ALT-3 How to Increase Horsepower
There are literally hundreds of ways to improve your car's horsepower and feel the effects on the street. The main point to take into consideration is the size of your wallet, for that will determine the amount of readily available horsepower you can tap into. For this article, I'll concentrate on the less expensive and easier upgrades that can boost your engine's output.First and foremost, before performing ANY upgrades or modifications, your engine must be operating at peak performance. A complete tune-up is highly recommended before "throwing parts" at your engine. New spark plugs, spark plug wires, and also distributor cap and rotor (if applicable) are needed. There are performance versions of each of these readily available at your local parts store. I recommend a lengthy conversation with your trusty parts/counter person, or even seek out your local engine shop for advice on your particualr application. Also, change your fuel filter. Having a partially restricted fuel filter will negate any performance modifications you attempt and save you the possibility of hours of grief wondering why the $4,000 you just stuck into your car isn't helping you win those stop light drag races.After the tune-up is performed, now you are ready to start making some easy horsepower. A free-flowing air filter system, such as one of the many offered by K&N, will grant up to a 10% increase in power and torque. "Only 10%?" you say. When you only have 130 ponies trampling under the hood of your Saturn coupeto begin with, 13 horses is a noticeable difference. Depending on the style you purchase and the amount of horsepower gain you're seeking, this can range in price from $50 to into the $400 range.Ok, you bought a filter and induction kit so the air is pouring into the engine. The next step advised is a free-flowing exhaust. Having your exhaust flowing freely is as important, if not more so, as your incoming air. For this, I recommend a visit to a local muffler shop as they have the equipment and know-how to build a custom free-flow exhaust. Depending on the extent of the customization performed here, you can gain an easy 15-30 horsepower. There are also bolt-on kits readily available at local parts stores for most vehicles that give you an easier breathing exhaust after the catalytic converter. Although these usually aren't as effective as a full exhaust conversion, they are still good for 5-20 horsepower jumps. Most muffler shops can do a full performance exhaust for as little as $250-300. Not too bad for an extra 30 squirrels scampering under the hood of your car.Tune-up, check. Easy-breathing engine, check. Now what? Well, how about changing the way your engine thinks? A high-performance chip modification for your engine's computer would be recommended. This "superchip", as they are known back in the small-town area of Wisconsin I grew up in, changes the way your computer controls the air/fuel ratio and spark timing. Basically, a superchip tells the computer to allow more fuel into the engine for combustion, and it readjusts the spark timing curve, usually to a more aggressive and advance curve. Those 2 adjustments, alone, to the computer controls are worth a 10-20% increase in power. Expect to spend at least $300 for one of these little babies, and then another $100 for installation. I recommend letting your professional mechanic handle this job unless you already have previous experience in replacing and messing around with computer modules.Finally, the last things I want to touch on are forced induction and nitrous oxide (NOS). The turbo charger and the super charger are the 2 most common examples of forced induction. The difference between the 2 is the turbo is run by exhaust pressure and the super charger is run by crankshaft speed via a separate belt drive system. Turbo is usually better for mid-range and higher rpm applications, while super chargers increase your lower and mid-range rpm power output. Both types of induction systems can get very expensive, often cracking your pocketbook for a couple thousand dollars. Nitrous oxide systems, or NOS, are a very quick way for instant power...but it can come at a very high price. If you decide to go with a NOS system, please make sure that you talk to your local engine shop for application recommendations. Nothing will toast your engine quicker than a misadjusted NOS system short of running it without oil! Sure, you can gain up to 300 (yes, 300) horsepower from a shot of nitrous into the engine. But too long a burst and your engine will go up in a grand cloud of smoke. And I don't mean tire smoke either. NOS systems should only be set up by professionals who know what they are doing since it is so easy to destroy your engine in one quick moment.There are a veritable plethora of ways to increase the power output of your car or truck. From such simple things as different sparkplugs and wires, to $2000 bolt-on turbos and even nitrous oxide. The only question left now is how much are you willing to spend?
