I have been on j-body often the past few months, looking for the best tire, spring and shock combination.
Don't really post much, mainly a learner here.
I am doing my Microeconomics homework (I am a college student) on the law of diminishing returns.
It says that after a number of repetitive 'inputs' OR in this case, PERFORMANCE PARTS, the satisfaction and gain from each additional input will decline.
I was thinking, if a person puts $2,000 down for performance mods (inputs), and still obtains that 100% satisfaction from each input, what would it be?
This can be anything from suspension to engine,
BUT, ONLY go go!
Mine would be: (rounded off prices)
- Warm Air Intake ($200)
- Cat-back ($400)
- Upper strut ($100)
- Rear sway bar ($150)
- Coilover ($700)
- Tires ($350)
- Short shifter ($100)
TOTAL: $2,000
NOW, I do not have ANY of these on my car, but those who do, would you say it's WELL WORTH IT?
Actually replace these two:
- Upper strut ($100)
- Rear sway bar ($150)
for a header ($350)
You know you can make your own warm air intake for much less than 200 dollars. Get some exhaust tubing and some elbows and have some fun with it man.
I've got way more than that in mine, and plan on spending a little bit more, by little I mean a lot. And overall I'd say to me...
HELL YEAH!!!!! Not only the sheer joy of driving something that I've put together, but also the friends I've made and people I've met through the process. There is no replacement for the friendships I've gained over the process of putting this car together.
If you look at the money spent, no it's not worth it, but if you look at the overall, the friendships, all the new knowledge there is to be learned. As well as the personal satisfaction some of us have for doing 99.9% of our own work. It's well worth the money I've spent. Some may agree others may disagree. Either way to me, yeah worth it in a big way.
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4 Cams...32 Valves...5 Liters...This Could Get Fun!
not worth it lol but its fun.
WAI? Way cheaper than $200. I'm sure you can find something on ebay for less than $50. I made a mistake by buying a $200 CAI from AEM for my Cavi, didn't make the same mistake when I bought a $70 CAI for my Charger.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2208703
dario wrote:WAI? Way cheaper than $200. I'm sure you can find something on ebay for less than $50. I made a mistake by buying a $200 CAI from AEM for my Cavi, didn't make the same mistake when I bought a $70 CAI for my Charger.
As i said, "rounded off prices". Many of these you can find cheaper, I put down simply what I would pay.
Many people have said to make your own though, and am starting to consider it. My friend has done it so we'll see.
I used to have a good web site with all sorts of supplies.. tubes, clips etc. but lost it!
dobar ti cavalier inace :-)
Spalattero wrote:dobar ti cavalier inace :-)
nemam vise =[
sad imam novi 3.5 charger... vrlo spor
sad bi tjeo opet kupit cavalier hahaha
nemam para =[
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2208703
I'd recommend getting a rear sway bar, these cars didn't come with one, and if you know anything about handling you know that ain't good.
KFLO wrote:I'd recommend getting a rear sway bar, these cars didn't come with one, and if you know anything about handling you know that ain't good.
He speaks the truth....
Although I don't have one yet, and am only relying on my sticky ass tires to keep me on the road through corners..... just ask some people at my local meets
... man I wish someone had a video of that.
The only thing I didn't do myself is the actual welding of the exaust.... (I installed it though).... doing everything yourself makes it just that much more fun when you finally start getting somewhere.
To be honest.... strut bars don't actually do much (I have both front and rear ones on my car).. I would save those for later.... buy a cheaper intake, and get a header.... other than that.... your list sounds good.
Have fun man.... and don't forget your brakes
I autocrossed my Z once before I decided to order a rear sway bar. It was a semi high speed course and I spun out on my first run on a 65 - 70mph tight dog leg, probably a little too tight for the 75ish mph I carried into it. Anyways, I thought I was going flip the car... haha. The only suspension mods I run currently are a Progress Rear Sway, GM Convertible STB ($20 deal and find of my lifetime), and a lower subframe brace that I ghettoed together in my garage, and some PFCM front pads.
I've got decent tires too, but they're all seasons so there is a lot more desirable tires for handling. The car handles very solid now for still riding on factory 78k mile springs and struts.
What I'm getting at is that I've got about $150 in my suspension mods, and I'm thrilled with how the car handles. I usually pull top 3 in my NASA class, the 2 cars that beat me are both Scion TCs with Falken Azenis. And sometimes I'll nip one of the two by a couple tenths.
This is not the suspension forum though and I know this, so I don't need any moderators sending me sweetheart pm's.
Cheap mods that are the most cost effective - intake, header & exhaust, good front brake pads, and a rear sway bar.
You should be able to get top of the line stuff and not spend over a grand on all of that, then you've got some solid scrilla left of the $2k to buy KW Coilovers. Yum yum I want some.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Friday, November 09, 2007 3:15 PM
KFLO wrote:I'd recommend getting a rear sway bar, these cars didn't come with one, and if you know anything about handling you know that ain't good.
Depending on the suspension package there is a "sway bar" on them. Nobody thinks of it as a sway bay but it is one (bar welded into the rear suspension "C" link, inside the transverse section).
As far as satisfaction that I have gotten out of the car goes, I was 100% satisfied with performance (while it lasted). As the successive rebuilds occured my satisfaction subsided. I have my moments of sitting back and being proud of the monstrosity I have built but spend most of my time slightly dissapointed. Its not due to a lack of performance but rather a matter of what I have spent on it, due to a string of learning experiences.
You will probably get the most satisfaction out of doing simple suspension and bolt on mods. I know that is where I should have stopped.
i'd say they are worth it.. the suspension is what killed the cost though ..
- 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER LS SPORT ECOTEC -
- Current Mods -
-- Vibrant Exhaust & DC Sport Header --
-- Lower Motor Mount & TTR Upper Motor Mount --
-- B&M ShiftPlus & Vibrant Front STB --
-- K&N Typhoon Short Ram Intake --
RIP DAD<3 We love & miss you so much!
That's a torsion bar, more than a swar bar outback, even on the Z24 models.
