Newbie here with questions.

[Lowerd1]

Well new to this forum atleast.

I don't really spend much time even thinking about the DSM, much less modding one so bare with me here. Most of my time is spent thinking about W-bodys and how make one faster.

I own a 1991 Plymouth Laser 1.8L 5speed and LOVE this car as a daily driver. Its not a turd on the road, its fun to drive, and its reliable. I would like to increase the amount of fun in this car some more. Which means some modding needs to be done.

I am not looking to make this into a 14sec Street car or even something to take to the races on the weekend. I am looking to help with beating Grand Ma in the van that want move to the other lane when I am trying to merge on the interstate.

When I first got this car I was expecting the mods to be plentiful being that Everybody knows what an Eclipse is and it seems they are everywhere. Sadly this was not true, unless I owned a 2.0L Turbo or Non Turbo 2.0L. Seems most people in the aftermarket don't even know of the 1.8L from looking at alot of sights. Odd I can find more mods for GM's bastard child 3.4DOHC, but not for the 1.8L. Anybody that knows that engine, knows what I am talking about. All my mods for that engine are mostly custom because when I bought it, it was impossible to even find a Intake or exhaust for it. Most people didn't even know the GTP came with that engine, but after many years of me and others like me, we finally got the aftermarket we were after for so long.

Now for my questions:

1st. What is the weight of the 1g BASE models with the 1.8L and 5speed manual? I have heard 2200lbs which I think could be real considering how small the car is and how it gets blown around easily by the wind.

2nd. Where are the modded 1.8L on this board that are going the N/A route? I was hopeing for some ideas on mods, but everytime I search all I see is alot of remarks to sell your car and buy a Turbo car. I am looking for modded 1.8L with more than just a home made Intake and a Catback exhaust.

3rd. I was hopeing to maybe get this car into the region of a stock civic late 90's SI and wanted to know if that is even possible without going all out on this motor? I mean all out as stripping the interior, Engine rebuild and basically all the mods possible short or Nitrous and Turbo. The late 90's SI is not a fast car by a long shot but the power is pretty good for a daily driver.

4th. Is the 2.0L N/A 1g's close to the SI's in performance?

5th. What is so hard about the Engine swap from a 1.8L to a 2.0L non Turbo? Every search I did keeps talking about it being so hard and expensive. The parts seem pretty cheap so what is the major problem? The wireing doesn't look to hard at all. Are the motor mounts in a different location and require cutting and welding in new ones? I realize they are different size engines but still if they come from the same year cars I don't see the big problem. I keep hearing that its a big problem but I have never read WHY it is. Always read alot of people quessing why it would be so hard.

If I am coming off as a prick in this post then I apologize. I am not meaning to at all. I am simply looking for answers to some questions I have.

Sorry for the long post but it was better to do one big one, instead of alot of small post for every different question. If this post doesn't get the answers I am looking for though then I guess I will have to break them down into mutiple post.

THANKS alot!

 

[JohnnyC]

I wouldn't dump alot of money into that 1.8L. The engine is weak.The 2.0 is definitely a step up, but doesn't compare to the potential that a factory turboed DSM has, unless you get an engine swap. Honestly, about all you can do is fabricate an intake, get a larger exhaust, a header, higher flowing CAT, and that's about it. Some simple mods to think about would be adjusting your throttle plate, and getting a K&N or green filter. An engine swap is always time consuming, and if you pay somebody to do it, it's gonna be pretty expensive. A stock 2 Liter DSM has 135 HP (don't quote me on that), and with moderate modification could possibly get into the 160 range.

This is the only N/T forum. There isn't one for the 1.8L.

 

[Lowerd1]

You must have missed something when you read my post. It was alittle long.

I am not looking for a car that is capable of makeing me the fastest on the street, and I am not looking for a 14sec street car.

I know just the turbo 2.0L swap would net me 15's atleast but I know what type of person I am and I would not be able to stop with a Factory Turbo car. It would turn into a 2nd money pit. I am already trying to sell my first money pit, and don't need another.

I am just looking to make this 1.8L more fun and maybe get this car into the HIGH 15's if anything.

As for the 1.8L the mods I know about are very limited.

Intake - the 2.0L Intakes will work
Exhaust - Any of the 1g's FWD exhaust should work but go with 2.5" with a high flow cat.
Cam Gear - One of the 2.0L adjsutable Cam Gears will work, although I don't understand how this will have any effect on a SOHC car. First SOHC car I have even thought about modding. Dealt with mostly Pushrods and DOHC cars.

Thats all the mods I know about for this car, besides Turbocharging it. Are there anymore at all?

Also what do the 1.8L run stock, or has anybody even run one? Somebody has to of because I have seen people even take a Golf cart down to the track and run it, and I know the 1.8L is alot faster than one of those.

As for price on mods, I don't see those as a waste. True the 1.8L or a 2.0L swap would not be the most cost effective way to make horsepower, but I am not really concerned with that. I don't want to spend alot on this car, but I am referring to 10K as alot. From the prices I have seen people buy used DSM's for the swap should be pretty cheap.

 

[JohnnyC]

I did tell you what you could do to make your 1.8 a little faster, but I can reiterate it for you:

-Intake ($100-150 if not custom)
-Exhaust (About $500 if not custom)
-High Flow CAT (About $50-100)
-Exhaust Header (About $200)

That's about all that will give you signifiicant power gains in my opinion, but remember you are starting from only 92HP.

However, it's not going to give you much more power. All I was saying earlier is that your money would be more well spent in a 2L or 2L Turbo.

 

[Lowerd1]

I read that, but thought you were talking about the 2.0L since I didn't know a header was made for the 1.8L. I have never seen one or heard of a aftermarket header for the 1.8L.

92HP is not that bad for a daily driver to me. Its pretty good considering the car doesn't weight anything, averages better than 30mpg still and is reliable. I would much rather have it at 92HP and do all that, than at 300HP and only running 6months out of the year and getting 8mpg on those days when its not broken.

Thanks for the help. Those mods sound like they will make the 1.8L alot more fun to drive, along with some suspension and brake mods.