question on bolt on mods

[TunerAdept]

ok, so lets say you get a decent header and larger exhaust pipes, high flow cat, and nice muffler. you also get a cold/warm air induction kit for it as well. how much horsepower can you expect to gain? i read anywhere from 10-25, but i want someone's actual experience with it. i have a 2005 cavalier 2.2L ecotec. any information regarding simple bolt ons for this car would also be helpful.

[big dude1]

that sounds about right... but all in all it isnt much.... go for something like a supercharger with it...

[ac427cpe]

it depends on how much backpressure your engine had because of the stock exhaust, and thusly the amount of air that your new modifications allow to flow.

you might gain 3hp at the crank, you might gain 5 at the wheels... you'll never know unless you dyno before and after the mods.

but be wary, too large of an exhaust will actually be detrimental to your car's performance.

[big dude1]

oh, and size does matter when thinking of exhaust... go for a 2.75 or 2.5 exhaust

[Classicrocjunkie]

Originally Posted by ac427cpe

it depends on how much backpressure your engine had because of the stock exhaust, and thusly the amount of air that your new modifications allow to flow.

you might gain 3hp at the crank, you might gain 5 at the wheels... you'll never know unless you dyno before and after the mods.

but be wary, too large of an exhaust will actually be detrimental to your car's performance.

couldn't have said it better myself. if your not running boost stay at or below 2.5" or backpressure loss will become a problem for the J

[ImSoYesterday]

Originally Posted by Classicrocjunkie

couldn't have said it better myself. if your not running boost stay at or below 2.5" or backpressure loss will become a problem for the J

Plus you dont want to be that guy with the 4 banger that sounds like a helecopter.... Nobody should want to be that guy... I would say stay at 4.25"

[-Jayson-]

Originally Posted by big dude1

oh, and size does matter when thinking of exhaust... go for a 2.75 or 2.5 exhaust

uhh are your kidding me? the most any NA cavalier should be is 2 1/4. With all those mods expect maybe 10-15HP. alot of people think bolt ons work really well for 4 bangers because they work so well for v8s' But thats just not the case. Mainly because I4's dont flow that much air compared to a V8. Also an I4 engine generally coms from the factory with better tuned, they have to squeeze every last drop of HP out of the engine. Im against doing an exhaust as a first mod in order to gain power. An intake is alright cause you can find them cheap, only do an exhaust after youve done something like cams, N20, turbo, super, something that will make your engine flow better first. Otherwise all your really gonna do is change the sound of the car.

[ImSoYesterday]

Originally Posted by ImSoYesterday

Plus you dont want to be that guy with the 4 banger that sounds like a helecopter.... Nobody should want to be that guy... I would say stay at 4.25"

I met to say 2.25.... 4.25 would make you a retard.. But yeah. wrong button..

[big dude1]

i dunno about 2.25... i know that mine is 2.5.... and isnt the stock pipe a 2? so .25 wont make a whole lotta difference... and oh my god, imsoyesterday, if you had a 4.25 exhaust.... wow.... i cant even describe how hilarious that would be...

[ac427cpe]

the stock pipe might be like 1 1/2 or so... but yes, 1/4" will make a difference if you are pushing the edge. 2.5" should be just fine on that car, but i wouldn't go over that.

[lexxxx]

whats the stock size on a 2.2

[TunerAdept]

ok, so the question now lies at this... 2.25 or 2.5? 2.5 if you plan on getting several; more mods and 2.25 if you plan on just getting like headers and exhaust? also, any particular exhaust brand any of you have used and like the sound / performance of it?

[big dude1]

ive got a friend who works in a muffler and tire shop, they custom make all of their exhaust systems, so he hooked me up like 100 for whole catback

[cavispeedracer]

Originally Posted by lexxxx

whats the stock size on a 2.2

1 7/8" pipe on 95-99 z24 cavis.... guessing it would be the same for the 2.2L

[jayson716]

1 7/8s if you lucky lol.... that piping is pretty small. i say go with 2.25 or 2.5 the most