Ok just a question of opinion. I got my 99 Sunfire with the 2200 4 speed auto and I've been having an urge for a 96-02 Cavalier Z24 5 speed. So what I've decided is I will either build on the car I have with motor build and some exterior goodies most of its listed in my profile or sell the Fire and buy myself the Cavi from what i gather I'm going to need more money to make up the difference which is my mod budget for the Fire. So whats the better way to go? Oh ya I dont have anything on my car that won't change over so there's no problem there.
Im at the same delma, i think if you enjoy your car, then keep it and mod it, i get those urges every once in a while, and once they're gone im happy i kept my car, granted mines a 91 but still i love it, and if u like your just keep it and hook it up
if you like the car you have mod it up... if not then buy something else...
i got my 96 cav cheap.. and loved it for the short time i had it... but when i was looking i still wanted a 4 door 5 speed... and thats what i have now... so if you really want a z24 5 speed then look around.. you can pick one up cheap...
I like my car for what it is. Its my first car so naturally I'm attached to it cause its the first thing that I'm really proud of but at the same time it lacks some power and I've wanted a manual for awhile. I just don't know if its worth my time and money to mod on a car that has very little potential compared to a 2.4 or Eco.
sounds to me like u just answered your own question
^^^ You make a valid point my friend.
blacknred99 wrote:I like my car for what it is. Its my first car so naturally I'm attached to it cause its the first thing that I'm really proud of but at the same time it lacks some power and I've wanted a manual for awhile. I just don't know if its worth my time and money to mod on a car that has very little potential compared to a 2.4 or Eco.
you can alway eco swap it and swap the tranny to a manual(you do have to cut and weld some mounts). there are write ups on how to both of those if you like to get your hands dirty even a couple guys might even give you a hand or some info. you might want to scroll the the site in the FAQ and third gen sections. lots of good info. to bad you don't have a indigo blue 4 door 5 speed cav or sunfire i would swap you. but gl on what you choose.
I loved my first car... but it had a 3-speed auto and no A/C. Soon as I could afford to, I had no problems trading up to something I wanted more.
Then I modded the heck out of it's replacement. That's the Sunfire I have now, and it's a whole different story. I can't bear to part with it.
So... if you want a different car, get rid of this one now before you start modding and get all attached to it.
Just get an eco. If your building a car, and this is your first build, look at it as a learning experience. My sunfire I bought stock and I've taken it all the way up to full suspension, intake, exhaust, wheels and a forged internal engine.
All in all I've spent less than 25K total and I've learned a heck of a lot that will be applied to future vehicles. Not just in modding the car, but also how to find deals on parts, group buys, the value of forums, fire sale parts where people sell you 1200 dollars worth of suspension for 400 (thats how I got my superstreets).
I looked at it all as learning so when I had the money for a nice car I won't be going at it as an uneducated inexperienced person so I can make the right decisions the first time.
I think the 2200 would be a great start just because the engines are cheap so if you blow a few of em your looking at less than $500.00 / engine and you get really good a swapping them out.
-Chris
2200 = pissing in the wind, get an eco or a 2.4 same cost and takes alot less $$
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
My thoughts: Buy a Yaris.
Okay...
My thoughts:
- building up your ride is going to a bit rough. why? You're going to need to get around otherwise, and building your engine won't be something you'll do in a weekend.
- If this is something you want to do, do yourself a favour and make a build plan, and a BUDGET. Set realistic goals, and try to stage your build so you don't buy the same part twice, and you can compliment parts as you go (Trust GAM: Rims, Rubber, chassis and sway bars first... then Suspension, bushings and motor mounts, then intake and exhaust, then powertrain, then interior/exterior... Stick with that, and you'll have a basic upgrade path)
- Ask people on the org that are reputable sellers (ie, Karo, All Eco, A+... the good ones are easy to spot) what the best options to fit your goals are.
get a spare motor from the junkyard and put in on a stand in your garage, then go to town building the LN2. Unbeknown to many people on the org, the LN2 has plenty of potential. Imphat2000 pushed over 300HP on a stock bottom end with a turbo, so the potential is there you just have to take your time and make sure you do a good build. Not many have built great LN2's and i plan to be one of them. I have my motor on the stand and its just waiting for parts and assembly. As for modding right now you could do exterior, interior, suspension, wheels, sound system. Also you could get a spare tranny from the yard and build it in your garage also. I do have a good build list for the tranny and motor if your interested.
Thanks guys. I'm off here for a couple days and it explodes.
Joey - Thanks for the offer but I dont think I'll be affording your car anytime soon. Haha.
GAM - Wtf with the the Yaris? But ya I completely agree with you I can't have this thing sitting on stands for a month the at a time.
J.R. - Isn't there a lot of wiring involved with the tranny swaps? I may be mistaken cause i haven't read up too much on a swap. The eco swap is a lot of work for what it is. I've looked into a motor swap and if I'm swapping anything its a V6.
IamRascal - You're talking about getting a car with a Eco right? I have been looking into an 03- 05 Cavalier. I like how they look blacked out.
Luis Marroquin - Ya send it over to me if you want to. Just from looking at your profile I'm going to say its for a turbo 2200 right?
^^^ actually the worst part of the tranny swap is changing the mounts. when you change to the eco harness make sure you get the one thats for the m/t. i'm really unsure but all the wiring problems with a 99 is you have to swap the complete car harness, really big pain, 00+ is all plug and play(drive, means no cutting wires). now that i noticed its a 99 i would probally go with the v6 swap. if you drop in the third gen forum. there is a sticky at the top on how to and there is a couple post about stuff needed to. the guys that are in there seem pretty helpful. gl on what you choose.
I had the same dillemna, i owned an ln2 and wanted the 2.4. so i found a good deal on one, and snatched it up. very happy with it and dont regret it for a second.
only thing i miss about my ln2 is the 5 speed... my 2.4 has an auto and it sucks
Check out my build thread!
Thanks. I've been having trouble finding what I'm wanting in a Cavi and its frustrating me. I'm looking for any year pretty much. Z24 or LS Sport on the 03-05 in black with a 5 speed. The 5 speed is the part thats messing with me. There's plenty of autos but few manuals.
I went from an 04 ls sport automatic to an 02 ls sport 5speed. best choice i ever made.
JBOK.org / J-Bodies of Kentucky
Rodimus Prime wrote:2200 = pissing in the wind, get an eco or a 2.4 same cost and takes alot less $$
haha I guess I pissed in the wind passing a stage 2 SRT-4... while being un-tuned.
O-wells
Sry, I had to
If you are getting a Z24, go with 00 - 02, due to the better 5 speed transmission... Since they didnt make Z24s in the united states after 02 and they didnt make LS Sports before 02, so if you want to go LS Sport, it'll have to be 03 +
Or you can swap an LD9 in to your Sunfire, since they produced LD9s in your year sunfire, it should bolt right up, just make sure you get the 95 - 99 transmission or you will be welding.
the LD9 is very comparable to the eco, it has 5 - 10 more base HP, the same manual transmission (if 00+), and a stronger iron block more resistant to being punched through by the internals. the downside to the LD9 is that the eco has a bit more aftermarket support, so its like building a honda, parts are everywhere.
