How to obtain cheap horsepower?

Question

I own a 97 Grand Prix that has 200 horse right now that I'm making into a fast and furious car. I already know I'm putting in a cold air intake which increase gas mileage and horse power by 15 hp. that puts me around 215hp. Can anyone share some other methods of getting cheap hp. I'm also getting a high flow exhaust which adds a little bit more. I'm looking to get around 300-350 hp.

Answer 1

you won't get that kind of gain through cheap mods.  yuo'll have to do something more to it.

synthetics in engine and trans will release some more power... usually about 5-10 hp each.  (reduced friction)

lighter wheel sets and brake sets can release 5-10% each depending on the weight you save.  with this you are not getting more hp at the flywheel, but more of it is getting to the ground.

a performance chip.  

a lighter torque converter will release more power too...and lock up faster to get the power down better.

but all of this, if it works perfect we're still only talking about 250-280 hp affect (note, that is not what your car will actually be putting out, but what another car without the lightening mods would need to put out to match it) out of the car...

but once you have all those things, to make the HP you are talking, you're going to have to bite the bullet and get a turbo or supercharger on the car.

Answer 2

I doubt you'll make 300hp without spending a ton of money or using turbos or nitrous which is still quite a bit of money.

Answer 3

Well, you're already off on the wrong foot.

You have a 1997 Grand Prix. It will be neither fast, nor furious. But you may be furious to see how your money is wasted attempting to get there.

Secondly, you don't have 200 horsepower. After your powertrain loss, you have around 160.

Third, your air intake does not add 15 horsepower. At best, it will add aroudn 5-6, at peak. Over the rest of your powerband, you'll probably only see .5-1 horsepower gain.

As a side note, an intake will NEVER add horsepower over your stock rating. The 200 horsepower is rated with out an intake. So, regardless of how great your intake is....it's still a restriction. Which decreases horsepower.

So, at best, you'll be looking at around 165. Maybe 170, if you're lucky.

A high flow exhaust? Guess what? Same deal. Another 6-7horsepower. If you actually get the whole thing. Exhaust, headers, high flow cat, etc.

So, you're now around 1500-2000$ into this, assuming you bought quality parts, and didn't just use eBay....and you've gained about 10-15horsepower. Assuming best case scenario, you're spending around $100 per horsepower, which is actually pretty average. Most of the mods I've done with my cars go around that range.

Let's do some math. You still have 130-170 horsepower to go. At the rate you're going, that's between $13,000 and $17,000 invested.

Just to get to 350, which many cars come with stock.

My suggestion? Don't bother. You have an ugly, slow vehicle. You could waste tons and tons of money on it, but it will neither gain performance, nor respect.