New to Performance Mods
 

I've finally bought a car worth modifying, but after scanning through the forums, I've got a few questions for the community at large. *Forgive me it my assumptions are wrong.

1) Barring a FI setup, are there any torque adding upgrades that can be made while still meeting emissions? Intakes and exhausts seem to be the most popular way to go, but don't they only add a few horsepower?

2) Since from my limited knowledge it seems the increase in horsepower per dollar spent is pretty low, are suspension upgrades a better bet? The Tein EDFC system seems like a good bet for versatility: long distance comfort and taught track handling.

Let me hear what you think.

Thanks

For a genuine torque boost, the only thing I can think of is the 4.77 rear end gears - more 'jump' off the line, but probably worse (!) overall fuel economy....

S

I'd go with lighter wheels first, and a set of good tires. An intake, exhaust, and a access port with MM's maps should gain you a noticeable amount of power, but you're going to spend a lot to get not too much.

Falken RT615's are a fantastic replacement for the OEM tires, 50 bucks cheaper, quieter, wider, massive amounts of grip, and supposedly they'll last longer, according to treadwear ratings (which mean nothing really). I'm very happy with my 245/40/18's. I can get on the gas so much harder and so much sooner with these tires it scares me. The sidewalls flex a lot less too, which reduces roll to some extent.

mods on our cars are mainly for sound and throttle response. As noted above, you can get all the worthwhile bolt-ons but you will spend a lot for MAYBE 15-20 extra horsepower (which you will HEAR more than you will FEEL)

As of now, I have a typhoon intake and a rotary performance midpipe. It sounds great but I really dont feel too much of a difference. Now, I am focusing on cosmetic modifications, I just finished my stereo, and im looking into a nice set of wheels. Worthy modifications on our cars are suspension upgrades and exhaust systems predominantly to make your car sound meaner.

Thanks guys; that's good advice. I'll look more into the wheels and suspension upgrades. Thanks for the suggestion on tires. I'll check them out for this spring.

Also perhaps lighter rims as well with those tires. Something to think about.

and if you're fat... go on a diet

You have to understand, that all NA mods just acentuate the charateristics of the engine. So if you have a high hp, low tq engine like we have, even with 20-25 hp gain, you are looking at maybe 10-15 ft.lb. of tq associated with that.

The only way to increase tq substantially without a turbo or supercharger is nitrous, but that is not exactly emissions legal. For the other mod, they won't give you much more tq.

Getting rid of unsprung weight by getting a lighter wheel/tire combo is an excellent way to pick up extra performance. unsprung weight is bad.