"Is it possible did this moron just ask the same question that has been asked time and time again, can't he just go and read through this board and get his answers................... " Guys please be patient with me and see I have been a member for a while, have read through lots and lots of great info on this board but need to post this question before I make my final decision.

I am hoping to get some more gain out of my 02 s2k, currently run an after market exhaust and only a AEM CAI and have been pulled on by a few cars in the past that I was hoping would not pull. I am not looking for warp speed (although that would be nice) nor looking to spend 10K (full turbo, ecu, cooler, etc etc) set up.... but willing to cough up roughly 5K

I am less interested in 0-60 speeds and really care about better grunt when the car is actually up and moving. I have seen one GREAT video comparison between 2 s2k's on this site one with a gear swap and one with out. I amazed at the difference. So instantly thought this was the way to go but still not sure as this video was from a stop I believe. I would LOVE to see footage of 4 s2ks going for a few runs one starting at 25mph and maybe another at highway speeds getting going at 55mph range.... the cars would be
1. s2k stock
2. s2k with gears maybe a cai and exhaust like me would be nice
3. s2k with comtech SC and CAI and Exhast
4. s2k with gears, SC, CAI, Exhaust

all driven well what would be the outcome.... and not, well car 1 would be slowest followed by 2, then 3 and then 4.... etc....wondering what would be the best upgrades for the cash and a best combo set up maybe. (no NOS set ups please)

I would love some real solid input from anyone with pro's and con's of such set ups, other places to spend the cash to get the power etc etc... runs you may have done with other S2k's modded differently etc.... also I have decent tires and have already spent money on driving schools so please save those comments as I already have teken that advice and to be honest glad I did.

Thanks everyone for helping me out and do very much apprecaite all your wealth of knowldge and experience..... Thanks again
Steve

 

Hi Steve, With your 5g's you could look into a stroker kit if you don't want to go FI. This would be a lot more intensive than bolting on a supercharger but it's an option if you want noticeable gains in power. Unfortunately short of that there isn't a whole lot you're going to see in improvements with bolt-on parts. If you're strictly looking at 0-60 numbers, gears may slow your time because of the additional shift required. I know that's not what you intend on doing but it's still a factor on the street. You're not adding power you're only mechanically taking advantage of it. Some situations that could be good some not so much.

You said you have taken some driving courses. Do you plan on tracking your car with the new setup?

You could add some cams (toda) and a header (J's) to help the engine breathe a little better, run without a catalytic converter and use a VAFC to tweek the fuel maps. This should have some decent gains but it's not going to transform the car. Good luck!!

 

4.57's and ITB ! Also a good header and a test pipe or high flow cat. I went with the supercharger and liked it but was not satisfied so I'm going turbo, but "I'm looking for warp speed"

 

Thanks, but sorry If I was not clear but less interested in 0-60 and more interested in speed when the car is already up and going.... Thanks again for any feedback...

 

If all you are concerned with is topend, there is no substitute for an SC/turbo setup. Gears will not help top end.

 

Thanks, and again apologize for not being thorough but don't mean top top end like 155mph +++, but more go from a roll wether I am going 25 or 50mph etc... I wish I could go Turbo but can't invest that much $$$$ and time into the car tuning etc... looking for the easiest and best way to spend 5K and get the best results. Thanks again for any insight
Steve

 

If you only have 5K to spend, I would spend that on gears, clutch, and buy a used supercharger. That will be a beast.

5K is enough for a new supercharger, but you have to take into account installation if your not going to install it yourself. No tuning really neccessary with the stock pulley. The only turbo kit I would even consider going with myself is the LoveFab kit, but it is 6500.

If I had only 5K, I would save a couple more grand and go turbo.

 

Ooh ITB's would be fun. Header, EMS + ITBs. This would involve a good deal of tuning and may put you over budget depending on the cost of ITB's.

Header 1100
test pipe 100
AEM EMS 1300
ITB's ??
Tuning/install ??

Hopefully the last two are under $2500

Lightweight clutch/flywheel would help acceleration too.

Gears, clutch, flywheel, larger throttle body, header, VAFC + short tuning session should be well within budget if you didn't want to go the ITB route.

 

What are you asking again? I mean you've excluded pretty much all significant power adders besides bolt ons (which you already have) and a supercharger.

 

ITBs alone are going to run you 2500... tuning on them will run you as much if not more than tuning a turbo setup, so all together you're looking at maybe 3500? Not to mention you really don't use ITBs to their potential (or to much of anything in all honesty) without one or more of the following:
-Higher compression ratio
-fat cams
-full head porting and polishing
-oversized valves

the list goes on... in the end, it would be about as expensive as going turbo, with alot less power...

I say used supercharger and a set of gears...