I have a 2000 cavalier with 2200 engine and 3-speed transmission. Most of the work I've done on it has been audio, but now I think I'm satisfied with that, so I want to see if I can get a little more power out of the engine. Mainly what I'm looking at is a small intake upgrade, and header-back exhaust system. I want to get maybe a little bit of performance, and a deeper / throatier sound without getting the bees-in-a-can / fart cannon noise, and not TOO much louder if at all (I'd rather have nice tone and low noise than lots of sound).
The parts I'm looking at behind the header are:
Muffler: Walker 22508 (20" body)
Glasspack: Dynomax Thrush 24203 (22" body, 27" overall)
Cat: Magnaflow 94035
All 2.25" tubing (whatever wont' rust, probably custom compression/mandrel bent)
Also for the intake I'm looking at the Vibrant short intake which retains the 2200 expansion chamber.
I've looked at turbo but I doubt I will go that route any time soon, maybe next year if at all.
Anyway ss long as there are no specific problems with the parts mentioned, the main thing left to choose is the header. The 2 headers I'm looking at are the OBX 4-1 stainless and the Pacesetter 4-1 armor coat. The Pacesetter 4-1 is more expensive and popular. The OBX turns blue which I don't really care about (can always paint it with some super-high-tempreature paint).
I would consider getting the OBX but my main concern is if it is going to hit the transmission. Some posts I've read said it hits the transmission, though I'm not sure if it applies for the 3-speed.
If the pacesetter has more power capability then I'll get it, but if the extra cost just goes to keeping it shiny then I'd rather save the cash and put it elsewhere (better tubing / bending?)
I'm fairly new to performance tuning, I've mostly been into audio, so any insight is appreciated! Thanks!
Go with a Pacesetter Armor coated.
Good chioce on the muffler, CAT and tubing. As for the glasspack, look into the Dynomax/Thrush 24211. It is 2 1/4" in and out X 35" long. You would have to have the CAT moved forward about 8"on the header B pipe, which the shop thats doing the pipes can do. I have a similar set up
(see my profile) and it's slightly louder than stock and much deeper. Infact, my intake is louder than the exhaust under normal driving conditions, but the exhaust gets throaty when driven at WOT.
MadJack wrote:Good chioce on the muffler, CAT and tubing. As for the glasspack, look into the Dynomax/Thrush 24211. It is 2 1/4" in and out X 35" long. You would have to have the CAT moved forward about 8"on the header B pipe, which the shop thats doing the pipes can do. I have a similar set up (see my profile) and it's slightly louder than stock and much deeper. Infact, my intake is louder than the exhaust under normal driving conditions, but the exhaust gets throaty when driven at WOT.
I was looking at the 35" thrush, wasn't sure if it would be too big. Of course I'm sure whoever's installing it (I don't have the tools) could make the necessary modifications.
Anyone know if the OBX header hits the 3-speed tranny? I know it doesn't have a great finish, I was thinking about getting that and using DuraHeat, which is a paint for military machine gun barrels that is supposed to withstand up to 1800F. An un-painted non-armor-coated pacesetter would probably be good too but I don't think those exist (and it would probably be a pain in the ass to remove the paint from the black painted one)
