What CHEAP mods/maintenance could I do?

[Nevalite]

Hey,

I have a 1992 I4 Manual Camry and I was wondering if theres any cheap performance mods or maintenance I could do?

I just changed the oil and oil filter recently so that one is done... What else could I do to make it run better?

I was thinking maybe clean the spark plugs? I also saw a guy on here with a custom made RAM air intake that cost him like 12$, would a ram air help me?

Any other ideas?

Thanks

BTW the car has 290 000 km on it :P

[bigbird]

intake would be good for sound and mot much more but the sound is worth it i think. try seafoaming it as well as cleaning the fuel system.

[Zviator]

Originally Posted by Nevalite

I was thinking maybe clean the spark plugs? I also saw a guy on here with a custom made RAM air intake that cost him like 12$, would a ram air help me?

I would love to see that ...

[hoyota]

I Think he's talking about me....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72AHd52YEk

[Zviator]

Originally Posted by hoyota

I Think he's talking about me....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72AHd52YEk

It doesn't sound much different to me while standing still. How about a ride

[hoyota]

It sounds a little better in this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scUJNPA0FbU

But to be pertainant to the thread......

Get Everything fixed first. If it needs new suspension tho, go for some aftermarket shocks/struts and springs (search for threads, i think there is a current one).

A RSB looks like a good suspension project (i have to order one myself sometime)

The intake is a good first project, its easy to do, and it doesn't cost too much.
I always like doing electrical stuff (like lights, stereo, and a big horn) but dont spend a lot of money on the small stuff. (dont spend more than $400 on stereo if you're building it on a small budget).

Spend your money wisely, sleep on it for a week before making any large purchases.

[ilovemyapplesduh]

I'm at 56xxx on my "new" 98 v6 Camry, and went from 60xxx-182xxx and still strong 97 DX Corolla. Only thing on Corolla is starter.

[Zviator]

Originally Posted by hoyota

It sounds a little better in this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scUJNPA0FbU

The intake is a good first project, its easy to do, and it doesn't cost too much.

Can we have a DIY thread about this now ? Please ...

[nikita]

The next DIY things you can do is change the transmission and final drive oils.
With the I-4, doing your own spark plug change should not be difficult.
Do a compression check to see the overall health of the engine while you have the plugs out.

[97vulcan]

what would be healthy compression numbers on the 5sfe engine?? when should the compression test be performed? engine warm, cold?

thanks,
Adam

[N35QU!K]

92 I4 Manual, ey? Lucky... :P

Intake upgrade is definitely one of the easiest things you can do, I did a couple of videos on before and after results.

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=adBMpdtnbtI

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=cTU6XFkAK74

With my current setup, which now sucks oncoming air directly from the front of the car, I have spent about $100.

[midnightmach]

Check The Distributor cap, rotor and spark plugs. Mine were horribly corroded and made the car run very well when they were replaced.
Check the PCV valve to see if its okay, replace if nessesary.
Change your transmission fluid very worth while and easy to do.
Clean the thottle body.
You can also upgrade your grounds in the engine bay with some bigger wire for fun.

[Nevalite]

Wow thanks for all the replies

First of all, anything like suspension upgrades or anything is out, the point of this is to not spend very much money, like almost none. I'm saving my money for a new car for next summer, this is just to hold me off until then.

As far as the sound system does and upgrading the ground wires, thats already done. I didnt mind dropping the cash since I can put it in my new car next year. I have 0 awg wire all around, an mrp-m1000 killing a 12" type-r in 2.4 cubic feet of ported box in the trunk, tuned to 34Hz... its loud.

From what I can see I think I'll be doing the ram air, seems like a fun little project, right price range too :P BTW I was talking about hoyotas mod...nice work, but for heavens sake...the grill? lol anyways.

I'll also probably tackle the spark plugs and trasmision fluid.

One thing I have no idea how to do is a compression test? How does that work?

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by Nevalite

the point of this is to not spend very much money, like almost none.
From what I can see I think I'll be doing the ram air, seems like a fun little project, right price range too :P BTW I was talking about hoyotas mod

Done under the theory that's it's best to do something stupid than to do nothing at all.

[psyanyde]

it all depends on your budget really and how flexible you are with it

if you're going to spend the time, turn the ram intake into a cold air intake, a few more piping, but will give you better performance as well as sound.

exhaust is a good thing to change too, but this could get costly if you have to take it in to a shop to do..

spark plugs, seafoam are all perfect things to do as soon as you have some cash. your car will thank you for it.

then as mentioned lights and what not.
stereo all depends on what you want and how you want it.. personally in the beginning i just pulled a double din cd/cassette player off a ford truck that i found at the junk yard and when i had the money i got a dvd head unit with a 7" screen, amp and subs and 4 months later (recently) i changed my speakers (thinking of doing a dyi on how to change the back speakers and the front as there isn't one with pics)

performance mods are expensive, but well worth it, it'll keep your car running longer.. personally i'd rather have a car that looks like ass run for 500,000 kilometers then a pimped out whip die at 200,000km.