What are some easy engine tweaks for more power/accelaration? 2002 Protege ES

[5thgearratchet]

I have an 02 Protege ES 4-cyl 2.0L. What are some relatively easy/simple/possibly cheap ways to tweak/tune my engine to gain more hp/accelaration/torque? And I don't necessarily mean boreing/oversized cams/intake/exhaust. I mean like simple secrets I guess. Any tip is appreciated, thanks

 

[dacquesta1]

Lol

 

[5thgearratchet]

So Lawl, you got any tips?

 

[tweety2300]

Just the tip? Lol

I'd say intake and exhaust but it will always be slow untill you turbo. And then it will blow up. Then you will spend 2500~ on forging the motor so it don't happen again.

 

[5thgearratchet]

thanks but no help...

 

[tweety2300]

What are you looking to do how much power you want to make and how much you got to spend?

There's a lot of small things you can do. Header, under drive pulley, cam gears. If your looking to stay na I would suggest the mp3 reflash best na mod you can do. Spiced msp does it. I think that's his user name

 

[KZL_99ES]

yup, i agree^ get the mp3 ecu, that'll help the most; for other acceleration type mods: smaller lightweight wheels would be the best, then a lightweight flywheel.

those three things, you'll definitely notice a difference.

other simple stuff that will help would be an intake, header and full exhaust

...but even if you do all of that, you'll only talking about a 20-25whp increase, AT the most...but, that's a lot for how light our cars are, so you'll notice the difference, especially if you do all the mods at once instead of one at a time!

 

[tweety2300]

I don't consider them light for a fwd 4cyl...

 

[ZoomZoom_in03]

I've added an intake and exhaust to my 03 protege ES and I've defiantly noticed a gain in power was really inexpensive as well. I agree you won't see any power till you turbo it but for it to be a quicker grocery getter defiantly exhaust and an intake.

 

[Ice88]

Its not about how much extra power you produce its about where the power is and how easily it comes on.

 

[Spiced MSP]

What are you looking to do how much power you want to make and how much you got to spend?

There's a lot of small things you can do. Header, under drive pulley, cam gears. If your looking to stay na I would suggest the mp3 reflash best na mod you can do. Spiced msp does it. I think that's his user name

Wrong person, spicy orange does the reflash

 

[5thgearratchet]

Thanks, Im not quite looking to stay n/a but most likely forced to. As far as how much I want to do and how much power I want... Any and all I guess. I make just a couple hairs over 2G a month and I got bills of course. The reflash is just using the ecu from an msp? Im new at all this and this is my 1st car Im really modding so basically I need tips and let me expirament. I dont want to waste too much time and money on this car but let it be my learning car and then later in life get an msp or p5 or rx7.

 

[tweety2300]

I knew it was spicy something lol sorry. And I wouldn't waste the money on the mp3 flash if you plan on going turbo.

Honestly if you can afford it I would suggest getting a Mazda speed 3 or 6 way better platforms for turbo than a protege. Rx7s are great if you keep them na but if you turbo you'll be replacing apex seals

My .02 having driven an msp and ms3 I know which is more solidly built and is more comfortable

 

[5thgearratchet]

I have heard of people removing their cat and straight piping, i also have heard of people removing their cat and punching it out then putting it back on, anyone have a take on these methods? i havent done it, only asking anyones take.

 

[stivine6]

i'd like to know more about the ecu reflash with mp3 as well.

im on the same boat as you ratchet, 01 ES 2.0L

 

[tweety2300]

I have heard of people removing their cat and straight piping, i also have heard of people removing their cat and punching it out then putting it back on, anyone have a take on these methods? i havent done it, only asking anyones take.

I straight piped my Honda and will never do it to another car again too loud and raspy it wasn't too bad with 2.5" cat back but I did a header and 2.5" pipe where the cat was. And sadly it even has a resonator and muffler