Unfortunately, its my girlfriend who just got the car as a gift from her grandparents... and not me... =\

This is her first 5spd, so I've been teaching her on my 94 celica GT. I've spend some good cash modding my car and I know a thing or two about aftermarket parts... for imports. I've never touched American before.

Basically, she wants to spend less than $1500, and get the most out of the car. Mostly performance wise, but I think she'll want a short shifter after shes done learning on my car (TWM). Obviously she's not going to be doing any forced induction with that kind of budget, but she is looking for performance mods, however I don't think she should touch the internals of the engine just yet... as its BRAND NEW.

So, I'm coming to you guys with the hopes that you'll be able to point me in the right direction as to what works best on this car. I'm not familiar with the brands you guys recommend and what works well. Here's what I'm thinking:

-Exhaust (full overhaul)
-Intake (cold air)
-headers (possibly, if there is some performance increase)
-timing advancing (to run with that 91 octane).
-possibly any ECU mods/controllers if they work.

She likes the stock look of the car, just wants some more performance out of it. I'm already building her a 10" sub box and doing some interior work (stereo, blue cathods, etc.)

So if you could please, let me know what mod has the most bang for the buck as far as performance goes. I'd really appreciate it. I promise I'll post pics.

 

I/H/E is a good start... there's a few guys on here running some heavier mods on the 2.4... but you gotta start with the basics.

 

agreed after that you might want to think about HP tuners and cams maybe...welcome to the site

 

the downpipe is more important than the header on these cars,cause where the sensor is at it squeezes of airflow

 

get the performance driving flash for the 2.4. i know gm has. forget what part number.. but i know its for the 2.4.. cause ive herd they have had prolems after long period's of high revving fun. and gm has a flash out for it..

 

More knowledge behind the wheel! These little 2.4L's are nothing to laugh at and if shes new at driving a stick nothing worse then flubbing up a clutch cause ur a virgin stick driver or something else.. I'd say get an intake or B&M shifter...hell get both,lol.. Just take it easy and have fun

 

i would do intake,cat back exhaust, and downpipe,header. ull see alot of gains compared to stock..then tune.

intake(injen)5-7whp
cat back(gmpp performance) 8-12whp gain
header(cobalt addiction) 10whp
downpipe(cobalt addiction)5-10whp

those 4 things will give u soo good gains compared to stock. they if u want to get into tuning u can do alot more and make the car respond much better even to the mods

 

Thanks guys!! I appreciate the feedback. I/H/E it is along with some window tinting, probably a TWM shorty and a bit of tuning. Anything we should look at as far as stability and handling?

 

personally the handling of the ss is nice. maybe a strut bart in the front and the stock rotors blow. i would get aftermarket rotors....check out cobalt addiction.com. they have a lot of stuff u can find. they give u good deals on lots of stuff.

 

check our vendor sectiom, but true,cobalt addiction has lots of goodies

 

guys guys guys...NO NO NO.


just hook her up with a 150 shot of NOS!

 

oh, neons also add 100whp for about $150.

Vinyl Stickers are about 10whp per letter.

something else to consider.

 

I just bought an new cobalt as well and $1500 is my performance buget as well. So I'm gonna say thanks for the tips as well.

 

I knew you'd come through Carter. Best and easiest way with least hassle to spend $1500 on the 'Balt is Intake, Catback, Tune. That'll leave you with about 30ish+whp and some change for other stuff like tint, neon, shifters, or whatever.

 

Intake/Exhaust/headers would help. You may also want to look into suspension mods. They will bring on a whole new feel to the car also. The Gm Performance stuff will allow her to keep her warranty(talk with your dealer first). GM also makes some great catbacks as well as a performance intake system. We have a pretty big line of 2.4l stuff. If you have any questions or concerns about doing anything don't be afraid to pm us.

 

[QUOTE=king_wsk;707299]
-timing advancing (to run with that 91 octane).QUOTE]

well, you can already run 91, in fact....the manufacture recommends it...

besides the engine is a vvt (variable valve timming) so you wont be able to mess with it much...

im getting my new 2.4 tommarow, and i'm not planning on doing anything untill the spring or summer. but the first will be the gm intake.

i would advise getting all gm performance stuff because its keeps your warranty and you wont have any problems if you have to get your car fixed under warranty... the 100k mile warranty...

ps. whats with this line?
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 

all jokes, for $1500 id PERSONALY recomend are:

Injen CAI
JBP Cams
and maybe a new DP

 

thats actualy prolly gonna net you the most.

 

Can't forget the tune, the easiest and most efficient gain of hp. Better mileage, higher RPM's, no speed limiter

 

how much are the cams

 

2 Questions;

Doesn't the 2007 2.4L come with the pioneer sound system with the 10" sub standard like my 2006?

If it still does come factory and he just wants to build a new box, would a custom built sub box get anymore "bump" than the factory sub enclosure?

 

I'm not a stereo expert but I can't see there being much of a difference between the inclosure and a box in regards to sound quality. The stock set up from GM provides me with the perfect amount of bass, so I haven't even thought about puting the sub in a box.

 

No, it never has. Its only standard on the SS/SC.

 

I have the system on my 2.4

 

As do I