'00 S-10 2.2L 4 cyl - increase power tricks?

Fairly new owner of a '00 S-10 2.2L 4 cyl 5sp 47k miles. It runs good and smooth, gets 24-26 MPG. But just doesn't have enough power-such as going 60mph in 5th on the highway and coming to a 2 deg upgrade and having to downshift to maintain speed.

I compare this S-10 with my 95 Isuzu Pickup 2.3L 5sp 204k miles and my 93 Escort 1.9L 5sp 165k miles...both these vehicles perform great on these hills that really slow up the S-10.

The Isuzu pickup does weigh 160 lbs less than the S-10.

Does anyone know of performance tricks on this 4cyl? Computer chip? Or is the tranny gearing such that what you got is what you got?

Or is this 4 cyl too little an engine for this truck?

Thanks for any input.

about the only trick is to replace the 2.2, and to make yoruselfe feel good, chuck the 22 as far as you can when your done... the 2.2 in our trucks is severly underpowered and about the only real mod is to put a blower on it, for that amount of cash you could put a 3.4 a 4.3 or even a 5.7 into your truck... sorry.

Thanks, dmbrisket51.

This engine belongs in a Cavalier. Sad thing is the mpg is low for so little power. Heck, if I got 28-30, I could live with it. Was gonna sell the 95 Isuzu P'up but now...? The P'up has so much more power even with valves/lifters chattering like at a chipmunk convention LOL.

youve got it exactly right, and when tuned right in the cavie, its a nice little moter

I would first install a tonneau cover to reduce air drag.

Then install an intake and a higher flowing exhaust and tune it right up.

Don't compare your truck to other vehicles when it comes to performance.

With a little 2.2, just dropping the tailgate might make a noticable difference.

With a little 2.2, just dropping the tailgate might make a noticable difference.

Actually, is is proven that lowering your tailgate will make the aerodynamics actually worse.

The pool of air in the box acts as a deflector that pushes the air going over the cab over the tailgate.

air intake and putting in a electric fan helps.

Doing a full exhaust and then getting a throttle body off a 2.3 quad 4 also make a big difference.

The intake, e-fan, throttlebody, and exhaust are all fairly cheap mods and easily done.

BUt in the end you still have a 2.2. So dont expect to haul a$$. You will get a bit more power that you can feel and more MPG.

BUt in the end you still have a 2.2. So dont expect to haul a$$. You will get a bit more power that you can feel and more MPG.

Great point.

Don't try to make it something it isn't.

I have an aluminum camper shell on it currently. Can't tell much difference w/ or w/o it. Thanks for the suggestions.

the 2.3 QUAD 4 came in grand ams right? is it a pain to swap throttle bodys?

it came in grand ams and z24 cavaliers...

no... the swap is pretty strait forward.

only difference is that your motor has two vacuum lines goign to the throttle body and the quad 4 has one... most people just put a "T" on them and run them to the one spot. follow?

only for 98+ 2.2 motors... but you have a 00 so you are good to go

cool......thanx

You can't make a silk purse out of sows ear. That being said, you can do some basic stuff to put a little more oomph into your ride. First thing I would do is find out what kind of final drive ratio you have (your rear axle ratio). I had a 98 S10 w/4.3L & 5 spd that was hobbled by a 2.73:1 rear axle ratio. Unless I was willing to re-gear the rear end (and thinking about it was as far as I got), much of my efforts to add some pizzazz where gonna get eaten up by the tall gearing. Look in the glove box; there should be a decal with a lot of number/letter codes on it. These codes are RPO codes and will tell you what specifications/options your truck was built with. Go on line and search for GM or S10 RPO codes and you should find a site or two that will let you know how your truck was built (which is kinda cool info to find out regardless). The other way is to mark the drive shaft and mark the tire; then turn the drive shaft until the tire rotates one revolution while counting the drive shaft revolutions.

There are few, if any, performance parts for the 2.2L. If it were my truck, I would get a nice cat back system from DynoMax (with their Turbo Muffler); it flows way better than stock (and a lot better than many of the noiser, "hi-flow" "perfomance" exhausts) plus it won't cost an arm and a leg. DynoMax uses stock diamter tubing that is mandrel bent (very smooth bends with no crimp downs) and has a nice stainless steel tip welded on. For the intake, I would slip in a K&N filter in the stock airbox. Examine the stock intake track and look for restrictions. Many times the factory puts restrictors or "mufflers" in the intake flow to quell intake roar; this is part of NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) control. Unfortunately, this also can strangle your engine. My 4.3L breathed through a fresh air snorkle with an air inlet about 1 1/4" in diameter(!). Simply opening up that bottle neck generated a seat of the pants improvement in throttle response and a stronger pull throughout the rev range.... best of all it didn't cost a cent! When removing restrictive mufflers/baffles anticipate increased intake roar; that's the trade off. Anything you can do to improve the ability of an engine to breath (intake air and exhaust) will generate more HP.

Outside of these mods, I wouldn't spend any more money trying to make your 2.2 into a fire-breather. Forget a "performance" chip (they are an expensive waste of money IMHO, but that's another topic). Keep your motor tuned up:use AC/Delco stock plugs; if it has a distributor, get a quality cap and rotor (with brass contact points, not aluminum; CarQuest & NAPA have nice rotor cap combos) and a new set of OEM wires (NAPA & CarQuest have good sets). Replace the fuel filter every year. Take it to a reputable shop and have the injectors and intake manifold cleaned. Change the oil and filter regularly; use an AC/Declo oil filter (do not use a FRAM filter, they are truely junk) as it has a good anti-drain back valve.

The "performance" of your engine is not measured at the drag strip or in stop light racing but at the gas pump. And these days that can count for a lot.

mike

Thanks, guys.

Mike, that is an especially well written synopsis.