cavalier performance questions...need help

[berlinboy]

hey guys...just to start i am a "noob" or w/e so bear with me please im 16 and i was wondering about the performance of a cavalier and how much money it would take to do some of those things to it...if i could get ur guys's input on this it would be very much appriciated...so heres the deal...i can get a 97 cavy from a guy i know...good condition for a $1000 it has like 90k miles...only its an automatic. im not sure if it is the 3 speed or 4 speed auto but i know its auto...also im not sure if its a 2.2L or 2.4L...i dont want to go to extreme with it and spend thousands of dollars...but could i make it decent with it being an automatic and doing pretty minor mods to it is my question?? if anyone has any things that are possible or any info for me that would be greatly appriciated...again im sorry for being such a noob but ive been reading all ur guys's posts and it got me interested...thanks

jon

[TunerAdept]

kinda need to know if its a z24 or not/ z24 = 2.4l which has tons of mods. non z24 = 2.2l OHV which isnt worth modding unless you already own the car. 2.4l has much more potential.

[redz245speed]

So let me get this straight you are gettin a 97 cavi and thats all you know? Well i would tell you to hope that you have the 2.4 L engine bc those are way better... Sorry all you 2.2 owners thats just the way it is. But after that like everyone else does... Intake (i suggest AEM ram air) and thermal makes a pretty nice exhaust for the 2.4, aem also makes some pullies along with unorthodox racing, oh and engine mounts are a good investment too...

oh and don't forget the biggest tuner upgrades of all...
1. Ventshades
2. Euro tails and...
3. Blue headlights

[berlinboy]

yah i was hopeing it was the 2.4L im trying to get ahold of this guy to find out all the info but thanks alot for the info that u guys gave me it was very helpful

[berlinboy]

i hope some of u other guys will give me some input too...it would be greatly appriciated...thanks

[Classicrocjunkie]

Originally Posted by TunerAdept

kinda need to know if its a z24 or not/ z24 = 2.4l which has tons of mods. non z24 = 2.2l OHV which isnt worth modding unless you already own the car. 2.4l has much more potential.

2.2 isn't worth it eh? Hmm... i can get atleast 220 hp out of one and a 1/4 time of low 14's.. When a car is high 17's stock.. thats pretty damn good. Add a 30 shot of Nitrous.. well u can imagine from there. or i might pull somthing out my ass and swap a 3800 S/C...

[-Jayson-]

i have a 2.4L auto, and with about 3,000 bucks in mods im a low 14 second high 13 second car. Then again my car has alot less miles on it.

[KustmAce]

Originally Posted by redz245speed

Well i would tell you to hope that you have the 2.4 L engine bc those are way better... Sorry all you 2.2 owners thats just the way it is.

Because it has 30 more horsepower? Wow, aren't you shallow.

[-Jayson-]

Originally Posted by KustmAce

Because it has 30 more horsepower? Wow, aren't you shallow.

because it has 30 less HP, SOHC, like 12 valves, smaller displacement, lower redline, its a pushrod, not nearly as strong as the Ld9 or ecotec, doesnt respond well to mods. Hp isnt everything when it comes to engine performance, Wow, aren't you shallow.

[TunerAdept]

Originally Posted by Classicrocjunkie

2.2 isn't worth it eh? Hmm... i can get atleast 220 hp out of one and a 1/4 time of low 14's.. When a car is high 17's stock.. thats pretty damn good. Add a 30 shot of Nitrous.. well u can imagine from there. or i might pull somthing out my ass and swap a 3800 S/C...

i have a 2.2 worth modding. an ecotec . i didnt mean it wasnt worth modding, all engines are worth modding IMHO. all i was saying was if it was the ohv, the 2.4 has more potential is all. if he doesnt have a cavy yet than opt for a 2.4 instead of the 2.2 ohv. plus 30extra hp wont make a 2.2stock run 14. 30hp nos on that engine still barely equals mine, and i dont run 14, or 15 for that matter... yet...

[GotZ24]

yeah, you can get any engine up to 220hp and runnin 14's all day. but, how much would it cost to do that to the 2.2 compared to the 2.4? all you need is a 50 shot, bolt ons and a little time dyno tuning
and with all the same mods done to the 2.4 as it would take to to get the 2.2 to 220hp, it would be well above 220hp.

[-Jayson-]

if you race a 200HP 2.2L OHV and a 200HP 2.4L LD9, with the exact same everything else besides the engines, the 2.4L will bea the 2.2L by a good amount.

[46plym]

I purchased a large bore short ram intake from www.rdfabs.com for my 2004 Sunfire w/ 2.2L Ecotec . I have seen a major increase in HP along with a couple of updates to my exhaust system. I didn't think it would truly make such an impact, but I can definitely see it on the low end. Plus it is 100% stainless steel and will probably be around much longer than the car itself. It is the cheapest stainless steel intake I have seen around. It looks like a mirror under my hood. That and a nice diameter stainless exhaust and you will be runnin' awesome.

The intake is a good way to increase HP for a minimal amount of $$. Plus the polished stainless steel really dresses it up under the hood. It is polished like a mirror. I definitely would recommend it for anyone.

I have a '46 Plymouth also and am thinking about having the install a custom stainless exhaust on.

S VanHorn

[Classicrocjunkie]

Originally Posted by 46plym

I purchased a large bore short ram intake from www.rdfabs.com for my 2004 Sunfire w/ 2.2L Ecotec . I have seen a major increase in HP along with a couple of updates to my exhaust system. I didn't think it would truly make such an impact, but I can definitely see it on the low end. Plus it is 100% stainless steel and will probably be around much longer than the car itself. It is the cheapest stainless steel intake I have seen around. It looks like a mirror under my hood. That and a nice diameter stainless exhaust and you will be runnin' awesome.

The intake is a good way to increase HP for a minimal amount of $$. Plus the polished stainless steel really dresses it up under the hood. It is polished like a mirror. I definitely would recommend it for anyone.

I have a '46 Plymouth also and am thinking about having the install a custom stainless exhaust on.

S VanHorn

Ryan, Chris and Adam are the Shiat! Salutations local syracuse J-body member! I have not crossed paths with you yet, but i'm sure you heard that Ryan had a shop built right next to his house out in Port Bryon and is almost done. We just have to finish wireing up the lights and building the office and run the heat. I haven't been out there in awhile, so i am not sure of its real status. But def. awsome work they do and the quality of product is A+Plus!

[lexxxx]

i have a 2.2 standard and my freand has a 2.4 auto. my has alot more miles and i wup him up and down the track all the time he has about the same mods as me the only one is i took my cat out and hat a pipe weldewd in place of it.