low end torque problem?

[waterman412]

i drove a 98 cavelier yesterday, and i noticed one thing. no matter where the rpms are the car always speeds up with no problem. feels like theres alot of torque right when you tap the petal. i looked up online and saw that the horsepower and torque are both lower than mine. the only thing the cav had was a new caold air intake, a crappy new exhaust and spark plug wires.
then i drive my car, and i have to really dip into the gas before i feel any real torque ( upper rpms i start to feel it)

is it normal to have like NO low end torque in these cars and what are the key upgrades that with improve this

 

[silvreclips]

The 420a in stock form does suck. Do some basic bolts ons and it will increase performance a good bit.

 

[waterman412]

like what(intake, exhaust, headers) stuff like that?

 

[jrohner]

The 420a is made for gas mileage (and they're darn good for that), not acceleration. I had a 95 GS, and I didn't think it was that bad though -- definitely better than the 2000 Galant 2.4 I've been driving lately, and it got 36MPG.

 

[waterman412]

whats the best way to go if i wanna keep this motor though?
aside from the basic upgrades that i mentioned before.
like turbo a new pistins and stuff like that?

 

[viperlp01]

Man you have to wait for vtec to hit in... Didn't you know that. . Man its just an old 420a... cold air and exhaust is about it

 

[jrohner]

It's a lot cheaper to just buy a gst or gsx if you want more power. Spend money on basic upgrades on a 420a and you still just have a neon engine, it's just louder. To get decent power and torque you need a turbo, and to get decent power turboed, you spend more than you can just buy a gst for. If you then sell your 420a-powered car, the turbo car doesn't end up costing you much at all.

 

[emitsu97]

Shorty intake (as opposed to CAI that does more at the top), UD Pulley, and tighten the throttle cable were the most noticeable differences I felt when I had my GS.

 

[DSM4me44]

If you then sell your 420a-powered car, the turbo car doesn't end up costing you much at all.

Yes, in the short run. However, in the long run, this is false. I have the massive binder w/ reciepts and credit card bills to prove it

I love my car to death, but it is a money pit.....

 

[webconnect]

Yes, in the short run. However, in the long run, this is false. I have the massive binder w/ reciepts and credit card bills to prove it

I love my car to death, but it is a money pit.....

+1

 

[Silver99GSX]

GSTs And GSXs are like some women, High Maintenance, prepare to spend money and time..

 

[jrohner]

Yes, in the short run. However, in the long run, this is false. I have the massive binder w/ reciepts and credit card bills to prove it

I love my car to death, but it is a money pit.....

So you thing an extremely modded out 420a would be so much more reliable I guess? The engine isn't where the trouble is anyways on the 4g63 powered cars.

 

[DSM4me44]

So you thing an extremely modded out 420a would be so much more reliable I guess? The engine isn't where the trouble is anyways on the 4g63 powered cars.

Not saying that at all. I said that in response to his remark about a turbo car won't end up costing him much at all.

Any car that you change factory equipment on will end up costing you money, whether it be on repairs or new parts.

 

[jrohner]

If you get a car that's in good shape and stock with basic upgrades, it SHOULD be pretty reliable with proper maintenance and a reasonable driver.

The tranny issues I've had so far (my only trouble) have been caused by something other than my hp & torque -- bearing failure soon after I got the car, slave & master cylinder going out (ground a gear really bad and broke a shift rail), another bearing failure or possibly improper assembly by me. Every problem has been after I switched to GM Syncromesh fluid, so maybe that's part of it too. If I would've done it right and sent my trans to TRE, shep, or jacks right away when I bought the car, it would've probably been nearly trouble free for the 3-3.5 years I've had it.