Intake or Cam?

[buhjuh16]

I'm looking into making a bout 4-500.00 worth of upgrades within the next few weeks. Would i be better off going with a cam/pulleys or a new upper/lower intake? Right now i have 3:73s, homemade cai, xpipe, flowmasters. I just cant really figure out what step to take next.


edit: sorry guys i thought i put it in 94-95 Tech

 

[Zero Signal]

First hand experience tells me don't do a cam unless you want to do headwork (if not new heads) as well! There are decent stock replacement cams out there but you will definitely not get enough performance out of it to justify the money and time you will spend on that project. The stock cam is almost right on anyway. All the stock motor can use is alittle less LSA and more duration.

I say new intake.

 

[stprorolla49]

First hand experience tells me don't do a cam unless you want to do headwork (if not new heads) as well! There are decent stock replacement cams out there but you will definitely not get enough performance out of it to justify the money and time you will spend on that project. The stock cam is almost right on anyway. All the stock motor can use is alittle less LSA and more duration.

I say new intake.

i agree...a nice upper and lower intake can make a nice seat of the pants difference on a stock motor...

 

[WhiteStallionGT]

Intake

 

[jorge.pena]

Go with the intake, the cam is no use if your intake can't feed enough air to your motor, besides your computer will adjust the injector cycle to keep the mixture where it needs to be. more air, more gas, more power. you can do the cam later.

 

[BlackVert]

+1 on the intake

 

[xr8d302]

Intake is the only answer, i don't think there's any supporting theory on why a cam would be a good choice on this matter.

 

[Blackened302]

+3 on the intake

 

[super302]

+4 on the intake

 

[buhjuh16]

what about nos? ive had a whole lot of people telling me nos would be the best bang for the buck if used wisely. as far as intake goes, any idea how many tenths that and 3:73's will take off? Im getting 3:73s installed right now so i have no idea what to be looking forward to.

 

[DFG 5OH]

what about nos? ive had a whole lot of people telling me nos would be the best bang for the buck if used wisely. as far as intake goes, any idea how many tenths that and 3:73's will take off? Im getting 3:73s installed right now so i have no idea what to be looking forward to.

who's installing them? And you gotta remember...with nos you gotta fill it occasionally too. So its not just $500, or whatever for the kit. I'd get an intake, and later think about nawz

 

[mricci]

if you are getting a nos kit, then you need the safety devices, window switch, wide open throttle switch, fuel pressure, then you will probably want a purge kit, or bottle warmer. After all that you need a tune. Then fill it again and again. So even though its considered the cheap way for power, to do it right and safely it still costs a decent amount.

 

[Killercanary]

Another vote for the intake.

An E-brock performer intake, 65mm TB, and shorty headers dropped my times from a 14.6 at 94.89mph to a 14.3 at 97.2 with a 2.08 60'. Adding nitto DR's and a homemade CAI took me to a 13.83 at 98.5mph with a 1.91 60'.

 

[Black95GTS]

Trick Flow Street Heat - 399
Adapter Elbow for SN95 - 89.50
Assorted fittings and hoses from NAPA - 10-20 bucks

Thats right on your budget for the 500 bones and let me tell you that combined with the 3.73s your car will feel totally different.

Adam

 

[buhjuh16]

Another vote for the intake.

An E-brock performer intake, 65mm TB, and shorty headers dropped my times from a 14.6 at 94.89mph to a 14.3 at 97.2 with a 2.08 60'. Adding nitto DR's and a homemade CAI took me to a 13.83 at 98.5mph with a 1.91 60'.

what gears were you running when you hit 14.3?

 

[nmcgrawj]

Another vote for an intake. Try to pick up some pulleys in the classifieds too

 

[Killercanary]

what gears were you running when you hit 14.3?

3.73's

 

[GRGT1994]

It seems that most folks go with the intake as an early mod, much sooner than a cam (for the reasons mentioned above).

I never looked into this route, but don't some go with different rockers (1.7 or whatever) to get some of the impact of a cam swap (without all of the work). But still I think that comes after intake, TB etc.

 

[buhjuh16]

i guess 24# injectors would'nt be a good first step either. i dont want to have to upgrade my whole fuel system if i'd be ok with just a MAF sensor and injectors + throttle body.

 

[GRGT1994]

Here's another thought. Subframe connectors and a short throw shifter are two very popular early mods. You will definitely appreciate the subframe connectors. And while the short throw shifter won't do much for acceleration numbers, it's something that just improves the whole feel of the car. I recommend the MGW shifter highly (great movement, and quiet as stock). You could do both of those within your budget, and have cash to spare.