hello, I plan to invest in Cavalier verry soon, but to kill time till that point I wanna know what I'm (probably) gonna do with it so I can get started ASAP.
Engine: Dunno yet, probably the 2.2L
Goal: High torque at low RPM's (Don't want to piss off the whole neighborhood, plus since I'm not much of a racer, I primarily want the "throw you back in the seat" rather then "sorry officer, I didn't know I was doing 300, I thought I was still doing 50"
Simply put, make a trip to the grocery store into a balls nailed to the wall and ripped out to be fed to the alligator experience
the Plan:
move Engine to the middle/back. (question, in pictures that I have seen it looks like the engine is in front of the wheel wells, is that actually so?)
engine mods:
1) side air intakes going to a short ram (cold) air intake.
2) small (T3, T3/T4) turbo. (and appropriate blow off valve and boost controller)
3) custom weld myself a short, low resistance exhaust manifold.
4) depending on the existing muffler/cat I might keep them stock. (or just modify them to allow more airflow if possible)
rebuild engine:
5) if I need to bore it out I'll probably go straight to an 0.020 oversize evens if it's not needed (and hone of course)
6) since the engine is apart (evens if I don't bore) get new pistons with a lower deck for a lower compression.
7) if possible grind the valve ports as big as they can. (of course making sure they still seal correctly)
8) maybe do the "secret cam" swap if I can find a low K cam from the scrappers.
9) widen up the throttle body.
10)follow the air path from air intake to exhaust making sure the air has a smooth short path with as little bends as possible, fabricating corrections where needed.
11) reading around some apparently the stock oil pumps on these engines aren't the greatest so I might replace/rebuild it too.
12) fuel pump?
the ECU: I'm pretty handy around silicon components, (electronics in general) so I'll have a look at it when I get it, since I don't really plan on giving more then a 4-8psi boost at first I don't think I'll need a new MAP sensor or do any major ECU mods)
Theory's :
**warning these are my guesses and may not represent actual fact***
1) lower the compression to allow for more fuel (With the added boost) for a bigger bang at low RPM's
2) *nicks dumb theory* with a lower piston, not all the exhoust gas will be removed, and therefor re-burned acting similar to an EGR unit for better fuel millage.. just a guess though.
any comments? suggestions? rude opinions?
cheers! nick.
p.s. I hope I got everything.. I hate not having an edit button..
by 2.2 i am hoping you mean the ecotec and not the OHV...
although i am a big LD9 (2.4) fan, i would still recommend the ecotec 2.2 over the 2.2 OHV engine.
for tuning use hp tuners.
I must confess... I feel like a monster!
yes I meant the Ecotec ^.^
Additional notes:
If it's not there all ready I might grind a "swirl" in the air intake for a better mix/burn.
and I was thinking.
you know how adding nirus to a turbo setup can help with winding up the spool.
Idea?
what if I have a small electric compressor that at cruising speed fills up a small air tank.
and at acceleration it spray's air into the exhaust to wind up the turbo to a set RPM or so.
what would you suggest, and remember, I have more time then money.
your post makes me wanna punch babies.
You have good ideas n im not trying to rain on your prade but i think u need to read up a bit more.
My suggestions are....
-Moving the engine will be more trouble than its worth, go for some sloid mounts if your looking to transfer power to the ground.
-The secret cams are exclusivly for the LD9 and take away from the bottom end.
-For any amount of boost tuning will be needed.
-Custom reground cam made to fit your desired rpm range
-an intake with longer runners to promote low end torque
-keep the stock throttle body as bigger throttle bodies move the rpm range up
-Dont make the valves too big as once they become so big shrouding occurs
-2 1/4inch exhust all the way back
-leave your compression the way it is if you want down low power...the extra compression will help
-the oil pump in the LD9 is the one that is weak
-DO NOT port the head, a good polish is what you want for low end power, porting is conductive for highend power.
if you want low end torque i dont think a turbo would be the way to do so, a cam ground for low end and higher compression would do it, lower compression will actaully weaken the lower end by what i have read every were.
- Your not-so-local, untrained, uncertified, backyard mechanic. But my @!#$ runs
Zs Z : thanks! that's exactly what I wanted to hear! (though I do have my own opinions on some of the stuff) but I will definatly take all your tips into consideration, especially the polished port thing because that will save me a lot of hassle.
I'll look into a custom ground cam if I can find a place to do it at a reasonable price.
and of course I'll read, and read.. and read.. and watch construction vids, and read, and jerk off, and read.
I'm a bit of a knowledge whore :p
Oedwards:
thxs for the tip
and I agree turbo isn't the best choice, but after all the reading on it I want an exuse to actually install one. (a super charger would probably be a better choice yet for low end.. but i dunno.. i never was a fan of superchargers.. just a personal thing)
and same as before, if I can get a reasonably priced custom cam, I'll do that
any more suggestions/tips/concerns ?
your post makes me wanna punch babies.
