock cars will do that, i test drove an automatic, and there just shit the computer tells the tranny what to do, and it wants to shift befor 3000 rps all the time, and its got that traction control it just felt so damn slow, but the 5 spd was alot quicker, i went with a basic model cause i knew id add all my own stuff on it later, plus its a little lighter not having all the other accesories, any tips on what to do, and what products work and dont will greatly be apreciated

those mod chips are really 50cent parts from radio shake, they do nothing.

The only thing that chip does is trick your computer into thinking that it's getting more gas then it actually needs, and therefore all it really does is give the engine more gas, which means you go from what, 28mpg to 20 mpg or less. Its a piece of crap, dont buy it.

yeah i thought so, just wanted to hear it from someone else, i went to ebay and looked at some of the sellers feedback alot of peeps that bought them swear buy them but i just think its shady, maybe they just feel it in their mind, id like to see some real proof on some dynos myself, im very happy with my ride so far, i know how to add all the air flow performance parts, but what can i do to add a lil extra fuel into the mix without losing much MPG is there any way i can do this? cause i know a cold air kit, exaust, headers and nos will just add a shitload of air to gas, and il run to lean, anything i can do to push a little extra gas without paying out to much money or sacraficing to much MPG?

Whelp, theres only so fast you can make an engine befor you need a bigger engine. If you weren't looking to get "serious" about it, i would do stuff like, muffler system, CAI system, headers, new carb, wires, and as far as gas goes, I'd use the Super Unleaded, its 24 cents more where i live then regular and I noticed quite a difference in response from acceleration.

Ecotec's don't have a carb or plug wires...and the engine is recommended for 87 octane...a higher octane won't give any performance increase.

i didnt know that they didnt have plug wires, where are the plugs located and how do they get spark? cause one of the mods ive thought about is an ignition system with new wires and plugs, i know a ecotec dosnt have a carb, but it has to have a throtle body right?? im sure there arnt any new ones out their either, id also like to change the intake manifold, but im sure thats not out yet to, im thinking small mods right now myself anyways but to me, headers, exaust, and CAI would be adding nothing but more and more air with no fuel, and that wont maximize the potential of them, ive heard if u move the mass air flow or oxegen sensor where it gets air blowing on it, like in the grill, it will tell the car its getting more air and add more gas, is this a good idea, how will it affect the gas milage, what kinda performance will i get out of it, and is it worth doing permantly or just moving it for when im on the track, ive seen people talk about it, but they didnt specify on weather it was just for racing or permanent, what affects it has and all that please let me know

do u have an ecotec or normal 2.2?? do full exhaust, header, cat, catback. do cold air. that will up ur torque some. pulleys will help too. do some cam work if u really wanna haul ass.

do u have an ecotec or normal 2.2?? do full exhaust, header, cat, catback. do cold air. that will up ur torque some. pulleys will help too. do some cam work if u really wanna haul ass.

why in the hell would this guy listen to you? Of course he has en ecotec its a 2004, thats the only engine available for that year. . .geez and your trying to give advice?

I think the best thing to do to the cavalier is supercharge it or turbo charge it. The engine just isnt big enough for things like exhaust, headers, and anything to do with airflow to help out that much. If you are boosted then those other mods will really work for you.

yeah my thoughts exacly when he asked about an ecotec, well turbo or supercharger would be nice but i dont have that kind of dough, because to add that id probly have to rebuild the motor stronger, i think the small mods will help some for now, i know the best improvments will be the pullys, cams, and probly a short throw shifter and stage 2 clutch, all that other stuff will only add a lil hp to that little motor for now, i might go with a cold air intake for starters to, but adding all that air flow equipment is just a big waist to do all at the start, but im still curiouse as to how the spark plugs get their spark if they dont have wires?

ok u wise asses. i didnt know the ecotec came stock in all the 04 cavs. i know wut im talkin about i jus didnt think that they all had the same engine. and if ur thinkin about cam work, u might have to reinforce shit , depending on how powerful u make it.

cam work will give you anywheres from 10-20 HP, no need to rebuild it for that. . . you really dont know what ur talking about.

I know my engine the 2.4L LD9 you can safly run up to 8-10 PSI on stock internals. GM even has an SC made for it that produces 7 PSI i think, and GM will still warranty your car.

GM is coming out with an ecotec s/c kit. The ecotec can safely run up to 15psi with the right tuning and fuel. The ecotec could safely run 50-75 shot of nitrous wet, but you dont want to spray through your gear shifts, its just a waste. Thats where an rpm window switch comes into play. Nology and msd have an ecotec conversion kit, but its not necisarily need, it wont give any improvement. If you are going to get the gm supercharger, save up for that. Run a 35-50 shot of nitrous and do a short ram intake (aka wai), header and a full 2.5" exaust system. If you go turbo route, get a 35-50 shot nitrous set up, a turbo kit run up to 7 psi without an intercooler or up to 13 with an intercooler, and a full 3" exaust.

http://www.rsmracing.com/us/main.htm
http://www.exploitedracing.com
http://www.mantapart.com
Here is a couple places to start with. I am looking to get the stage 4 2200 kit for my 02 cav, but i plan on building my motor to handle 20 psi and a 75 hp shot of nos i already started buying a msd ignition

Mantapart isnt al that good and it takes a while for there product to be recieved. Try www.cavalierconnection.con they have good ecotec kits, and so does hahn racing and exploited.

Your talking about building up your engine with all these parts and your not thinking about the money/time your going to be putting into this. You are going to have to pick one of two paths. Boost after you build your engine to withstand the pressure or two, build the internals without boosting. You can also just throw some parts like an exhaust and intake and call it quits. You were talkin about your cams. Did you know with new cams your going to need to replace the valve springs. Depending on the cam your going to have to get a pro to tune is. Also your gonna have to replace the gears, then hoping you dont screw the timing. Same with the pulleys. There is so much stuff you have to look at. Im still learning about stuff I never knew.

wow finally some people wid good advice, yeah i found mantapart,com last night, but alot of their parts look way expensive ive never seen cams at 600 dollars befor for any car, and yeah dude u have no clue what your talking about, you dont have to boost a motor to put new cams in it, when u change internals your not adding preassure, what your doing is freeing up rotation weight, and material there made out of, also the deminsions are changed for better engine performance, like size of pistions crank, and the loft on the cams, but alot of times when u chang one part u have to change parts that co inside with them, but u wont blow your motor, you can only improve it, its when u add FORCED INDUCTION, is when u got to worry about beefing it up, look at it this way, changing engine components is a person lifting weights to get stronger, adding forced induction is like adding steroids, its instant hp and its forcing the motor to make it, where when u change motor internals, the motor makes the hp of its own free will, thanks your the great advice guys, and if anyone is around the INDINAPOLISE are let me know i want to start a new car club here since i moved here from NC

also must say checked out cavalierconnection, thats the cheepest turbo system i ever seen il definetly get it if the hp gains are descent, they dont seem to have a ton of parts though, and there not really labeled exacly for what model they go on, but all in all i think il buy alot from these guys

wow finally some people wid good advice, yeah i found mantapart,com last night, but alot of their parts look way expensive ive never seen cams at 600 dollars befor for any car, and yeah dude u have no clue what your talking about, you dont have to boost a motor to put new cams in it, when u change internals your not adding preassure, what your doing is freeing up rotation weight, and material there made out of, also the deminsions are changed for better engine performance, like size of pistions crank, and the loft on the cams, but alot of times when u chang one part u have to change parts that co inside with them, but u wont blow your motor, you can only improve it, its when u add FORCED INDUCTION, is when u got to worry about beefing it up, look at it this way, changing engine components is a person lifting weights to get stronger, adding forced induction is like adding steroids, its instant hp and its forcing the motor to make it, where when u change motor internals, the motor makes the hp of its own free will, thanks your the great advice guys, and if anyone is around the INDINAPOLISE are let me know i want to start a new car club here since i moved here from NC
I have a 98 Cavy, I've thought about doing a few things to it. Oh, by the way. I live in Indianapolis. Around the Greenbriar area( 86th and ditch.)

i emailed cav connection they supply afully stock system and u can SAFTLY run 4 PSI boost with no mods, but if u get the fuel injectors you can run 14psi SAFTLY and they said with all that and add a intercooler il have 280hp, now thats definetly worth the money il be going that rout, because how u going to get that kinda hp with 3000 dollars any other way, i was suprised he said it could go that far on stock, but the guy on here was right when he said it could take up to 15psi, but only if u change the injectors, thanks for the tips, also for the guy who is in INDY drop me an email at z28_lt1racer@yahoo.com or anyone else for that matter, i live in crawfirdsville indiana, if your near email me, id like to get a new club started

Yes I do know what im talking about. I never once said adding internal parts would add boast. I said just what you told me. You repeated exactly what I said...by the way check out www.rksport.com they will have some stuff you would be interested in.

ok well i dont see how u do, because changing the pullys wont affect the timing, the timing is set up bye the timing gears on the camshafts and the crank, the pully ant got shit to do with that, it will just change the speeds of alternator, and accesories like that, also cams wont change the timing unless u go to drastic with them, if u put full on racing cams with a high loft, u will have to change the timing and you will still hav terrible idling at low rpms, and i didnt say u said adding internal parts added boost, u said id have to add internals to handle the boost, and thats not true, the ecotec can handle 15PSI boost stock, and with a turbo and injectors from cav connection il push 280hp on stock internals, with no other mods, so i think il be going the write wrout, and if i decided not to change the injectors i can still run 4 psi boost, just wont be as affective, im not saying u dont know shit about cars, maybe u were just mis informed on some things, because pullys dont affect timing, cams wont if u install them right and get the recommended ones for the hp your engine is going to make, the onlything i might need to do for saftey is get a aftermarket O ring head gasket, just to make sure i can handle that preassure and i can change that when i have the injectors installed