Best mods for Auto 2GNT?

[Wufei]

Hey guys,

What're the best/first mods (money-wise) for more power for the 2GNT (420a) with Auto Tranny (don't think I want to run NOS)? I'm going to be using my DSM for mostly daily driving (might take it to the track a few times when summer rolls around).

I'm putting in NGK spark plugs (car came w/Accel 300+ TS wires) and K&N air filter this weekend, also getting a tune-up soon if not this weekend. I've heard that good first mods to do would be to get a Cold Air Intake and Exhaust, but I was wondering how much hp they would add to a NT/NA car? Also, I know that the shift kit & tranny cooler help as a preventive measure, but do they give much performance gains?

I guess my goal for this car (for now ) is to raise the hp to around 160-170 so it doesn't feel as slow

Also, suggestion on brands of specific parts would be appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Redmachine]

ummm an auto thats a toughie. Start with the cai, header/exhuast, then go with a shift kit and a stall torque converter. UDP's, coil pack, good plugs and wires.Use trick shift A/T fluid it helps a ton(smooths stuff out shiftin wise)
Good luck

edit:
the torque converter and the UDP's don't add power but free up a bunch that is lost thru rotaing assemblies and the sluggish transmission.

 

[Wufei]

Thanks for the response!

I heard that headers don't really add much, so is it really necessary to get them? (after CAI & exhaust)

Also, can you give me a rough idea of how much that would cost?

 

[Redmachine]

yeah they help open up your exhaust. 4-5 horse is it, but thats the same with the exhaust.
going with a just a cat back is not enough, you will have restriction coming from your manifold. Look at yours then look at mine, you tell me which one flows better. so 10 horse with a total exhaust or just 5 with a cat back, think about it.

Same with the CAI, it opens up your flow but your Throttle body is limited in size so it will bottleneck there, get a bigger T/B and your flow will increase. making power.

The more air moving both ways in/out the more power you can deliver to you wheels. you need good air flow to use power adders like nitrous and turbos.

 

[Redmachine]

well
cost goes like this
CAI-90to200 dollars
T/B- 99-249 dollars
UDP's 199 dollars
Header=199-499 dollars
cat back- 299-799 dollars
testpipe/hiflo cat- 60 bucks
75zex wet kit- 399 dollars-wet kits are more stable than a dry kit because the fuel and nitrous is mixed before the T/B not afterlike dry kits

 

[GSGoinFast]

AHHHH search please! i have probably seen a list like the one he posted above 4 million times on this site. http://www.2gnt.com/nuke/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=51

 

[Wufei]

AHHHH search please! i have probably seen a list like the one he posted above 4 million times on this site. http://www.2gnt.com/nuke/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=51

Heh, sorry.

I just wanted some verification since usually the guides aren't too accurate on hp ratings

Thanks a ton Redmachine!

 

[Wufei]

When I was getting new spark plugs and the K&N cleaner at Advance Auto Parts, the guy asked me if I wanted to just get a K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit for $80, which I know is for the Turbo's. Now I'm wondering if putting this on a 420a N/T would have about the same effect as putting on an AEM cold air intake (besides saving $120+). Would the performance gains be about the same?

Thanks!

 

[Redmachine]

When I was getting new spark plugs and the K&N cleaner at Advance Auto Parts, the guy asked me if I wanted to just get a K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit for $80, which I know is for the Turbo's. Now I'm wondering if putting this on a 420a N/T would have about the same effect as putting on an AEM cold air intake (besides saving $120+). Would the performance gains be about the same?

Thanks!

I don't think it will fit different engines completely.
I advise the upgrade of a CAI, the restriction on your currnet airbox is massive. You are only sucking air thru a opening the size of a 50 cent piece(this is not an exaggeration,I have looked) I say save your dough and get the things that you actually need for your car not the things that advance auto says. You can also get a good CAI for much less than 200 bucks and it doesn't have to be a AEM, me for instance I have a HP racing intake cost me 90 bucks off of nopi.com and it comes with a nice washable filter just like K&N.

 

[Wufei]

I took a look at the intake of the stock airbox, and you weren't kidding :laugh:

Is there a big difference between drilling holes in the stock airbox and a cold air intake? (so I'm cheap )

Also, I'm wondering how much of a difference there is between: AEM, Injen, HP Racing, and Iceman intakes (are the more expensive ones worth the extra money?)

 

[miamieclipse]

I took a look at the intake of the stock airbox, and you weren't kidding :laugh:

Is there a big difference between drilling holes in the stock airbox and a cold air intake? (so I'm cheap )

HUGE

Also, I'm wondering how much of a difference there is between: AEM, Injen, HP Racing, and Iceman intakes (are the more expensive ones worth the extra money?)

Not much, get one off ebay & Put a K&N Air filter at the end of it...

PS Cheap & modding a n/t cant co exist in one sentace....chose 2 out of the following 3

You can have it fast but it wont be cheap
You can have it good and it will be fast
You can have it cheap and it will not be good...

 

[dr1665]

I'm going to skip all the above replies and answer your question with a single picture.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Hope this helps man.

 

[Wufei]

Hahah Dr

The K&N FIPK (basically a shortram w/K&N filter) doesn't fit the 2GNT correct?

I'm still kinda leery of eBay (even though I bought stock tail lights from it and they were fine)

 

[miamieclipse]

Hahah Dr

The K&N FIPK (basically a shortram w/K&N filter) doesn't fit the 2GNT correct?

I'm still kinda leery of eBay (even though I bought stock tail lights from it and they were fine)

You mean weary ....Also if you buy from a company on ebay who has a high % rating you will be fine...If you buy it from some joe shmo w/ a low % rating then....well no comment

 

[leakyfaucet]

the torque converter and the UDP's don't add power but free up a bunch that is lost thru rotaing assemblies and the sluggish transmission.

Explain how a high stall torque converter frees up lost power.

 

[beaty-k_87]

im not trying to rag on your car in any way, but if you were going to get serious into racing then i would get another car. my 5-spd dsm will maul my friends auto into the ground like it was nothing, but his is bone stock.

i would definetly go for the shift kit and trans cooler...FOR SURE, that would probably be one of the best upgrades you can get for that.

now for other stuff, i would spec out an intake that will suit your needs. a cold air would be better for top end, but then again a short ram would probably be better since yours is auto, for the extra torque. AEM would be your best bet and a short ram intake is only like $119.99 out of JC whitney, that is a good price.
a cat-back exhaust is a must, stock restrictive is no good. APEXi, Greddy, HKS, all make good exhaust for around $480.99-789.99. HKS would by far be the most expensive of the bunch. i personally like the APEXi N1 and greddy evo the best out of the bunch, they have a great sound.
and last but not least since your not wanting to go too crazy, an uderdrive pulley. i got an OBX underdrive pulley off of ebay for $75 shipped, and this has been the mod that i think has been the most noticeable. and i have just the crank pulley. you can also get lightened power steering and alternator pulley as well.

hope this helps, cause it took a while to type!

later

 

[Wufei]

No offense taken beaty...I've been contemplating whether to install a shift kit & final drive etc for the automatic or basically trade the car for a manual 97-99 Eclipse GS

Thanks to everyone who has helped! I'm asking this since I'm a bit short on money and would like the best bang for the buck

 

[Redmachine]

im not trying to rag on your car in any way, but if you were going to get serious into racing then i would get another car. my 5-spd dsm will maul my friends auto into the ground like it was nothing, but his is bone stock.

i would definetly go for the shift kit and trans cooler...FOR SURE, that would probably be one of the best upgrades you can get for that.

now for other stuff, i would spec out an intake that will suit your needs. a cold air would be better for top end, but then again a short ram would probably be better since yours is auto, for the extra torque. AEM would be your best bet and a short ram intake is only like $119.99 out of JC whitney, that is a good price.
a cat-back exhaust is a must, stock restrictive is no good. APEXi, Greddy, HKS, all make good exhaust for around $480.99-789.99. HKS would by far be the most expensive of the bunch. i personally like the APEXi N1 and greddy evo the best out of the bunch, they have a great sound.
and last but not least since your not wanting to go too crazy, an uderdrive pulley. i got an OBX underdrive pulley off of ebay for $75 shipped, and this has been the mod that i think has been the most noticeable. and i have just the crank pulley. you can also get lightened power steering and alternator pulley as well.

hope this helps, cause it took a while to type!

later

I've said it already..... do not get a short ram unless you have lots of water. The filter gets too hot on a short ram and does not provide the colder air you are looking for, you might as well keep the stock box. I Got my hp racing intake for 79 bucks shipped from nopi.com It is awesome. You can get a magnaflow cat back that sounds and performs great for under 300. Do not give this poor advise"might as well get a better car, or trade it for a turbo" he wants info on his car not if he should get a new one.

Wufei keep your ride and make the most out of it, it IS a dsm.

 

[Wufei]

Thanks Redmachine! I really like this car, it's got all the factory options (leather, sunroof, etc.) and when I bought it for $5500, it even came w/2 Kenwood 6x9's, a Sony Xplod head unit, EuroLite gauge faces, a dark gray (rest of car is silver) front bumper, and a leather bra to cover that up

However, when the prev. owner was installing the gauge faces, I think he messed up the tach & speedo cuz the speedo shows me going 8 mph faster then normal and the tach shows me idling at 1300 rpm (see this thread)

Should I take it to the dealer for a full check first or just have some friends help look it over?

 

[beaty-k_87]

nah you misunderstoud what i was saying, if he was to get serious (by serious i mean with a goal 1/4 mile time of lower that a low-mid 14) then he should get an man. dsm. i really like his car, it looks great and im positive hes loving his DSM. as im sure we all do when there not broke down. after all DSM does also stand for "doesnt stay moving"

bottom dollar though, have fun with your car and do what YOU want to do with it. automatics do make good bracket racers though...theres an idea for ya.

i completly forgot about magnaflow! that was stupid of me. i got a used APEXi N1 for $200 that was in perfect condition though. What does the muffler look like for the magnaflow cat-back? or do you just order it with the one you want on it?

 

[Redmachine]

nah you misunderstoud what i was saying, if he was to get serious (by serious i mean with a goal 1/4 mile time of lower that a low-mid 14) then he should get an man. dsm. i really like his car, it looks great and im positive hes loving his DSM. as im sure we all do when there not broke down. after all DSM does also stand for "doesnt stay moving"

bottom dollar though, have fun with your car and do what YOU want to do with it. automatics do make good bracket racers though...theres an idea for ya.

i completly forgot about magnaflow! that was stupid of me. i got a used APEXi N1 for $200 that was in perfect condition though. What does the muffler look like for the magnaflow cat-back? or do you just order it with the one you want on it?

I believe it looks like a stock gs exhaust. I guess I did misunderstand you sorry bout that, no hard feelings eh? Bracket racing would be awesome for a auto.

 

[Wufei]

Bracket racing sounds fun Except it'll probably be summer until I have time to work on the car

Thanks for the tips though!

 

[miamieclipse]

Wufei PM me if you have any questions on the auto tranny

A604 OWNS JUUUUUU . I am a proud sporter of the a604 and Wufei i hope you are too, as i said PM me if you have any question about modding the a604.

 

[Wufei]

Haha thanks to you and everyone else who's helped!

 

[GSGoinFast]

Wufei PM me if you have any questions on the auto tranny

A604 OWNS JUUUUUU . I am a proud sporter of the a604 and Wufei i hope you are too, as i said PM me if you have any question about modding the a604.

the proud supporter that is paying... how much to swap in a manual??? your still doing that swap arnt you?