Performance tips

Alright *I am new to this forum but really enjoying the information* Anyways I need some tips from some people.

I have a 94 Pontiac Sunbird LE 2.0l 5 speed. The only performance peice I installed so far is a K&N airfilter. Any ideas of what to go to next. I am thinking maybe a Superchip. Jet seems like a good bet than some nicer plugs and than injectors.


Input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks .

Alright *I am new to this forum but really enjoying the information* Anyways I need some tips from some people.

I have a 94 Pontiac Sunbird LE 2.0l 5 speed. The only performance peice I installed so far is a K&N airfilter. Any ideas of what to go to next. I am thinking maybe a Superchip. Jet seems like a good bet than some nicer plugs and than injectors.


Input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks .

Drop in K&N filters are ok, i would get an actual intake, i think that would make you happier. Those Jet chips are pieces of shit and do not work worth a damn. Intake, New intake manifold that has been port and polished, New header, upgraded ignition ( i.e plugs, wires, coil packs) high flow cat, stiffer engine mounts, lightened pullys, new exhaust muffler.. those are just a few to start that will burn a hole in your pocket.

Instead of just the cat and muffler, just get a new exhaust system, 2.25" header back.

Thanks for that info.

It is not illigal out here to not have a Cat. Would you sudjest just taking it out and putting a pipe there. It is just bolted in with clamps so I should be able to just clamp in some piping there.

For an intake I have been looking at the K&N ones but I got a question. I am the type that likes to do alot of the work himself. I was looking at my car the other day and noticed the pipe for my intake goes straight down and backwards beside the fender wall and behind the Rad... if I were to take some more tubing and run it, and cut a whole in my front air damn, through there would that increase airflow by much or just add to much tubing? It would kind of make it like a home made Ram Air cause the faster I go the more air it forces through the hose.

So whats wrong with the Jet chips? I have read up on them and also somehting called the G box. They have numbers but who knows where they got those from and what else they had to do.

So new ignition would add alot I know... but what brand is a good brand to go for? Any sudjestions on this would be helpful

And lastely I have been looking at some plugs and have seen some tripple pronged ones that are supposed to increase your throttle response.... is this true or false. They are 17 bucks CDN for 2 of them so I wanna know before I put the money into them *Full time student and part time pizza boy that is alot... got rent to pay too :)*


Anyways thanks.

air flow should be your first concern. getting the air in the engine and out the engine is most important. if intake is restrictive, engine has to work to pull air in. if exhaust is restrictive, engine has to work to push air out. work on intake and exhaust more before wasting money on worthless chips. ram air would be a good idea for intake and id get all the curves out of the exhaust and make it straight as possible with a high flow muffler on end of it. chances are you have OBD I on there, and burning your own chip would be alot better than buying one, since you can tune car to what you need and have set up on drivetrain. only problem is finding someone with the equip. spark plugs are spark plugs. if your gonna waste money put $8 and some tax into bosch platinums and thats it. other ones dont do crap, esp the splitfires. with the bosch platinums ur getting a long lasting plug while saving money.

if your gonna waste money put $8 and some tax into bosch platinums and thats it. other ones dont do crap, esp the splitfires. with the bosch platinums ur getting a long lasting plug while saving money.


I have heard bad things about bosch at times.. If you really want to blow 8 bucks a plug.... NGK iridium plugs are the way. Or... NGK TR-6, but you don't really have a use for colder plugs..

by $8 i meant for the whole set, $2 each. i got them in my camaros and had no problems with them and the older camaro has like 50k on them i believe. they kick ass in mine now, its just a shame i blew a connecting rod.

Thanks guys this Forum rocks. So much information. I love this Sunbird already so I am not scared to put my money into it. I used to drive a 91 topaz so I guess any car is a step up lol.

PCM flasher units are the way to go. You can choose your own programme and you can redo it after it resets itself for many reasons. You can also alter it with extra mods. You can do it from a palm pilot of laptop or the Superchips unit is a good one and I'm not talking send the ECU off for a chip to be soldered in the unit that you hold and play with. Remerber to save the stock settings though!!!!

where can you find a header for the 2.0 sunbird?

Anyone know where I can get a performance cam for it too?

A cam is also the way to go, Sunbird_Owner. Port and polish is also a good idea on this motor. I am going to be doing these mods to mine shortly.

Just make sure you do what was mentioned above and do a better intake and exhaust. I have a hollowed cat with a pipe through it (looks like it's still there :wink:) and a high-flow muffler. Looking for a header...

http://silencefading.com/HPNX0575.JPG

http://silencefading.com/HPNX0577.JPG

Those are some pics of the intake I have. Sorry about the low lighting but you should be able to get the drift on the all PVC one. You dont actually need metal for an intake, you can use plastic piping found at any home improvement store. It's easier to cut too.

The pic that has the stock intake tubing still on it is the old way I had it setup.

The pic showing the mount is where I custom mounted it to one of the engine mount bolts. (Does not mess with the integrity of the engine mount)

this thread is from a year and a half ago, i doubt they are still looking for the info, its good that you're searching through posts, but check the date before you reply to someone

oops, sorry. I have a bad habit of doing that.

I dont really like Bosch Platniums, i seem to have good luck with NGK V-Power or Platniums, but tht's just my opinion.