I race a 97 Cavalier ministock with a 2.2 at the local circle track. I just built it, and it seems to work well, finishing second on the first night out. But it doesn't have the pull out of the corners like the Honda I used to drive.
I was told a tranny from an Isuzu Impulse would work, and have a better gear ratio. I was wondering what years of Isuzu I should be looking for, and maybe what models. (just the RS?) And is the final drive gears a simple bolt in affair?
Forgive me if this has been answered a hundred times already. I'm new to the board, and to j-bodys in general. I've raced Hondas for the last 4 years. But a Sunfire beat me for the championship last year, so I switched to the Cavalier. So far so good, I just don't like the lack of pull out of the corners.
The highest you could go is by getting a Geo Storm GSi. That will give you a 4.117 FDR. The tranny wont exactly bolt up, but all the gearsets inside will swap over to your tranny.
What gear are you running in around the track? I'm assuming that you're not using 1st or 5th.
the gears from the the geo storm GSi or the other model will fit right in your stock tranny with no problem. And will give you either a 4.11fdr or a 3.83fdr. i did the 3.83 cause you cant find the 4.11 new that you would have to find at a junk yard.
I'm running in 3rd gear on the track, the rpms are about 4000 in the corners.
Where is peak torque for the 2.2? Will a higher rpm help?
I assume the gears I have now are 3.95fdr. So to increase my rpms, I'd want the 4.11, not the 3.83. Assuming of course I want higher rpms.... A new car, and I feel like I have to learn everything all over again.
Ok, some quick research shows peak torque is at 4000rpms. So maybe more rpms isn't what I need. Then why does the car seem to bog in the corners? There just doesn't seem to be enough "umph" coming out of the corners.
Any ideas or suggestions? Will raising the rpms do anything other than make more noise?
Peak hp is around 5250 rpms, should I be shooting for that?
Maybe because... it's an econobox motor? At least you've got a 5 speed... just think how slow the 3 speed auto would be
Dear 2.2L speed owners... i don't hate your engine/trans combo.... well maybe I do... I have one too in my 95 Sunfire... but I realized a long long time ago that it was never meant to be a race car
Lenko, John Lenko wrote:Maybe because... it's an econobox motor? At least you've got a 5 speed... just think how slow the 3 speed auto would be
Dear 2.2L speed owners... i don't hate your engine/trans combo.... well maybe I do... I have one too in my 95 Sunfire... but I realized a long long time ago that it was never meant to be a race car
Well I'm racing against other econoboxes such as non vtec Civics, Shadows, Corollas,4 cylinder Mustangs etc.
Also no turbos, 16 valves, or DOHC. So it is all econoboxes.
I used to run an old 12 valve 87 Prelude. But it was getting hard to find parts for at the wrecking yard, and on paper the 2.2 Cavalier has more hp and torque than the old Prelude.
Isuzu Gear ratios
2.4 (95-99)
1st 3.73
2nd 2.18
3rd 1.33
4th 0.92
5th 0.74
FDR 3.94
2.2 (9?-99)
1st 3.91
2nd 2.18
3rd 1.45
4th 1.03
5th 0.74
FDR 3.58
Fiero (4 cylinder)
1st 3.73
2nd 2.04
3rd 1.45
4th 1.03
5th 0.74
FDR 3.35
Impulse/Storm SOHC
1st 3.272
2nd 2.043
3rd 1.448
4th 1.027
5th 0.829
FDR 3.833
Impules/Storm DOHC
1st 3.727
2nd 2.043
3rd 1.448
4th 1.027
5th 0.89
FDR 4.117
One caution though..... the DOHC Storm uses larger axles, so the spider gears in the Diff have larger holes in them.... our axles wont snap in.
Your trans will have the 3.58:1 FDR..... I might have a 3.94:1 Ring and Pinion laying around here some where.....
SPD RCR Z -
'02 Z24 420whp
SLO GOAT -
'04 GTO 305whp
W41 BOI -
'78 Buick Opel Isuzu W41 Swap
do u have messenger cause ill just IM u ,might be easier if i could explain it to u
Yes I know this is a 4 year old post...just wanted to update this just in case someone wants to use this info. The Storm DOHC axles are the same, our axles will snap in.
SpeedRacerZ wrote:Isuzu Gear ratios
[[One caution though..... the DOHC Storm uses larger axles, so the spider gears in the Diff have larger holes in them.... our axles wont snap in.
I'm running a 04 cavalier with the ecotec motor and I'm looking for what final drive gearing I could swap to for better drive off the corner
