sharkbomb06 Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 What would be the easiest/cheapest thing to do for my car to make it faster. I don't need for it to be a racer or anything but I just want it to have a little more giddy up. Thanks. Quote
1990lumina Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 Turbo charge it or nitrous injection....honestly. Quote
dbtk2 Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 how much quicker do you want to make it??? ud pulley and chip are a start. Shawn Quote
Supreme Cutlass Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 search I've even made a list of mods from easiest to hardest Edit: By god, it's still on the first page! http://www.w-body.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37184&start=0 Quote
sharkbomb06 Posted January 11, 2006 Author Report Posted January 11, 2006 Sorry guys. I want it to run low 16s or so. I would like to turbo it but considering I'm only 17 funds are a little limited. Are chips real expensive and could you install them yourself? Keep in mind I am a newbie when it comes to cars, so I have limited knowledge, but I'm trying to learn. Thanks. Quote
excelsior Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 Hitting low 16's probably requires regearing/new tranny + maybe 20-30 hp OR stick w/ the auto & add oooo....50-60 hp. Maybe 70. Sooooo yeah basically your lookin @ turbo. Quote
sharkbomb06 Posted January 11, 2006 Author Report Posted January 11, 2006 What sounds familiar? Sorry for the dumb questions guys. I really am new to this stuff. Just trying to gain all the knowledge I can. Quote
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 In your profile is says you have 94 Lumina 3.1. Is that a 3100 or the older 3.1? Either way, it's gonna be hard to break high 16s-low 17s (as most people with 3100s are running). Sorry, but you're gonna need to spend some $$$ to make it faster. Quote
snowboard_pro6 Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 im in about the same situation 17 with a 1991 lumina 3.1 not much cash flow I looked at the list of mods from easiest to hardest and im not sure exactly what a dog bone is? is it the motor mounts? guess this it a pretty dumb question but is it really easier then installing a chip or is pullies easier then putting in a chip? Quote
GP1138 Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 Lots of seventeen year olds lately. Well, anyway. The dogbones are the two things that are hooked from your radiator support to the front of your engine. They are there to reduce vibration and engine movement. If you add bushings/harder mounts there, you'll get a little better kick off the line. You'll also get a little more vibration in the cabin. Quote
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted January 11, 2006 Report Posted January 11, 2006 The chip is damn easy to replace (if you have a 3.1 not a 3100, they don't have MEMCAL chips). All you gotta do is find the ECM, flip it around and take off a couple bolts that hold a little "door" on. Then remove the chip like a piece of RAM in a PC. Theres some pics and info on the w-body.com homepage. A chip really will not do much unless you do your exhaust, intake, head work... maybe a couple HP stock. With a 3.1 if you don't have much money, keep it stock, keep it reliable. Don't screw around with it too much unless you are prepared to do some REAL work to it. Quote
19Cutlass94 Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 With a 3.1 if you don't have much money, keep it stock, keep it reliable. Don't screw around with it too much unless you are prepared to do some REAL work to it x2 The 3.1 may have less power than the 3.4, but its a more reliable engine Quote
mfewtrail Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 Put a dry nitrous kit on the car and run a 35hp shot...that will get you to where you want to be...the only downside is that you won't always have that power available(if your bottle is empty). Quote
jeremy Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 I say bottle feed it until it blows up.... Quote
dbtk2 Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 I say bottle feed it until it blows up.... Ditto. I would say if you're looking for that kind of power gain, then you're looking at a 3x00 topend swap, cam, ud pulley, and a chip. And for what that would cost you, plus the work it entails, a turbo would be cheaper and probably not any harder to install. But since you have limited knowledge and don't seem to feel comfortable, I say leave it pretty much stock, do some little things, and MAYBE use nitrous if you like. I was 16 when I did all the engine work to my STE (I'm only 18 now) and it wasn't too expensive, and the thing ran very well. Its a 13 second car easily (haven't actually got slips yet though). However I started off with a turbo so I'm at a little more of an advantage than you, plus I already had plenty of experience working on engines and whatnot. Shawn Quote
Vegeta Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 Chip gives 5-6 hp at the wheels stock. I don't know why people say you will get a couple hp unless its super modded, cause ive proven its worth it on a stock motor. Not gonna get you low 16s by itself though:P Quote
sharkbomb06 Posted January 12, 2006 Author Report Posted January 12, 2006 It is the older 3.1 engine. Thanks for the replies and patience with me. Gotta love the W-body forum. Quote
TeeJay3800 Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 Use Ben's chip, the UD pulley, poly dogbone mount, a K&N drop-in, change plugs/wires, clean the top end of the motor and sensors, and at least replace the cat (straight-pipe is better) and use a Flowmaster muffler. That's about all you can do on a budget and should get you in the mid 16's; maybe low 16's in optimal conditions if you get lucky. Having owned several GM V6's, I can tell you, just like many people can, that the 3.1 is not the engine to use if you want a really fast car. However, appreciate the motor for what it is: it's one of the most reliable engines on the road, its relatively easy to work on, gets good mileage, and has very good low- and mid-range punch. In fact, its low-end is much better than most engines on the road today (since most new engines all multi-valve high-winders). You'd be surpised, with those mods, how many cars you can beat off the line and up to 40 MPH. 8) By the way, if you're trying to race the car, throttle-shift around 5,000 rpm. HP on the 3.1 peaks at 4,400 and all power drops soon after that. According to my factory dyno graph, its producing only around 100 HP at redline, and about the same torque. So going over 5,000 is pointless and will kill your performance. Its strongest range is from 3,500 to 4,500 rpm. Also, 2nd and 3rd gears are rediculously tall (1.56:1 and 1:1). The relatively low 3.33 final-drive helps, but use 1st gear for all its worth off the line and that should give you a jump depending on what you're racing. Quote
digitaloutsider Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 lol i r sevunteen aen i r du nut hav ani monies 2 mak mah meen three one vry fast um kan i swap vtec or turbo?11 lol um i hav no monies? Quote
Supreme Cutlass Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 lol i r sevunteen aen i r du nut hav ani monies 2 mak mah meen three one vry fast um kan i swap vtec or turbo?11 lol um i hav no monies? ...wonder what YOU were like at seventeen... Quote
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