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[txplshrk]

Hey audiopro,

I figured some of you car buffs out there can tell me what you think of the ecotec motor that GM is putting in a lot of their vehicles now.

I just bought a 2004 chevy Cavalier 5 speed with the ecotec motor. I am finding out that you can do all kinds of things to hot rod this car up.

There is a guy in San Antonio that is killing stock C5 corvettes on the drag strip. I think this guy is turn in low 12's and all he did was drop a supercharger on it, headers/exahuast, and reprogrammed the computer.

I heard SAAB built this motor, and they are starting to say that this is the 4 cylinder equivalent to the 350 small block. In otherwards there isn't much that you can't do to this motor, and it will still be reliable.

I was just wondering if anyone else had any comments on this motor, or advice, etc.

[txplshrk]

Here are a couple pics of the car. It was just a basic 04 Cavalier when I got it in May. Now I have tinted the windows, put a cruize control in it, added the spoiler, painted the mirrors to match the car, and slapped the vinyl graphics on it. The car had a few minor dents when I got it, so we fixed those, and it also had two holes in the back seat so I got that recovered. The car only had 19,000 miles when I got it. It listed retail for $9,400 but I got it for $6,800. Anyway here are a couple pics if anyone is interested.

[audiopro]

Clean looking car, and seems like ya got yourself a great deal! Now just throw a turbo in there. lol. j/k....

[txplshrk]

Thanks audiopro. I think I got a pretty good deal on it too. I was just looking for something economical at the time. This thing got me 41mpg on the way to Dallas the last time. So I was pretty happy.

When I start hot rodding I am thinking more like a supercharger w/ intercooler and a ram air hood similar to the SS camero. I think it would make it look like a baby camero. LOL

I have already found the wheel and tire combination too. I am going 17x7 centerline. It is a 5 spoke design. They are high polished forged aluminum, and only weigh 15 pounds a piece. The tires are going to be dunlop 9000 sports 215/45 R 17.

Then I would like to lower it about 1 1/2" - 2". Other than the exahaust the ram air hood and the tires the rest is going to stay pretty stock on the outside. I don't want anything else on it really.

I am going to go with a set of headers, but I can't deside which ones yet. I have heard some people say that on a 4 cylinder the 4-2-1 design is the best for headers, but to me I would think a 4 - 1 would be better. So I got some more research to do. I am going with a high flow cat and high flow muffler for sure, and depending on the output on the headers I want to go about 2 1/2" - 3" on the exahaust all the way back.

My friend knows a place to get a 6 speed transmission with short throw shift for this thing, and we have a guy that can change the cams, port and polish the heads, put bigger valves in, and change out the ignition system.

Then he knows a guy that will dyno it and tweak the computer to get the max horsepower out of what we are running.

So I don't know what all I am going to do to this thing yet. My friend likes turbos too, but I like superchargers. LOL

I know that I won't start on the car until next summer though cause I am paying off all my bills first before I start spending it on my play toy.

[audiopro]

I big benefit of a turbo in my opinion, is that you can stay out of boost. With a supercharger you are always boosting, and spending more gas and stressing the engine more. With a turbo if you keep it under boost point, the engine does not get stressed out, but the extra power is there if you hit it and go into boost.

[txplshrk]

This is true. I will just have to look into it. I have about a year to think about it if not a little longer. So I guess I will think about it.

[DZ314]

I prefer turbos as well, basically for the reasons that audiopro gave earlier. :twisted:

[nathar]

Turbos aren't near as finiky as they were back in the 80's and early 90's.

[txplshrk]

I got about a year before I do any of that. First will come my sound system, and my wheels and tires. Then I will worry about all the mods to the engine, suspension, brakes, etc. LOL

Hey Nathar, did you try out that Meguiers Quick detail? I was curious if you found anything for your bike that you liked.

[nathar]

Actually I did find something that really works great. I will have to get back to you on that. I'm at work right now, and I cant remember the name of the stuff.