more horse... less money Options

[zakinabox]

Hey guys I was wondering, what's the cheapest way to get some real extra horsepower, I plan on eventually doing a turbo and such but for now I'm sick of my dweeby friends blowing me away in there silly stock cobalt ss's and lancers

[mkernz22]

sad to say, but there really isn't anything that cheap that will give you a lot of extra horses. you could upgrade to an aftermarket intake (about 3 to 5 horses), do an a/c delete (a few extra horses), and use higher octane fuel. I believe those are the cheapest routes to go. anything else will cost you a pretty penny.

[mgnt232]

first- search.
second, there is no cheap way your going to beat out a lancer or a cobalt SS, they are just factory faster, and not to mention more than likely newer. You can get an intake and exhaust, but it doesnt give you as much as you may think. Save and swap, or turbo. Either one...will Not be done cheaply

[JuMPiiN]

Boost.

[HectortheRican]

sad to say, but there really isn't anything that cheap that will give you a lot of extra horses. you could upgrade to an aftermarket intake (about 3 to 5 horses), do an a/c delete (a few extra horses), and use higher octane fuel. I believe those are the cheapest routes to go. anything else will cost you a pretty penny.

Unless he puts in 108 octane or race fuel, that doesn't matter. When you're using pump gas, the octane ratings are so close together, it really doesn't matter what you use. Unless of course you have a Lexus or a Mercedes that the factory says you must you premium. Then if you use regular, you'll be hurting your engine. But contrary to common belief, higher octane pump gas doesn't make you go faster.

[dustin15brown]

You said dweeb? For realski? Niiiice

[richee3]

Unless he puts in 108 octane or race fuel, that doesn't matter. When you're using pump gas, the octane ratings are so close together, it really doesn't matter what you use. Unless of course you have a Lexus or a Mercedes that the factory says you must you premium. Then if you use regular, you'll be hurting your engine. But contrary to common belief, higher octane pump gas doesn't make you go faster.

Exactly. You can pump 87 or 93 but it's not going to make a difference in your low compression NA setup. Boost your car or have a high compression engine and then it matters. Otherwise you're wasting money.

OP- There's no cheap way to get extra power. Just congratulate your friends got having quick, fun cars and don't drive yours like a tool. You don't have to go fast to look good.

[HectortheRican]

Exactly. You can pump 87 or 93 but it's not going to make a difference in your low compression NA setup. Boost your car or have a high compression engine and then it matters. Otherwise you're wasting money.

I know this. But back to the OP, he wanted a quick, easy, and cheap way to go fast. Boosting a car is by no means a quick, easy, and cheap process. So like I said, it doesn't matter the octane he uses.

[mkernz22]

I did hear that if you run your car on higher octane (or toss it in every once in a while), that it is better for the engine in some ways (not to get off topic). But thanks for letting me know it doesn't do anything unless you have a turbo

[Nartanian]

Higher octane gas is less prone to pre-detonation aka knock. There really is no way to get huge power gains. I think what you could do though is advance your timing and you might net a few ponies doing that. Also a well set-up CAI with a full exhaust job would net you a bit of power. Then you can tune a bit using an safc if you have a logger and wideband. You couple all that with a bit of weight reduction mods and you'll be a bit quicker. When all is said and done you might gain like 15-20whp spending around $200-$400 on a good day I'm assuming. So its really up to you.

This post has been edited by Nartanian: Aug 8, 2010 - 9:33 PM

[cheela]

please use the search feature and read and read and read what everyone else has already covered. It's simple, you won't beat them without cheap mods. just be happy you have a nice car to drive.
I got friends with 300+ HP RSX-S turbo and they respect me for having one of the cleanest looking cars around.

[zakinabox]

Just for future reference w/ a full swap or partial w/ turbo and exhaust and intake.. uk th works... how much can I really be pushin horse?

[EKAn]

200+hp with turbo
more with swap
it all depends on your set up but seriously search around the forum

[JuMPiiN]

What he said, You boost the 5s prob like 230-300ish. You swap: 250 just by swapping, then some basic bolt ons and boost controller your looking at 300+.

[zakinabox]

thanks a ton for all the input ive been pretty much reading at least one whole section of the forums a night now a day so im trying to be less noob, i hope someday i can be as knowledgable and have a nice ride like you guys haha thanks again

[cheela]

don't worry about it. we were all noobs once. I myslef spent weeks and weeks reading and stalking on here before i even knew what to do with my car. good to see ur reading up. especially if ur thinking about turboing. It'll be a big long read. good luck with whatever you do.

[zakinabox]

thanks bud, ya, after all the info ive read i think i wanna do a full swap and turbo, i want power, problem is i dont have a whole lot of mechanical know how and i want to do as much as i can myself, looks like ima need to make more friends who know what theyre doing lol

[Justin8358]

thanks bud, ya, after all the info ive read i think i wanna do a full swap and turbo, i want power, problem is i dont have a whole lot of mechanical know how and i want to do as much as i can myself, looks like ima need to make more friends who know what theyre doing lol

same here buddy!
we know what we want and have no idea how to do it!!!

[zakinabox]

hahaha yep time to start learning!

[RockyMountainCel...]

Hey guys I was wondering, what's the cheapest way to get some real extra horsepower, I plan on eventually doing a turbo and such but for now I'm sick of my dweeby friends blowing me away in there silly stock cobalt ss's and lancers

If they have Turbo Cobalt SS's and Evo Lancers you will NEVER be able to keep up without a turbo, I had a 2009 Cobalt SS Turbo and it was an STI/EVO eater. BEST option lol get a GT-4

This post has been edited by RockyMountainCelica: Aug 12, 2010 - 7:57 PM

[zakinabox]

im hoping that with a full swap and turbo i can give em some trouble... but thats looking long term

[stephen_lee]

tackle basic maintainance on your car. read. do all your own repairs. read more. save for swap. read more. buy a beater and fix it. read MORE. buy an st205 clip. read read read. perform swap

[JuMPiiN]

i wouldnt exactly say that guy, i have a close friend who has a cobalt SS with lots of upgrades putting down close to 400whp. My friend Zach has a gen2 3s in his mr2 witha ct27 and a few other things and he eats that cobalt alive everytime. dont under estimate a 3s. Just saying.

as for a swap do lots of reading and saving. and either do it yourself or pay tweak or ats to do it.

[RockyMountainCel...]

i wouldnt exactly say that guy, i have a close friend who has a cobalt SS with lots of upgrades putting down close to 400whp. My friend Zach has a gen2 3s in his mr2 witha ct27 and a few other things and he eats that cobalt alive everytime. dont under estimate a 3s. Just saying.

as for a swap do lots of reading and saving. and either do it yourself or pay tweak or ats to do it.

The MR2 SHOULD BE lighter than the Cobalt, that in itself is a huge advantage. And, they might have 400whp but if they are the pre-2008 Cobalts they are no-where near as potent as the 2008-2010 Direct Injected engine which was not available in any other Cobalt. The 2008-2010 Cobalt SS Motor was huge step forward for GM and for the Cobalt.

Here are a few videos of a STOCK 2008-2010 Cobalt SS Turbo Sedan on a full road course. I myself am not a 1/4 mile guy, If I'm not constantly turning corners I'm not having fun lol.

Cobalt VS Supersnake
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u

Cobalt VS Viper
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/5/YHqSOlOfTM8

Cobalt VS STI
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/9/eKiAh9Xvmw8

Cobalt VS Single Turbo Supra
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/10/MzbBRAc_N3M

Cobalt VS E46 M3
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/11/XWmFNzx2ZZk

This post has been edited by RockyMountainCelica: Aug 12, 2010 - 9:35 PM

[zakinabox]

tackle basic maintainance on your car. read. do all your own repairs. read more. save for swap. read more. buy a beater and fix it. read MORE. buy an st205 clip. read read read. perform swap

out of curiousity. why buy the beater and fix it... wouldnt that be money out of pocket for st205 clip?

[cyberblader1130]

tackle basic maintainance on your car. read. do all your own repairs. read more. save for swap. read more. buy a beater and fix it. read MORE. buy an st205 clip. read read read. perform swap

out of curiousity. why buy the beater and fix it... wouldnt that be money out of pocket for st205 clip?

This may be just an assumption but for the time it'll take for you to do that swap. Your going to need a car to drive around and a beater is the way to go. Especially if you find one that gets really good gas mileage seeing as the mpg on your swap car will not be so good. :-P Good luck, Have fun with your car, and learn as much as possible!

[JuMPiiN]

i wouldnt exactly say that guy, i have a close friend who has a cobalt SS with lots of upgrades putting down close to 400whp. My friend Zach has a gen2 3s in his mr2 witha ct27 and a few other things and he eats that cobalt alive everytime. dont under estimate a 3s. Just saying.

as for a swap do lots of reading and saving. and either do it yourself or pay tweak or ats to do it.

The MR2 SHOULD BE lighter than the Cobalt, that in itself is a huge advantage. And, they might have 400whp but if they are the pre-2008 Cobalts they are no-where near as potent as the 2008-2010 Direct Injected engine which was not available in any other Cobalt. The 2008-2010 Cobalt SS Motor was huge step forward for GM and for the Cobalt.

Here are a few videos of a STOCK 2008-2010 Cobalt SS Turbo Sedan on a full road course. I myself am not a 1/4 mile guy, If I'm not constantly turning corners I'm not having fun lol.

Cobalt VS Supersnake
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u

Cobalt VS Viper
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/5/YHqSOlOfTM8

Cobalt VS STI
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/9/eKiAh9Xvmw8

Cobalt VS Single Turbo Supra
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/10/MzbBRAc_N3M

Cobalt VS E46 M3
http://www.youtube.com/user/Venom525RWHP#p/u/11/XWmFNzx2ZZk

This post has been edited by JuMPiiN: Aug 13, 2010 - 9:46 AM

[Justin8358]

one thing you can do is go to the junk yard and get a used turbo
out here i can get one for about 75$
and then the install isnt that hard

[stephen_lee]

spot on. 3 swap is about 15mpg, plus time you will be without transportation. never swap a daily, unless you know what your doing, can do it quickly, AND quickly fix all the grimlins that pop up in the mosst inconvienient times

tackle basic maintainance on your car. read. do all your own repairs. read more. save for swap. read more. buy a beater and fix it. read MORE. buy an st205 clip. read read read. perform swap

out of curiousity. why buy the beater and fix it... wouldnt that be money out of pocket for st205 clip?

This may be just an assumption but for the time it'll take for you to do that swap. Your going to need a car to drive around and a beater is the way to go. Especially if you find one that gets really good gas mileage seeing as the mpg on your swap car will not be so good. :-P Good luck, Have fun with your car, and learn as much as possible!