Expert: Dan Liddy - 11/11/2003

Question
Any good?  Are the "vortex" ones better?  Would you spend $100 to "bolt on" 20 horsepower increase on a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder?  Appreciate your help.

Answer
Hi Kirk:

Well if it's a 2.4 liter Ford, or Dodge- - -no, I'd spend the $100 on ads to sell the bloody thing, there is no hope!  They are too heavy, and the engines are tough but don't respond well to modifications, becuse they are designed to give fuel mileage (which they don't )

If however we're talking about a Japanese import, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, it might be worth it.  

I doubt you'll "bolt on" 20 horsepower with a throttle body spacer, and if you do, you will find it at the top end of the rev range. It won't get you out of the hole any better, and probably not as well.

Try these things first. Get a K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit, about $180 depending on the car, then add a header exhaust system with free flow muffler and free flow cat.  Use larger exhaust tubing. These two things will put you ahead of others with similar cars.

After that, it's camshafts, power chips for the computer, high output ignition systems, and stuff of that sort.

Or you can spend about $3000 and install a turbo, have it done professionally and understand that you cut your engine life about in half. The turbo WILL add about 20% to your horsepower, and the acceleration will be blinding!

There is no free lunch in your search for speed, it costs money.  I guess you could say that the short answer is don't believe everything you read in the ads. The increases they claim are possible but usually highly unlikely.

Good luck with your project, I hope I've been a help

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida