What are some non-expensive ways to add power to my car?

Question

I understand that it DOES take money to get a car all powered up, but im looking for ways that do not burn my wallet such as $300 parts would. Any simple suggestions or good part stores? If it needs to be specific, i have a 05 neon sxt. i care less for racing, but you know as well as i do how fun it is to have a car with a bit more power than it had originally. That and i understand most add ons save me some gas too!

Answer 1

Find a cold air intake for you car.
Couple that with a low back pressure muffler and you should feel about 8-10 more ponies.

Buy a bottle of injector cleaner that lists NAPTHA on the label and run that with a half tank of gas to be certain the injectors are clean.

Answer 2

A cold air intake and a low restriction muffler will up the power by about 10 -25 horsepower. Now that you've used up all of your $300..... and then some...... You might think about modifications to the fuel curve and the timing advance curve.... these are done through the cars computer settings, and should be done by a mechanic that actually knows what he's doing. Good Luck....... and work some overtime to pay for this. Remember.... The faster you want to go.... the more it will cost you!

Answer 3

ok, most of you guys have no idea what the helll your talking about. a muffler and intake, will not give you 25 horsepower. with a header, a catback exhaust and cold air intake, you might get 18 horsepower. second, backpressure on a 4 cyl is important, not alot, but a reasonable amount is necessary. glasspacks, not a good idea. most states they are illegal, and they sound crappy, look crappy, and dont improve performance. if you want a little more hp, my suggestion is to get a cold air intake 200-300 bucks. if i were you, i'd spend an extra 300 bucks and get a plug and play, like venom, or jet performance. after that, get a header, then a cat back exhaust, tsudo sells kits for about 225 shipped, good name, sound and performance. after your done with some of this stuff, take it to a mechanic and have it tuned well. youll be suprised how it will run.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, a <$300 budget on a small naturally aspirated 4 cylinder engine is not going to get you much. Most of the popular, "starter" upgrades like intake, header, and exhaust do add power at the top end but will actually cause you to lose a bit of power at the low end. Since you say you don't care about power, losing low end power may be unacceptable for you.

Answer 5

First start off with a well tuned vehicle and then I almost always advance the timing just a hair.

Change the breather plumbing to collect cold air at the side of the radiator.

Also check out the octane boosters.

Answer 6

Put a k/n air filter. performance plugs and wires. And headers. O and that car is a easy tune car get a chip or something for it to. Those little neons have some pep to them when you do the right stuff to it believe me i have one. O and if it is a stickshift put a short throw shifter you will thank me lol. Nitrous always works too. Nitrous is easly the best bang for the buck.

Answer 7

first put in a intense overall performance airfilter, then upload a overall performance magnaflow exhaust/muffler, and finally upload a efi commander(gasoline commander to make certain the engine doesnt lean out). you may get huge quantities of means for below 500 money. you additionally can upload a chip however the chip will frequently do away with the rev limiter which could be very risky on a automobile with quite intense or low miles. doing in basic terms one ingredient like including a chip supply you extra suitable means even in spite of the shown fact that it could be so little which you ought to no longer additionally be conscious it.

Answer 8

Change the muffler or put on a glass pack. It will decrease backpressure and add POWER and sound awesome

Answer 9

Take off the muffler.

Answer 10

nitrous oxide best plugs and wires, good syn, oil keep it in tune and timed