I have a 2002 2.2 that I am making into a circle track car and I noticed the intake on mine is plastic and sets down lower than my friends 97...is there a difference in power from the two and which would be the better intake?

you cant swap intakes without a whole lot of machining. (mainly due to the intake ports redesign AND the injectors being redesigned for 1998+.) There is not a big difference in power between the two motors (5hp/5torque less on the 2200) ,but that was mainly because of emissions. Get your pcm tuned and you can get that power back... maybe a little more as well. (not lots more... maybe 7 horsepower tops. lol)