Fuel economy and increased performance

[Mark G.]

I'm new to this board and would like some advise. With the rapidly increasing fuel costs, are their a few relatively simple and relatively inexpensive things that I can do to my car. I have a stock 1990- 240 sx.Thank you in advance!

[Checkered-Member]

how inexpensive, what is the price range we are looking at?

[Mark G.]

Good question. Say my budget is under $1,000.

[SilviaS14KA24DE]

you're not gonna get more milage that you can see from doing any mod. If anything, modding your car for performance will either A)consume more gas or B) not consume or gain any gas milage. with a 1000 dollars, you can do all sorts of things, but it depends what kind of car you want, or what kind of driver you are.

Lets start with the engine.

1. New aftermarket intake (Get AEM or Injen because they are CARB legal)

2. ASP Underdrive pulley (it gets back the power that is robbed by the A/C unit and such. ASP only makes pulleys for our car now since Unorthadox doesn't anymore)

3. New fuel filter (if yours is clogged)

4. New Cams (if you're really into power, about 500-600 for aftermarket cams)

Now lets think of little tidbits that don't increase HP, but still a performance mod:

1. Carbon Fiber hood (reduces weight of heavy hood, good ones runs 500-700)

2. Suspension: this includes a)springs (just lower your car) b)coilovers (not just lower your car, but make handling a lot better) c)bushings (replace them all) d)Tie rods, upper and lower control arms (increase steering response) e)Strut bars for front and rear

3.Racing seat (good cheap ones for like 250-300 per seat)

4.Steering wheel

5.short shifter and new shift knob

Now for those things you can just spend money on, with no performance value:

1. Upgrade your cd unit

2. Upgrade Speakers

3. Bass amp and woofer (if you're into that)

4. interiori

5. paint

6. rims (well these have performance value if they're lighter than your stock rims)

Ok I did not post ALL the things you can do to your car for 1000 bucks, but hopefully this will give you an idea!

NOTE***: Some and most of these stuff will not cost 1000 dollars to do (ie fuel filter, intake, lowering springs, etc.)

[niznos]

There is something that will give you mileage and performance. Just keep your car in good tune, as in regular schedule maint. Old sparkplugs, air filter, and such. Also make sure your timing and idle is set correctly. If not, any and all of those will decrease performance and mileage.

[elwesso]

Sometimes a new ECU leans out the fuel mixture a tad bit (so it burns hotter) and that may help gas mileage a litlte AND increase power. thats the only thing that I can think of.....

Dont fall for any of those "fuel magnet" things or "tornado fuel savers"

[rousie13]

Man the tornado rocks. I heard that thing is the biggest POS.