Chevy Cavalier - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

carl0z · 06-27-2003, 03:09 PM

My little brother is getting our grandparents Chevy Cavalier, and I promised to help him with a little souping up. Problem is, I have no clue what to do to it!!!
PLEASE HELP!! i have about 8,000 to spend!

bigman55 · 06-27-2003, 03:39 PM

spend the 8k on a 93-97 camaro z28 if you want to go fast

sixate · 06-27-2003, 06:01 PM

Check out NOPI. They have parts for just about anything. The link I gave you is at the Cavalier. Didn't know what year yours is though. If you really do have 8K I'd suggest a turbo. Not sure is NOPI has them for Cavaliers, but I'm sure a google search would come up with something. Don't get a wack body kit and a HUGE wing. Get performance stuff and suspension to help out with handling.

Start with intake and exhaust. Read and search around and find out what's best for you. Find a good local shop unless you know how or know someone who can do the work for you.

fezman · 06-27-2003, 08:12 PM

My suggestion first off is engine swap. I'm not sure about the engine bay size, but if you have enough room, get the 3.8L Supercharged V6 from the Grand Am GTP or Bonneville SSEi, along with a 4t65e-HD transmission (the beefy one). They really don't cost all that much, probably about the same as a turbo kit. The labor may be more, but in the end, you will have a much better performing car, and that engine is actually quite reliable, unlike turbocharging an engine that was never designed with boost in mind.

If you can't fit the 3.8L in there, a 3.4L from a Grand Am would work nicely, you could build up the engine to take some boost (new 8.0:1 pistons, conn rods, etc) and slap a centrifugal blower on there (like a vortech or paxton) and have some serious fun. Either way you should be able to get easy 250-280hp.

Just don't trust the stock transmission with any modified engine, it WILL die.

Edit: If he's younger than say 20, I wouldn't do much of anything with the car. Tell him to save the money, drive the car till it dies, then when he's proven responsability, then get something nice. I've seen too many young kids wreck fast cars, or worse, kill themselves in one. Make sure to take this in mind, a fast car + teenager = bad bad bad.

trecool · 06-27-2003, 08:29 PM

sell it? Naw, just kidding. If you're dead set on modding a Cavalier, check out j-body.org for an information resource. My first suggested mods would be an intake, headers, exhaust, cams, pulleys, and somewhere between a 50 and 75 shot nitrous kit. True, a forced induction system would yield more power but would cost quite a bit more and require a lot more work.

And to the preson that suggested swapping in a V6? I can't see that happening due to engine bay contraints. If you really wanted to get extreme, swap in a crate ecotec 2.2 liter and supercharge it. With the right tuning, that setup aught to be good for 200+ horsepower.

Finally, I feel a need to restress how moronic modding a Cavalier is, esepecially for a young guy. Sell the cavalier, take that money plus the $8K you have and buy a Sentra SE-R V spec or a Dodge SRT4. That way you start off fast and have a factory warranty.

DJKDAWG · 11-09-2005, 08:04 PM

I have an 89 Cavalier z24 and I just recently seized the engine and need to get it replaced. I am wondering if anyone would know a better engine to get and put in that will provide me with more horsepower, etc.? I have been looking up used and rebuilt engines and I found that my engine is 173" or so I am assuming. I just know it is a 2.8 Fi V6 engine. Is it just better to stick to the rebuilt same version or try and get a different engine?

Borla · 11-09-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigman55

spend the 8k on a 93-97 camaro z28 if you want to go fast

This man speaks the truth.........you MIGHT even be able to get into a 98+ Z28 or TransAm for $8k + whatever you could get for the Cavalier.

Seriously, you could dump that $8k into that car and it'll just be a black hole. The performance gains are minimal compared to just moving up to an LT1 or LS1 powered f-body with a few minor bolt-on mods.

My $.02.

IanSturgill · 12-02-2005, 07:26 AM

For real. You won't enjoy having kid point at you at stoplights. Now a nice LS1 TA=teh sex

Scorps · 12-02-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigman55

spend the 8k on a 93-97 camaro z28 if you want to go fast

or get a 80's, I think they look nicer

+cheaper, and no emissions= more HP

merkerguitars · 12-02-2005, 04:16 PM

Uggg, you can mod them to high heaven but it takes ALOT and I mean ALOT of work. The $8k won't even really do anything since the bulk of the work will require machine work (crank, pistons, etc). Plus they suck to work on (did an engine swap on one damn it was hell) I would soooo save up for something else, you can get an 87+ mustang and spend a couple of grand an make it super quick. Or even something that a chevy 350 drop in easily.

06-27-2003, 03:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
carl0z Upright Location: 3.2 mi from the middle of nowhere	Chevy Cavalier My little brother is getting our grandparents Chevy Cavalier, and I promised to help him with a little souping up. Problem is, I have no clue what to do to it!!! PLEASE HELP!! i have about 8,000 to spend! __________________ wank-free since 30 mins ago. join the partnership for a wank-free tfp

06-27-2003, 08:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
fezman Upright	My suggestion first off is engine swap. I'm not sure about the engine bay size, but if you have enough room, get the 3.8L Supercharged V6 from the Grand Am GTP or Bonneville SSEi, along with a 4t65e-HD transmission (the beefy one). They really don't cost all that much, probably about the same as a turbo kit. The labor may be more, but in the end, you will have a much better performing car, and that engine is actually quite reliable, unlike turbocharging an engine that was never designed with boost in mind. If you can't fit the 3.8L in there, a 3.4L from a Grand Am would work nicely, you could build up the engine to take some boost (new 8.0:1 pistons, conn rods, etc) and slap a centrifugal blower on there (like a vortech or paxton) and have some serious fun. Either way you should be able to get easy 250-280hp. Just don't trust the stock transmission with any modified engine, it WILL die. Edit: If he's younger than say 20, I wouldn't do much of anything with the car. Tell him to save the money, drive the car till it dies, then when he's proven responsability, then get something nice. I've seen too many young kids wreck fast cars, or worse, kill themselves in one. Make sure to take this in mind, a fast car + teenager = bad bad bad. Last edited by fezman; 06-27-2003 at 08:15 PM..

11-09-2005, 08:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
DJKDAWG Upright Location: Bottom of a Bottle	89 Z24 I have an 89 Cavalier z24 and I just recently seized the engine and need to get it replaced. I am wondering if anyone would know a better engine to get and put in that will provide me with more horsepower, etc.? I have been looking up used and rebuilt engines and I found that my engine is 173" or so I am assuming. I just know it is a 2.8 Fi V6 engine. Is it just better to stick to the rebuilt same version or try and get a different engine? __________________ He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

12-02-2005, 04:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Uggg, you can mod them to high heaven but it takes ALOT and I mean ALOT of work. The $8k won't even really do anything since the bulk of the work will require machine work (crank, pistons, etc). Plus they suck to work on (did an engine swap on one damn it was hell) I would soooo save up for something else, you can get an 87+ mustang and spend a couple of grand an make it super quick. Or even something that a chevy 350 drop in easily. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

06-27-2003, 03:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigman55 Upright	spend the 8k on a 93-97 camaro z28 if you want to go fast

06-27-2003, 06:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
sixate Registered User Location: Somewhere in Ohio	Check out NOPI. They have parts for just about anything. The link I gave you is at the Cavalier. Didn't know what year yours is though. If you really do have 8K I'd suggest a turbo. Not sure is NOPI has them for Cavaliers, but I'm sure a google search would come up with something. Don't get a wack body kit and a HUGE wing. Get performance stuff and suspension to help out with handling. Start with intake and exhaust. Read and search around and find out what's best for you. Find a good local shop unless you know how or know someone who can do the work for you.

06-27-2003, 08:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
trecool Upright	sell it? Naw, just kidding. If you're dead set on modding a Cavalier, check out j-body.org for an information resource. My first suggested mods would be an intake, headers, exhaust, cams, pulleys, and somewhere between a 50 and 75 shot nitrous kit. True, a forced induction system would yield more power but would cost quite a bit more and require a lot more work. And to the preson that suggested swapping in a V6? I can't see that happening due to engine bay contraints. If you really wanted to get extreme, swap in a crate ecotec 2.2 liter and supercharge it. With the right tuning, that setup aught to be good for 200+ horsepower. Finally, I feel a need to restress how moronic modding a Cavalier is, esepecially for a young guy. Sell the cavalier, take that money plus the $8K you have and buy a Sentra SE-R V spec or a Dodge SRT4. That way you start off fast and have a factory warranty.

12-02-2005, 07:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
IanSturgill Crazy Location: Lex Vegas, KY	For real. You won't enjoy having kid point at you at stoplights. Now a nice LS1 TA=teh sex