Hey Everyone,
I have a few questions but I would like to introduce myself first. My name is Ira Cody Patterson, I am a 21-year-old college student that works at the local Wal*Mart and manages a local office suite.
I drive a 2003 Chevy Cavalier Coupe (will have pictures soon) and have plans of turning it into a slightly modified sleeper car (get the most performance and efficiency out of it without seriously tearing into the motor or drastically changing the looks). Right now my car has a Pacesetter “Monza” Cat-Back exhaust system, a AEM Cold Air Intake and I have replaced all of the running fluids with full synthetics (personally, the best mod I have done so far
).
I love the Cavalier cars. I drove my first one when I was 15 during driver’s education, fell in love with them and now finally own one! I will have owned mine for a year in a couple of months.
Now for my questions (and I warn you, there are a few).
1. Has anybody had any experience with the Pacesetter header exhaust manifold? I am pretty much set on getting one, I was just curious as to if I should pay the extra money and get the ceramic coated one or just get the black painted one.
2. Has anybody had any experience with an Airaid throttle body spacer or similar product(s)? Did it help; was it worth it?
3. Does ANYBODY make computer chips and/or tuners for the 2003-2005 Cavalier? I have had no luck finding any thus far.
4. What else would you recommend as far as modifications that are more along the “bolt on” genera? I am not only interested in bolt on modifications, just with a full time job, a part time job, full time college and no second vehicle, I do not have time to get too involved.
Thank you for your help in advance.
Ira Cody Patterson
everything skifted said except
1. I have had both the regular black painted and the ceramic coated, i would definitely say spend the couple extra bucks and get the coating. if you get the regular one then get ready for the smoke show when you first start the car and everything burns off.
you could also go stainless but you would have to look around for which ones are stainless as idk off the top o my head, but they will be pricier
good luck and spend some time thinking aboot it before you get too involved and look int PJ's build as far as eco's go
FWIW i would also suggest getting a good set of struts/shocks for your springs if you have yet to do so, tokico d-specs or hps (arguably) would be your bolt up choices and koni yellows would be your slightly more involved choice unless you get them used.
the only GOOD use of a throttle body spacer is to drill and tap th put a nitrous nozzle in. otherwise, they do nothing.
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Thank you for your input.
I rather figured that the spacers were a waste of money on something like the Cavaliers; just wanted to make sure from people more knowledgeable than I.
Considering my car and my plans for it, I am thinking the painted one will be sufficient (not to mention the $101 cheaper price). Maybe keep a few cans of high-heat exhaust paint around to touch it up with when needed (have to do with the cat-back anyway). If I knew I was going to keep it for years and years to come and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it I would spend the extra money. Thank you for the heads up on the smoke (and subsequent smell) on the regular one though. I know that surprised me after I put my cat-back on; I probably would have really freaked with it coming from under the hood.
I will admit I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Thank you for the information on struts as well. I recently entered the tuner world from the 4x4 world and never would have thought that a problem until it was probably too late. If I lower it I am thinking of the Intrax 1.7” lowering kit; if/when I do that I will get the correct struts needed at the same time.
Thank you again for your help and opinions, I really appreciate them.
the only place I have ever seen a spacer do ANYTHING is on higher horsepower carberated v8's. other than thay...JUNK
and for the tuning. just go hpt. just spend the money and do it right the first time. you will thank us for this advice. besides, you can't "chip" your computer. anyone saying otherwise is either uneducated on these cars or is trying to sell you snake oil.
with the headers, DON'T bother painting. it will cook right off. in the world of motorsports paying 100 extra is nothing. if yo udon't care how your headers look than fine, just don't waste your time trying to paint.
btw, ceramic coat lasts longer. all the headers I have had that were not coated and they rusted out in a few years. I had one car that I sold 4 years ago that had ceramic headers on it and the guy is still on the headers I sold the car with.
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Those so naive, so hard headed, so narcissistic, that think that buy their own efforts can single handedly change the world, are always the ones that do.
1. ive heard pacesetters can have leak bll joint sockets; i have a tsudo in the mail(YES!!!) there on ebay. and its a 4-2-1 design which would be better for low end torque and all around power then a 4-1, which will give a higher peak, and not much else.
2.as everyone else said, the TB spacer is as good as a tornado.
3. theres also things like Greddy E-manage and Megeasquart, but HPTUNERS isnt MUCH more expensive and theres A LOT more flexability. im getting that one next paycheck ona practical stock motor.
4.i empathize this one, i work 60 hours a week. AND have 2 classes. first off, go to target and get a bike. i dont live far from work so its gonna come in real handy when i do my custom exhuast. lol you can get the 2.4 ecotec manifold. GMP sells a kit for around $250. you can get an underdrive pully if you dont got beat. and cams can be done in a weekend with some knowledgable friend or 2. the head doesnt need to be removed so i consider it a bolt-on. JBP has these in 3 stages. o and last but not least. a B&M shift plus or auto trans interceptor, it makes your clutch packs grab quicker/harder, it'll help your E.T.
welcome to the org
Listen F***ers. FASTERTHANAHONDA is a joke because I WORK FOR HONDA. I'll talk @!#$ about Fords to, that doesn't mean I can beat a 12 second mustang.
