Bang for your Buck [Archive]

Guitar_B

11-16-2008, 10:16 AM

Alright guys... I have your basic Alero Coupe completely STOCK... about 108*** KM's on it... So she still has some Balls... Its standard and im the second owner (First owner was a woman who now has a family...) Its 2003, 2.2 Eco (Ill put some pictures up when i can find my dame Camera Cord)

The question is... what can I do to my car (As a single mod) to get the biggest bang for my buck...

Spark Plugs and cables?
http://www.andysautosport.com/oldsmobile/1999_2004_alero/performance/ignition/spark_plugs/apexi/

Intake?
http://www.doctorspeed.com/alero/alero-intakes.html

ECU?
http://www.yourhotcar.com/prod/Surge_Engineering/Performance_Parts/Performance_Chips/Surge_Performance_Chip/17558/

I see thoughs being the cheapest performance mods possible... Please let me know what you think would be the biggest bang for my buck... Or if you know something that would be better :p

cherrington17

11-16-2008, 11:50 AM

avoid drspeed. get one from ebay instead. same thing SO much cheaper.

We don't have ECU's we have a PCM. (or VCM for ion's sake) i wouldn't invest in that until you have more performance mods done.

plugs and cables don't do much, unless your current ones are shot.

out of what you posted, intake is best.

followed by exhaust and some header upgrade. there are TONS of 2.2 guys on here, so search and you'll find a plethora of upgrades available.

also check ion's signature, the aleromod.com upgrades page.... get some ideas there

Spilner521

11-16-2008, 02:53 PM

ECU, PCM, VCM...they all refer to the same thing, people just call them different things. There is no chip that will plug in to our ECU's to make more power. The only way is to buy HPTuners for $500-$650 and hit the dyno to tune for the best power.

Like Cherry said, spark plugs won't do anything for power unless what you have now are shot.... and there's no plug wires on Eco's.

An intake won't give you an amazing power increase, but you'll notice some better throttle response and it'll sound cool.

A header and full exhaust with a high flow cat would be the best way to free up some power without opening up the engine for some cams or anything like that.

[ion] C2

11-16-2008, 02:55 PM

Spilner's right.

And ha, 67,000 miles... mine's got 190,000 and boosted.

Guitar_B

11-16-2008, 03:53 PM

Another question... The intake... ive seen people take out the filter box and just slap an intake cone on there... willl that work the same way or do i actually need the chrome tube/pipe thing for the real results

Valley olds

11-16-2008, 04:01 PM

The thing is, the tubing relocates the filter to somewhere where there is colder air. Colder air= more power. If you just take out the box and replace it with a filter, you will be getting warmer engine compartment air, which wont provide you with as much power. Also the aftermarket tubing is smooth compared to the oem tubing which may cause some turbulence in the air it brings in, thus you will lose some flow.

Guitar_B

11-16-2008, 05:02 PM

Valley olds

11-16-2008, 05:20 PM

I don't know if you can use one from a V6 Alero. I don't really see why you'd want to do that though. The cavalier CAI, I have heard does work on aleros.

cherrington17

11-16-2008, 05:22 PM

its more of an engine thing, rather then a body type thing. Cav 2.2 = alero 2.2

the v6 one won't work. its not the right angles.

Alero_1986

11-16-2008, 05:23 PM

Is there anyways I could use a Cold Air intake for a V6 alero? or would it not fit... and if so.. do you guys know any cars that has a similar design so i could search (For example) Cavalier Cold Air Intake...?

Ecotec WAI + 3.4 CAI?

... I know people have done this with the 2.4L. I think it should work similar based on the pipe routing for the ecotec.

maybe someone else can confirm this.

[ion] C2

11-16-2008, 06:56 PM

of course that works

i have all the info for the 2.4L at least on Aleromod Upgrades, all items are similar to the Eco

bdyman

11-16-2008, 09:49 PM

the ecotec does not have spark plug wires, ignition module, and coil packs, and a boot, no wires
on mine i have a 62mm throttle body, rk sport warm air intake, rk sport header into factory cat, after cat 2.5 pipe into magnaflow muffler,

i had nothing but problem when i had a high flow cat, burnt 02 sensor after another, put factory cat back on replaced 02 sensors no problems since, car sounds great, decent amount of power, cant complain

you want allot of info on the ecotec check out j-body.org

[ion] C2

11-16-2008, 10:22 PM

Spark Plugs and cables?
http://www.andysautosport.com/oldsmobile/1999_2004_alero/performance/ignition/spark_plugs/apexi/

LOL $19 per sparkplug what the fuck?

Pick up some NGK TR55s and call it a day. It'll cost you like $8 total.

kwhauck

11-16-2008, 11:04 PM

nitrous.....

darksobsession

11-16-2008, 11:05 PM

if you get an ebay (chromeintakes) WAI (they just call it an intake) and a CAI for the V6 you can connect em for the ecotec. or just get an aem. i think the cavalier CAI will fit, but you better check w/someone who's done it, i dunno.

my intake doesn't really add too much for the sound, what's it supposed to sound like?

i thought this thread was about something else.

AbHeLlRaZoR

11-17-2008, 12:24 AM

Alero_1986

11-17-2008, 12:52 AM

I know cosmo racing has a wai specifically for the 2.2L Alero the price I saw was about $96 US, if you can trust them is another question, I've never dealt with them so I have no clue. but once I find out if they are reliable I will likely get one for my car.

I ordered the 2.4L WAI, and the short shifter with the weighted shift knob from cosmo.

They shipped quick, and the products are as advertised. There are at least a couple others users who have had pleasant experiences with them as well.

meadus101

11-17-2008, 04:26 AM

C2;407192']LOL $19 per sparkplug what the eff?

Pick up some NGK TR55s and call it a day. It'll cost you like $8 total.

35 if you try to get Ion to ship em to canada. Hahaha

heineck

11-17-2008, 04:29 PM

cosmo intakes are fine i got mine for like 108 shipped, and u can get a v6 cold air and hitch it up to where the 2.2 ends right behind the battery, its where the throttle body for the v6 is so instead of puttin a cone filter just continue piping, i havent done it yet but i plan to very soon

AbHeLlRaZoR

11-17-2008, 04:35 PM

I ordered the 2.4L WAI, and the short shifter with the weighted shift knob from cosmo.

They shipped quick, and the products are as advertised. There are at least a couple others users who have had pleasant experiences with them as well.

good to hear that, well I know what's next for my car.

NickAlero2000

11-17-2008, 05:27 PM

yup, comso's fine to deal with!
shipped in 2 days and fit perfectly(2.4L intake)
and theres a LOT of boost potential on a 2.2 eco engine btw...

HazMatt24

12-31-2008, 03:35 PM

only problem I had with the Cosmo intake is that I have side mount posts on my battery and and the extended post to mount my amp and it comes real close to making contact with that post

not very good pics but it's all I got right now

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/4914/4461/24784730008_medium.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/4914/4461/24784730009_medium.jpg